Job Description
Sterling Engineering is seeking an experienced SMT Process Engineer/Technical Center Lead to oversee technical center operations, lead customer demonstrations, and provide hands-on engineering support for advanced SMT equipment and applications. This role requires extensive SMT process engineering experience, strong troubleshooting capabilities, and the ability to work directly with customers to develop and demonstrate technical solutions.
Location: Vernon Hills, IL 60069
Compensation: $115k-$125k
Benefits: A comprehensive benefits package is offered, including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, paid holidays, and a 401(k) plan.
Travel: Up to 15% Domestic and International
Travel: Up to 15% Domestic and International
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead proof-of-concept builds, customer demonstrations, technical evaluations, and advanced SMT applications.
- Configure, program, troubleshoot, and optimize SMT placement equipment and production line systems.
- Diagnose complex machine, software, electrical, mechanical, and process-related issues.
- Partner with customers to understand technical requirements, develop solutions, and demonstrate equipment capabilities.
- Oversee daily Technical Center operations, including equipment readiness, scheduling, and technical priorities.
- Support smart factory technologies, automation, MES connectivity, and Industry 4.0 applications.
- Analyze equipment performance, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
- Prepare technical reports, process recommendations, and customer-facing documentation.
- Support customer training and major trade show activities.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent directly relevant industry experience.
- 10+ years of SMT process engineering experience or closely related technical experience.
- Strong hands-on experience with SMT equipment, programming, process optimization, and troubleshooting.
- Advanced troubleshooting skills across mechanical, electrical, software, and production processes.
- Experience leading customer demonstrations, technical evaluations, and proof-of-concept builds.
- Knowledge of smart factory systems, manufacturing automation, and connected production technologies.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to work directly with customers and internal engineering teams.
- Ability to travel up to 15% domestically and internationally.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
Numbers & Facts
| Location | Vernon Hills, IL |
| Industry | Staffing/Employment Agencies |
| Salary | $115,000–$125,000 Per Year |
| Company Size | 500 to 999 employees |
| Year Founded | 1969 |
| Website | http://www.sterling-engineering.com |
About Company
Sterling Engineering has been a trusted partner for engineering, project management, and staffing solutions for over five decades. We provide exceptional engineering/technical recruitment and engineering project services to clients nationwide:
- Engineering & Technical Recruitment - With our focus on engineering, technical, and IT, Sterling has the in-depth knowledge, industry expertise, and robust employee pipeline it takes to rapidly find talent for even the most difficult to fill positions. Sterling’s extensive recruitment methodology allows us to engage the most talented employees in the marketplace. We offer exciting work and career-building opportunities for our candidates, along with expert support at every step of the process.
- Engineering Project Services – Our experienced, multi-disciplined team of project managers, engineers, and designers, led by licensed Professional Engineers (PE), provide project management, engineering, design, and Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) to manufacturing, OEM, and R&D customers. We work on complex, highly technical projects across a number of industry sectors, and our ability to scale and seamlessly integrate at multiple levels of your organization is what differentiates us.
Sterling offers a unique combination of engineering solutions and Best of Staffing level service to help our clients and talent achieve their goals.
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