Electronics Process Technician

At Viasat, the work you do helps people stay connected in ways that matter, from everyday moments to critical missions across air, land, sea, and space.

We're a place for people who are curious, bold, and motivated by meaningful work. Here, you'll have the opportunity to make an impact, explore new possibilities, and grow your career in ways that align with your interests and goals. When you're ready to take on something new, you'll find leaders who support your development and help you turn your ambition into action.

Viasat is seeking an experienced Electronics Process Technician specializing in Air-Vac hot air rework stations (DRS25 system). In this role, you will provide critical support to our Engineering teams by performing highly precise, complex rework on Printed Wiring Assemblies (PWAs) and Surface Mount Technology (SMT) components. You will be responsible for thermal profiling, component removal, and site dressing for high-value aerospace and defense electronics while maintaining strict compliance with aviation and defense quality standards. There will also be the potential for branching out into working with team members to address a variety of issues, supporting efforts to troubleshoot technical issues from production and the field, supporting qualification efforts for component changes, aiding the transition of prototype units to low rate initial production, lab support and management, setting up and maintaining test and development hardware, and board checkout.

• Precision Rework Operations: Perform selective de-soldering, component removal, site cleaning, and re-soldering of high-density SMT devices, including BGAs, LGAs, QFNs, and CSPs, using semi-automated Air-Vac Hot-Air Systems.
• Thermal Profiling & Optimization: Program, monitor, and optimize localized hot air/gas thermal profiles using a specialized closed-loop process to ensure uniform joint temperatures without damaging the PCB or adjacent components.
• Site Preparation & Alignment: Conduct non-contact vacuum site cleaning of residual solder pads, apply precise amounts of flux/paste, and use high-resolution vision alignment systems to target component placement within strict micron tolerances.
• Quality Inspections & Compliance: Evaluate components under heavy microscopy to verify compliance with industry standards like IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001. Coordinate directly with Quality Engineers to document nonconformances and process Material Review Board (MRB) dispositions.
• Equipment Maintenance: Perform basic maintenance, calibration checks, and tool changing (nozzles, vacuum cups, and thermocouples) on Air-Vac stations to sustain machine uptime and ensure process repeatability.

• Education: High school diploma, GED, or vocational technical certification.
• Experience: 3+ years of demonstrated hands-on experience in electronics manufacturing, specifically focusing on advanced SMT and BGA rework.
• US citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a SECRET security clearance is required
• This is an onsite role based in Carlsbad, CA.
• Machine Proficiency: Direct experience operating automated or semi-automated Air-Vac DRS/ONYX systems or equivalent high-end industrial convective hot gas rework platforms.
• Technical Certifications: Current or prior certification in IPC-7711/7721 (Rework, Modification, and Repair of Electronic Assemblies) and J-STD-001.
• Core Competencies:
  
  • Exceptional manual dexterity and experience working under high-magnification optical microscopes.
  • Ability to interpret engineering drawings, schematics, material bills, and custom manufacturing process documentation.
  • Solid understanding of Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) safety protocols in a defense manufacturing environment.

• Associate degree in Electronics Engineering Technology or a related discipline.
• Experience handling high-thermal-mass or multi-layer aerospace-grade assemblies.
• Familiarity with X-ray inspection equipment used to verify post-rework BGA solder integrity and voiding percentages.
• Experience troubleshooting complex digital PWAs (Processors, memory, FPGAs, CPLD, microcontrollers) to component-level root cause and coordinate/preform repairs and retests
• Experience identifying rework needed to isolate and/or repair problems
• Familiarity working closely with engineers to devise and monitor tests for troubleshooting problems
• Familiarity with standard test equipment (i.e., oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzer, power supplies, etc.)

Viasat is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, genetics, age, or veteran status or any other applicable legally protected status or characteristic. If you would like to request an accommodation on the basis of disability for completing this on-line application, please click here.