Hardware & Embedded System – Electronics Technician

About the role

Job Description – Hardware & Embedded System – Electronics Technician Job Purpose To support the R&D Embedded team in the assembly, testing, debugging, modification, repair and validation of electronic circuits, PCBs and cable assemblies used in ROVs and other advanced marine-electronics systems. The technician must be comfortable with fine-pitch SMD and through-hole components, prototype and high-density boards, and must be able to identify and resolve hardware issues independently. Key Requirement: Hands-on expertise is the primary requirement for this position. Candidates with strong practical PCB soldering, rework, testing and component-level debugging skills will be given high preference. Key Responsibilities PCB Assembly & Soldering • Perform high-quality SMD and through-hole soldering on prototype and production PCBs. • Solder and rework fine-pitch ICs – QFN, QFP, SOIC, TSSOP, 0603 / 0402 and other small SMD components. • Perform component replacement, wiring modifications and PCB rework. • Inspect solder joints for defects such as bridging, insufficient solder, cold joints, lifted pads, tombstoning and solder shorts. • Perform PCB cleaning and post-solder inspection. • Handle sensitive electronic components using appropriate ESD protection procedures. Hardware Debugging & Troubleshooting • Perform component-level troubleshooting and debugging of analog, digital, power, communication and mixed-signal circuits. • Identify faults using multimeters, oscilloscopes, electronic loads, DC power supplies, function generators, logic analyzers and other laboratory equipment. • Trace power rails and signal paths to identify faulty components and circuit-level issues. • Troubleshoot problems such as power supply failures, short circuits and excessive current consumption, incorrect voltage levels, communication failures, component overheating, signal integrity issues, intermittent faults and PCB assembly defects. • Perform systematic root-cause analysis and implement corrective actions. PCB Rework & Repair • Carry out component-level PCB repair and rework on prototype and assembled boards. • Replace damaged or defective ICs, capacitors, resistors, connectors, diodes, MOSFETs, regulators and other components. • Perform pad / track repair and wire modifications where required. • Use hot-air rework stations, soldering stations, preheaters / hot plates, microscopes and other rework equipment safely. • Support R&D engineers during prototype modifications and design validation. Testing & Validation • Perform functional testing of electronic circuits and PCB assemblies according to test procedures. • Conduct power-up testing, current-consumption measurements, load testing, communication testing and voltage / signal verification. • Assist engineers in prototype validation and debugging. • Record test results, observations, failures and corrective actions. • Support environmental and reliability testing when required. Cable Harness, Sealing & ROV Integration • Build and terminate cable harnesses, tethers and connector assemblies, including crimping, heat-shrink and sealing of waterproof / underwater connectors. • Carry out potting, encapsulation and conformal coating of electronics as per process instructions. • Integrate electronics into ROV sub-assemblies (pressure housings, thrusters, cameras, lights, sensors) and support system-level, tank and field trials. R&D Support • Work closely with hardware design engineers during prototype development and bring-up. • Assist in PCB assembly and testing of new designs. • Support engineering teams in troubleshooting field-returned or failed boards. • Provide practical feedback on PCB assembly, solderability, component placement, accessibility and reworkability. • Maintain proper documentation of modifications and rework performed on prototype boards. Lab, Inventory & Quality • Maintain the lab inventory of components, consumables and tools; raise material requests and support BOM kitting with Stores. • Keep the electronics lab organised and ESD-safe, and keep track of equipment calibration and maintenance. • Follow quality procedures, using IPC workmanship standards as the reference for solder joint acceptance. Required Qualifications & Experience • Education: Diploma in Electronics, Electronics & Communication, Electrical or a related field. • Experience: 1–3 years of hands-on experience in PCB assembly, soldering, electronics testing and hardware debugging preferred. Freshers with exceptional practical soldering and debugging skills may also be considered. • Preferred Experience: Prototype PCBs and R&D hardware; fine-pitch SMD soldering and PCB rework; component-level fault diagnosis; debugging power electronics and communication interfaces. • Industry Exposure: Marine electronics, robotics, ROVs, industrial electronics or embedded systems will be an added advantage. Skills & Competencies Technical / Functional Skills (Must Have) • Excellent SMD and through-hole soldering, including fine-pitch ICs • Strong PCB debugging and component-level fault-finding • Good understanding of electronic components and their operation • Reading and understanding schematics, PCB layouts and datasheets • Working knowledge of digital and analog circuits, DC-DC converters and power supplies, microcontrollers and embedded hardware • Interfaces: UART, RS232, RS485, I2C, SPI and Ethernet • Connectors, protection circuits and power distribution • Measurement of voltage, current, resistance, continuity and power • Effective use of multimeter and oscilloscope for hardware debugging • PCB inspection and rework techniques • Cable harness making, crimping and connector termination • ESD handling and electronic laboratory safety Tools & Equipment • Soldering station, hot-air rework station, hot plate / preheater • Digital multimeter, oscilloscope, LCR meter • DC power supply, electronic load, function / signal generator, logic analyzer • Microscope or magnifying inspection system • Crimping tools, wire strippers and heat gun • ESD-safe workstations and tools Good to Have • Potting / encapsulation and conformal coating • Flashing firmware on microcontroller boards (Arduino / STM32) • Safe handling of Li-ion battery packs, motors and ESCs Behavioral / Soft Skills • Analytical and systematic approach to fault finding • Attention to detail • Ability to work independently on hardware failures • Good documentation skills • Ability to work effectively with R&D engineers; able to handle requests from multiple engineers • Ownership and reliability • Willingness to work on prototype and experimental hardware • Willingness to support tank / field trials and occasional travel • Strong safety and ESD awareness Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) • First-pass yield of assembled PCBs and harnesses (defects caught at inspection / testing) • Turnaround time for assembly, rework and debug requests vs agreed timelines • Rework or failure rate attributable to workmanship • Time-to-diagnose and fix rate for failed and field-returned boards • Completeness and accuracy of test records, rework logs and modification documentation • Lab inventory accuracy; no builds blocked by missed material requests • Compliance with ESD and safety audits Performance Expectations – the candidate should be able to independently: • Assemble prototype PCBs with high-quality soldering • Inspect PCBs and identify assembly defects • Power up and safely test new hardware • Debug hardware faults down to component level • Perform SMD component replacement and PCB rework • Use laboratory instruments to diagnose electrical and signal-level problems • Document failures, modifications, test results and corrective actions • Support engineers during prototype development and hardware validation