Conformal Coating Lead

Conformal Coating Lead

About the Role

As a Conformal Coating Lead at Rocket EMS, you will provide hands-on leadership to the team responsible for applying protective coatings to high-reliability electronic assemblies. You’ll coordinate daily work, support operators, verify workmanship, and help meet production schedules. This role requires strong conformal coating experience, attention to detail, and the ability to train employees while maintaining consistent quality and safe chemical handling practices.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily work assignments with the Production Supervisor to meet priorities, schedules, and quality requirements.

• Work alongside operators to perform masking, coating application, curing, demasking, and inspection.

• Review MPIs, assembly drawings, coating maps, and customer requirements before starting work; ensure operators understand coverage requirements and keep-out areas.

• Set up and operate manual and automated selective coating equipment using approved programs, materials, and process settings.

• Verify masking protects connectors, test points, mounting features, and other areas that must remain free of coating.

• Check coating coverage, thickness, and cure condition using approved inspection methods and acceptance criteria.

• Identify defects such as insufficient coverage, dewetting, bubbles, excessive buildup, and coating in restricted areas; contain affected assemblies and coordinate disposition with Quality and Engineering.

• Ensure workmanship meets applicable IPC-A-610 Class 2 and Class 3 requirements and customer specifications.

• Verify material identification, lot traceability, shelf life, mixing requirements, pot life, and storage conditions according to approved instructions.

• Train and coach operators on equipment operation, workmanship, documentation, and safe handling practices; communicate training needs to the supervisor.

• Troubleshoot routine equipment and application issues within approved procedures; escalate problems requiring maintenance or engineering support.

• Complete required production records, material usage logs, and ERP transactions; communicate output, defects, downtime, and shift handoffs.

• Perform assigned equipment cleaning and routine maintenance; coordinate additional service with Maintenance.

• Support first-article reviews, new product introductions, and improvements that reduce defects, rework, and production delays.

• Enforce PPE, ventilation, chemical handling, waste disposal, housekeeping, and ESD requirements.

Qualifications

Education

• High school diploma or equivalent.

• Technical training in electronics manufacturing or conformal coating preferred.

Experience

• 3 years of hands-on conformal coating experience in electronics manufacturing.

• Previous experience as a production lead, trainer, or senior operator preferred.

• Experience with manual coating methods and automated selective coating systems, such as PVA or Nordson Asymtek.

• Working knowledge of coating materials such as acrylic, urethane, and silicone.

• Experience with masking, curing, coating inspection, and approved touch-up or rework methods.

• Experience supporting high-mix production and high-reliability electronic assemblies preferred.

Skills

• Ability to lead by example, communicate priorities, and coach operators.

• Ability to read and follow MPIs, assembly drawings, coating maps, and customer requirements.

• Strong attention to detail, manual dexterity, and defect recognition.

• Practical troubleshooting skills and sound judgment about when to escalate issues.

• Ability to organize work, monitor progress, and maintain accurate production records.

• Working knowledge of chemical safety, PPE, ESD controls, and material traceability.

Benefits

• 401(k) with company match

• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance

• Paid time off and holidays

• Career growth opportunities in high-reliability electronics manufacturing

Schedule

• Full-time, Monday–Friday

• Overtime and weekends as needed for production support

ITAR/EAR Compliance: Due to the nature of the work performed at Rocket EMS, this position may require access to export-controlled technical data or technology. The successful candidate must be eligible to access such information under applicable U.S. export-control laws or be eligible for any required government authorization.

Rocket EMS will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the California Fair Chance Act. Candidates are not required to disclose criminal history or participate in a background check unless and until a conditional offer of employment has been made. Any final offer of employment may be conditioned on completion of a background check, consistent with applicable law.
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