What does an assembly & test technician do?
An assembly & test technician works at manufacturing facilities where they are in charge of assembling product components and subjecting them to various tests, ensuring compliance with standards and regulations. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their organization of employment, it usually includes understanding diagrams and project requirements, establishing and implementing test parameters, operating tools and equipment, maintaining records, and producing detailed reports. There are also times when they must coordinate with quality control teams, working together in a joint effort to improve production processes and results.
Assembly & test technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real assembly & test technician resumes:
- Install and manage windows applications for the user, maintain servers and manage help desk operations.
- Perform inspections on transformers, electrical motors, and switches.
- Test transformers and adapters using ac power source and power resistors.
- Help transition from PLC and hydraulic actuation to current computer control equipment.
- Apply and practice QA processes to ensure products are within tolerances and safe to deliver to clients.
- Assist the test labs in the writing and maintenance of ISO documentation relate to product test work instructions.
- Write non conformance reports for defective parts and work with QA to perform root cause analysis as needed.
- Work on more than twenty different power supplies ranging from 700 volt cap chargers to 180,000 volt DC supplies.
- Participate in company wide ISO certification.
- Perform battery teardown for construction analysis.
- Instruct other technicians to test and debug digital and analog circuits systematically by following troubleshooting flow chart.
- Pack finished assemblies for shipment and transport them to testing department, using hoists or hand trucks.
- Perform diagnostic testing, troubleshooting to component level, and repair of DC power supply boards.
- Rework (SMT) surface mount and through hole solder fountain systems for high pin count through hole placement.
- Bench test and trouble-shot to component level, various microprocessor base modules used in remote environmental applications.
Assembly & test technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 8% of Assembly & Test Technicians are proficient in Mechanical Assembly, Aerospace, and Dexterity. They’re also known for soft skills such as Observational skills, Writing skills, and Math skills.
We break down the percentage of Assembly & Test Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Mechanical Assembly, 8%
Performed electrical and mechanical assembly of portable amplifiers-Performed unit/board-level testing and alignment of electronic circuit boards
- Aerospace, 7%
Assembled and Hydraulic/Pneumatic tested electrical aerospace solenoids to blueprint specifications.
- Dexterity, 6%
Exercise judgment at a high degree of manual dexterity to maintain close tolerance sealing as prescribed by blueprints and specifications.
- Calipers, 5%
Use and maintain precision calibrated testing equipment, pressure gauges, dial indicators, OHM meters, calipers, micrometers.
- Test Results, 5%
Record and document all information and test results, noting pass or failure.
- FAA, 4%
Completed training and/or FAA certification requirements for the position.
Most assembly & test technicians use their skills in "mechanical assembly," "aerospace," and "dexterity" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential assembly & test technician responsibilities here:
Writing skills. Many assembly & test technician duties rely on writing skills. "electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians write reports about onsite construction, design problems, or testing results," so an assembly & test technician will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways assembly & test technician responsibilities rely on writing skills: "assist the test labs in the writing and maintenance of iso documentation related to product test work instructions. "
Math skills. This is an important skill for assembly & test technicians to perform their duties. For an example of how assembly & test technician responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians use mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting tasks." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an assembly & test technician: "performed highly complex analytical troubleshooting requiring excellent math skills. ".
Mechanical skills. assembly & test technician responsibilities often require "mechanical skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "electronic engineering technologists and technicians must use hand tools and soldering irons on small circuitry and electronic parts to build components by hand." This resume example shows what assembly & test technicians do with mechanical skills on a typical day: "assembled and tested hydro-mechanical and electro-mechanical flow-control products for various projects including the boeing apache helicopter. "
Communication skills. Another crucial skill for an assembly & test technician to carry out their responsibilities is "communication skills." A big part of what assembly & test technicians relies on this skill, since "electrical and electronic engineering technologists and technicians must be able to follow instructions from engineers and others." How this skill relates to assembly & test technician duties can be seen in an example from an assembly & test technician resume snippet: "performed rf communications test procedures, calibrated the test stations and fixtures, helped reduce the incidence of board failures. "
The three companies that hire the most assembly & test technicians are:
- Honeywell17 assembly & test technicians jobs
- PDS Tech15 assembly & test technicians jobs
- Triumph Group7 assembly & test technicians jobs
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Compare different assembly & test technicians
Assembly & test technician vs. Engineering associate
An engineering associate is an individual whose job duties include analysis of project plans, development of product designs, and maintenance of equipment. The engineering fields where an engineering associate can find a job include civil, mechanical, and environmental. The requirements to qualify for the position include obtaining a bachelor's degree in engineering, familiarity with a specific industry, prior work experience related to the field, and possessing strong technical skills.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between assembly & test technicians and engineering associate. For instance, assembly & test technician responsibilities require skills such as "mechanical assembly," "aerospace," "dexterity," and "calipers." Whereas a engineering associate is skilled in "python," "java," "cad," and "c++." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Engineering associates tend to make the most money working in the energy industry, where they earn an average salary of $88,950. In contrast, assembly & test technicians make the biggest average salary, $47,194, in the transportation industry.The education levels that engineering associates earn slightly differ from assembly & test technicians. In particular, engineering associates are 8.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an assembly & test technician. Additionally, they're 0.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Assembly & test technician vs. Test operator
The job of a test operator is to test the functionality of electronic components, assemblies, units, parts, and systems in a manner consistent with standard procedures. As a test operator, you will perform a variety of duties that include working with engineers to ensure accurate procedures are being followed, perform different mechanical assembly operations, and inspecting products for the correct orientation and placement. Additionally, you will assemble electronics in their boxes and notify the quality/test engineer if the test yields below the acceptable levels.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real assembly & test technician resumes. While assembly & test technician responsibilities can utilize skills like "mechanical assembly," "aerospace," "dexterity," and "calipers," test operators use skills like "test equipment," "test procedures," "safety rules," and "circuit boards."
Test operators earn a lower average salary than assembly & test technicians. But test operators earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $44,634. Additionally, assembly & test technicians earn the highest salaries in the transportation with average pay of $47,194 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Test operators tend to reach similar levels of education than assembly & test technicians. In fact, they're 1.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Assembly & test technician vs. Instrument and controls technician
An instrument and controls technician is responsible for checking and inspecting the condition of production equipment and machinery, ensuring its stability to support business functions and manufacturing processes. Instrument and control technicians study schematics and blueprints of system components to assemble parts and analyze its features for measurement. They also resolve system failures and write resolution reports to prevent the reoccurrence of downtime that may pose risks to the production, avoiding operational delays and potential hazards within the premises.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from assembly & test technician resumes include skills like "mechanical assembly," "aerospace," "dexterity," and "calipers," whereas an instrument and controls technician is more likely to list skills in "control systems," "electrical equipment," "process control," and "preventative maintenance. "
Instrument and controls technicians earn the highest salary when working in the energy industry, where they receive an average salary of $71,218. Comparatively, assembly & test technicians have the highest earning potential in the transportation industry, with an average salary of $47,194.instrument and controls technicians typically earn similar educational levels compared to assembly & test technicians. Specifically, they're 3.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Assembly & test technician vs. Senior electronics technician
A Senior Electronics Technician organizes and directs the operations of an electronics shop. They develop and document test processes for electronic equipment.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between assembly & test technicians and senior electronics technicians, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an assembly & test technician might have more use for skills like "mechanical assembly," "aerospace," "dexterity," and "calipers." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of senior electronics technicians require skills like "technical support," "analog," "ac," and "dc. "
Senior electronics technicians enjoy the best pay in the energy industry, with an average salary of $72,781. For comparison, assembly & test technicians earn the highest salary in the transportation industry.senior electronics technicians reach similar levels of education compared to assembly & test technicians, in general. The difference is that they're 1.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of assembly & test technician
Updated January 8, 2025
