Surface-mount technology machine operator
Also known as: SMT machine operator, operator of surface-mount technology machine, operator of SMT machine, SMT operator, soldering machine operative, electronics surface mount soldering machine operator
About this occupation
Surface-mount technology machine operators use surface-mount technology (SMT) machines to mount and solder small electronic components onto printed circuit boards to create surface-mounted devices (SMD).
Essential skills and knowledge
- ensure conformity to specifications
- ensure public safety and security
- prepare board for soldering
- clean printed circuit board
- inspect quality of products
- read assembly drawings
- read standard blueprints
- printed circuit boards
- assemble printed circuit boards
- circuit diagrams
- report defective manufacturing materials
- coat printed circuit board
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers (O*NET 51-2022.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Inspect or test wiring installations, assemblies, or circuits for resistance factors or for operation, and record results.
- Assemble electrical or electronic systems or support structures and install components, units, subassemblies, wiring, or assembly casings, using rivets, bolts, soldering or micro-welding equipment.
- Explain assembly procedures or techniques to other workers.
- Confer with supervisors or engineers to plan or review work activities or to resolve production problems.
- Pack finished assemblies for shipment, and transport them to storage areas, using hoists or handtrucks.
- Clean parts, using cleaning solutions, air hoses, and cloths.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 2 of 5
- Interests
- Realistic, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring, Active Listening, Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.2)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Training
- Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
- Industrial Machinery Mechanics
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians
- Calibration Technologists and Technicians
- Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.