SMT / SMD Technician
Halifax | £30,000 to £32,000 | Permanent

KO2’s client, a well-respected electronics manufacturer based in Halifax, is seeking an experienced SMT / SMD Technician to take responsibility for the daily operation of their Surface Mount production lines. This role is vital to ensuring the efficient and high-quality output of the SMT / SMD lines in line with production targets and departmental quality standards.

Reporting directly to the Operations Manager, the successful candidate will also support the R&D department when required. The business is currently operating two full SMT / SMD lines: one mature line using Juki equipment and a newer Europlacer line introduced in late 2024, which is in the process of being fully commissioned.

The ideal candidate will bring strong hands-on experience with SMT / SMD machinery, including Juki and/or Europlacer programmable pick and place equipment, and will be confident working with minimal supervision. This is a key role within the production team, especially as the current technician transitions toward retirement and is currently unavailable.

Key Responsibilities
Operate and maintain SMT / SMD production equipment including pick and place machines, reflow ovens, screen printers and AOI systems
Perform troubleshooting, component identification and first-off inspections
Carry out rework and soldering using industry best practices
Program, set up and monitor SMT / SMD equipment to meet daily schedules
Support and train operators, maintain performance data and assist with equipment maintenance
Contribute to the development and testing of R&D samples and prototype builds
Support Quality Control with repairs and quarantined items

Qualifications and Experience

Minimum 5 years’ experience in a similar SMT / SMD technician role
Desirable to hold an HNC/HND or degree in electronics, electrical or manufacturing disciplines
Experience using Juki or Europlacer equipment
Familiarity with IPC standards and soldering techniques
Competent in problem-solving, attention to detail and managing workloads independently
Basic computer skills and working knowledge of Google suite

Additional Information
Working hours are 7:00 to 17:00 Monday to Wednesday and 7:00 to 16:30 on Thursday, with no work on Fridays. This equates to a 37.5-hour working week including a 30-minute unpaid lunch break each day.
Annual leave entitlement is 150 hours plus bank holidays.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced SMT / SMD Technician looking to take ownership of a critical part of the production process within a growing and well-equipped facility.

To apply or for more information, please contact KO2 Recruitment.

Job Title: Applications Engineer (Lab & Customer-Facing)
Location: Sheffield, UK (On-site)
Salary: Up to £85,000 (Depending on Experience)
Industry: Semiconductors / IC Design
Funding: Series A (£9M Raised)

About Us:
KO2 are working with a fast-growing, venture-backed semiconductor company based in Sheffield, developing next-generation IC-based silicon solutions with exceptional early customer feedback. Following a successful £9 million Series A funding round, we’re scaling our team to meet global demand from customers across Asia, Europe, and North America.

The Opportunity:
KO2’s client are looking for a Junior & Senior Applications Engineer to join the team in Sheffield. This is a hands-on, hybrid role that combines technical lab-based work with customer interaction. You’ll be central to bridging engineering and customer support — investigating and responding to technical enquiries, running measurements and tests in the lab, and communicating your findings directly to customers.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone with 2+ years of relevant industry experience or a technically strong individual looking to transition into a customer-facing role.

What You’ll Do:

• Perform in-depth lab testing and measurements on our silicon products
• Analyze, document, and communicate findings to internal teams and external customers
• Manage and respond to customer technical inquiries
• Represent the company at trade shows and industry events
• Collaborate with engineering and product teams to provide customer feedback
• Contribute to future planning of field applications support as we expand internationally

What We’re Looking For:

• A degree in Electronics, Physics, or a related engineering discipline
• 2+ years’ experience in a semiconductor or electronics-focused role (preferred)
• Strong hands-on lab skills and the ability to troubleshoot hardware issues
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Comfortable interfacing with customers and representing the business professionally
• Self-motivated and willing to work on-site full time in Sheffield

Nice to Have:

• Prior experience in an applications engineering or customer-facing technical role
• Familiarity with international semiconductor markets or manufacturing partners
• Mandarin language skills (not required, but helpful due to customer base)

Why Join Them?

• Be part of an ambitious startup with global growth plans
• Work closely with experienced engineers and founders
• Shape the direction of customer-facing engineering in a company with real momentum
• Competitive salary and opportunity for career progression

Electronics Engineer – Industrial Automation
Sheffield
Full-Time | Permanent

Salary up to £55,000 + Benefits

Are you an Electronics Engineer with a passion for innovation and precision? Join a well-established leader in the industrial automation sector, known for delivering reliable, high-performance solutions to a global client base.

Our client, based in Sheffield, has built an excellent reputation for technical excellence and forward-thinking product development. As part of a small, agile engineering team, you’ll have a direct impact on the creation of cutting-edge automation products that power industrial efficiency and safety.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and development of analogue and digital circuits
• PCB layout and schematic design
• Development of embedded software
• Product testing, debugging, and documentation
• Involvement in R&D projects and new product development

Key Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience in analogue and digital circuit design
• Proficiency in PCB design and layout – Altium, KiCad, PADs etc
• Embedded software development
• Microcontroller development – Microchip PIC, ARM, STM, TI etc
• Desirable: Assembler programming and design for EMC compliance
• Strong problem-solving abilities and a collaborative mindset

Apply today with an up-to-date CV or contact Laurence Powell or Andrew Knight at KO2 Recruitment for more details.

Position: Electronic Software Engineer

Location: Pickering

Salary: Up to £50,000

KO2 are seeking a talented Electronic Software Engineer to join a leading business based in Pickering that designs and manufacturing a range of industry leading devices that are used around the globe. This is a fantastic opportunity to work within a successful company that is part of a larger group of growing businesses.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the full design life cycle – from cradle to grave
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and test software
• Design electronic circuits, PCBs and schematic capture
• Ensure software is designed, tested, and optimized for performance, security, and reliability.
• Work to required standards and processes

Key Skills & Experience Required:

• Analogue and digital circuit design
• PCB design and layout – Altium Designer desired.
• Proficiency in Embedded C programming.
• Experience working with microprocessors and microcontrollers such as ARM, Microchip, NXP32, or ESP32.
• Communication systems and protocols (RS232, RS485, SPI, I²C, Ethernet, etc.)
• Strong problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail.

What They Offer:

• £50,000 per year salary.
• Full-time role: 5 days a week, flexitime, on-site in Pickering.
• Benefits include: 25 days holiday + bank holidays, strong employer pension, private healthcare and life insurance.
• The opportunity to work with a successful, stable business that is part of a large group of companies.

If you have a strong background in electronics and embedded systems and want to be part of an exciting, fast-paced industry, we’d love to hear from you

To apply or for more information, get in touch with Laurence or Andrew @KO2 Recruitment today!

Job Title: Electronics Engineer

Location: Sheffield, UK

Our client is an innovative cybersecurity start-up focused on creating cutting-edge, secure electronics solutions. They are passionate about pushing the boundaries of technology and building products that are at the forefront of cybersecurity, protecting the digital landscape from emerging threats.

Job Description:

They are seeking a talented Electronics Engineer to join our growing team. The successful candidate will have strong hands-on electronics design skills and experience working with multidisciplinary teams. You will be responsible for contributing to the design and development of new products, ensuring they meet high standards for performance, security, and usability.

Key Responsibilities:

• Electronics Design & Development: Work hands-on with circuit design, schematic capture, and PCB layout. Expertise in Altium Designer is ideal, but experience with other PCB design tools is also valued.
• Documentation & Process Buildout: Assist in documenting designs, processes, and procedures. Help establish new workflows and best practices for electronics design within the company.
• Design & Build Best Practices: Apply your knowledge to help guide the team in building and designing electronics the right way, ensuring quality and efficiency in all stages of development.
• Testing & Production: Take an active role in the testing and production stages, ensuring prototypes meet design specifications and perform as expected. Contribute to the production of high-quality products ready for market deployment.
• Collaborate with a Multidisciplinary Team: Work closely with other engineers, including software and hardware engineers, to ensure seamless integration between hardware and software systems.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Hands-on Electronics Design: Proven experience with designing and developing electronics systems.
• PCB Design Skills: Strong experience with PCB design tools such as Altium Designer.
• Industry Experience: A decent level of industry experience in electronics engineering, preferably in a related field such as cybersecurity, IoT, or embedded systems.
• Testing & Production Knowledge: Solid understanding of testing, validation, and production processes. Experience with prototyping and product lifecycle management.
• Team Collaboration: Comfortable working in a small, multidisciplinary team environment where you will be contributing ideas and collaborating with colleagues across various engineering domains.

Desirable Skills:

• Experience in the cybersecurity or embedded systems industry.
• Familiarity with secure hardware design and hardware-based security solutions.
• Knowledge of security protocols and their implementation in hardware.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Opportunity to join a growing start-up with huge potential for career advancement.
• A dynamic, inclusive, and collaborative work environment.
• Flexible working hours.
• Professional development opportunities and access to cutting-edge technologies.

If you’re passionate about designing secure, high-performance electronics and want to work on ground-breaking cybersecurity products, apply today with an up to date CV!