What are the responsibilities and job description for the AOI Technician position at Programmers.io?
Job Description:
Position: AOI Technician
Location: Santa Clara, CA (Onsite)
Hire Type: Full Time
Roles & Responsibilities (Reliability Lab)
1. Equipment Operation
Operate automated inspection (AOI) equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Load and run inspection recipes for various product types and test conditions
Verify correct setup, alignment, and configuration before each run
Monitor machine performance during operation and respond to alarms or faults
2. Recipe Management
Load, validate, and execute pre-defined inspection recipes
Support engineers in developing, testing, and optimizing new inspection recipes
Document recipe parameters, changes, and results
Ensure proper version control and traceability of recipes
3. Material Handling
Safely load and unload samples, boards, or devices into/from AOI equipment
Ensure proper handling to avoid contamination, damage, or misalignment
Track lot information and maintain accurate records of inspected materials
4. Preventative & Minor Maintenance
Perform routine preventative maintenance (PM) per schedule (cleaning, calibration checks, etc.)
Conduct basic troubleshooting and minor repairs (e.g., sensor cleaning, alignment checks)
Escalate complex equipment issues to engineering or vendor support
Maintain maintenance logs and ensure equipment readiness
5. Collaboration with Engineering
Work closely with reliability and process engineers to:
Develop and refine inspection recipes
Evaluate inspection results and identify defects or anomalies
Support root cause analysis and failure investigations
Provide feedback on equipment performance and process improvements
6. Data Collection & Reporting
Record inspection results accurately in tracking systems
Generate basic reports or summaries of inspection outcomes
Flag abnormal trends, defects, or inconsistencies for engineering review
7. Lab Support & Cross-Functional Tasks
Assist with other environmental reliability lab activities when AOI workload is low, including:
Supporting environmental test setups (thermal cycling, humidity, etc.)
Handling test samples and fixtures
Performing basic lab organization and upkeep
Maintain flexibility to support evolving lab priorities
8. Safety & Compliance
Follow all lab safety procedures and equipment handling guidelines
Ensure compliance with ESD, cleanliness, and reliability lab protocols
Participate in safety training and continuous improvement initiatives
9. Continuous Improvement
Identify opportunities to improve AOI processes, throughput, and reliability
Suggest enhancements to workflows, documentation, and equipment usage
Support implementation of best practices and standardization