Thick Film Printer Technician - Level 2

Job Description

Job Description

Thick Film Printer Technician – Level 2

Full Time + Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k with Company Match, PTO)

Job Type: Onsite

Hourly Range: $22.00 - $28.00, DOE

Shift: 2nd

Location: Poway, CA

Fralock is an engineered solutions provider of specialty components and subassemblies using advanced materials for high reliability, severe environment, and technically challenging applications. We develop and manufacture custom integrated solutions. Established in 1967, we are a critical solutions provider to Fortune 500 corporations, government, and targeted OEMs in a variety of industries including Semiconductor Equipment Manufacturing, Medical and Life Science, Aerospace and Defense, Industrial, Electronics, and Energy. Fralock is headquartered in Valencia, CA with manufacturing locations located throughout Northern and Southern California.

VISION

To be recognized by our customers as a leading solutions provider of proprietary engineered advanced materials for high reliability, severe environment, and technically challenging applications.

MISSION

To create value, profitably grow, and share our success with all stakeholders.

CULTURE

• Respect – We treat others the way they want to be treated.
• Integrity – We practice a high standard of ethics in our business dealings with customers, suppliers and employees.
• Responsiveness – We have a sense of urgency in responding to internal and external requests and work proactively to solve problems.
• Excellence/Competence – We empower our people to continuously improve and execute high quality work.
• Teamwork – We work together to achieve Fralock business objectives by communicating at a high level, by listening and having clarity in our expectations of one another.
• Individual Accountability and Personal Responsibility – We do what we have committed to do when we committed to doing it.

• Continuous Improvement across all segments of the company

This position requires access to information controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the successful candidate must be a "U.S. person" as defined in the ITAR and EAR (which generally means (i) be a citizen or national of the United States; or (ii) be a lawful permanent resident of the United States; or (iii) have been admitted to the United States as a refugee, or have been granted asylum, as specified under applicable law.

Main Functions

We are seeking a skilled and proactive Thick Film Printer Technician - Level 2 to join our technical manufacturing team. In this role, you will be responsible for setting up, adjusting, operating, and maintaining thick film screen printers, as well as monitoring drying and firing processes.

Working under moderate supervision, you will play a key role in minimizing print defects, executing routine maintenance, and supporting continuous improvement and yield-enhancement initiatives on the production floor.

Key Responsibilities

• Setup & Operation: Perform routine machine setups, screen alignment, and program selections on automated and semi-automated thick film screen printers.
• Process Monitoring & Quality Control: Inspect printed substrates for common defects (e.g., smearing, bridging, thickness variations, misregistration) using optical microscopes and measurement tools; make intermediate adjustments to squeegee pressure, snap-off, and print speed as needed.
• Inks & Material Handling: Handle, mix, and maintain conductive/resistive Inks according to procedure, monitoring viscosity, shelf-life, and proper screen cleaning/storage.
• Preventative Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Perform scheduled preventative maintenance routines, optical checks, and intermediate mechanical/pneumatic troubleshooting on printer platforms and auxiliary dryers.
• Documentation & Yield Tracking: Accurately record production output, lot tracking data, scrap logs, and traveler sign-offs in the manufacturing execution system (MES) or ERP platform.
• Continuous Improvement & 5S: Support 5S and Lean manufacturing initiatives by maintaining a clean, orderly, and ESD-safe printing workstation.
• Safety & Compliance: Strictly follow all plant safety guidelines, chemical handling procedures, cleanroom protocols, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Required Skills

• Technical Expertise:

• Intermediate proficiency in thick film screen printing operations, screen handling, and mesh/emulsion inspection.
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, process travelers, and equipment operating manuals.
• Competency in using optical inspection equipment, micrometers, calipers, and basic shop tools.
• Solid understanding of paste characteristics, substrate preparation, and basic drying profiles.

• Core Competencies:

• Solid problem-solving skills and attention to detail when identifying and resolving print defects.
• Good communication and teamwork skills to coordinate effectively with production operators, quality control, and engineering staff.
• Strong commitment to quality control, ESD compliance, and workplace safety standards

Education Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required. Technical trade school certification or coursework in a related technical discipline is a plus.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of hands-on experience operating and maintaining thick film screen printers or precision microelectronic assembly equipment.
• Solid foundation in screen printer setup (vision alignment, squeegee mechanics, snap-off adjustment).
• Familiarity with firing furnaces, belt dryers, and paste rheology.
• Proficiency using precision measurement and inspection tools.
• Basic proficiency with manufacturing execution software (MES/ERP) and Microsoft Office Suite.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for long periods, perform repetitive fin