With over 40 years of experience – nine of those spent at MJS Designs – Electronic Test Technician, Dave Robbins, is a seasoned expert in the world of testing. His extensive knowledge, passion for testing, troubleshooting and training and overall enthusiasm for his craft, make him an integral member of both the test team and MJS Designs as a whole.
“I very much enjoy the core of what I do. The thing I enjoy doing the most is troubleshooting. I also very much enjoy the test program development at MJS Designs,” expressed Dave. “What I do is puzzle-solving. When I’m building one of these projects, generally 80-90% of it builds with no problem. The other 10-20% is the most interesting part – what does it take to make the test program work?”
From an early age, Dave had a natural talent for fixing things. His curiosity and sharp problem-solving skills quickly set him apart, sparking an early interest in electronics—a passion that may have been in his blood. With an uncle working as an engineer technician at CBS Studios in New York City, Dave felt drawn to follow a similar path. After briefly studying technology and proudly serving in the U.S. military, specializing in radio communications, Dave pursued a lifelong career in electronics. Over the course of four decades, he honed his expertise through hands-on experience, learning on the job and mastering the art of troubleshooting and quality assurance. Since the start of his career, Dave has witnessed a remarkable evolution in technology – it has become faster, smaller and infinitely more complex. For Dave, being part of this evolution has been nothing short of fascinating.
“What drives me is making things better. I love working to improve my process, improving the tests and making them faster or more comprehensive,” shares Dave.
As an Electronic Test Technician, a title Dave has held since joining MJS Designs in 2016, he plays a vital role in ensuring that the electronic systems and components function correctly and meet quality standards, with programming or testing at the forefront of his responsibilities. One highlight of his work is building and optimizing flying probe test programs, specifically using the state-of-the-art SPEA 4080 Flying Probe test machine—a tool that allows for precision diagnostics and testing of complex circuits. His expertise spans functional testing, calibration, and electrostatic discharge (ESD) processes and certifications, which is an industry-wide standard to minimize static discharge. Dave’s role also extends into engineering, an aspect he particularly enjoys. Beyond his hands-on work with testing equipment, Dave collaborates with the other test technicians, test engineers, the quality assurance team, the production and scheduling managers, and customer service representatives. As a respected leader on the second shift, Dave is often the go-to resource for test engineering, troubleshooting and guidance.
“The whole team works well together and the people here are what I enjoy most about MJS. They are incredibly smart, incredibly nice, and it really does feel like a family in many different ways. It’s a unique place,” says Dave. “The people working here know it, our customers know it and our vendors know it.”
Dave enjoys the challenge that comes with testing and troubleshooting and loves figuring out any issues. At MJS Designs, he has contributed to numerous exciting projects, from supporting national security initiatives to witnessing small startups grow into significant enterprises. He’s especially proud of the team’s accomplishments, such as delivering successful boards for Mars missions, a testament to the collaborative efforts of the entire team. His favorite part about working at MJS Designs is the people and the supportive environment. As his long career nears retirement, he encourages those looking to get into the field to stay on top of education as much as possible in order to stay ahead of the ever changing industry.
“Dave has been an incredible asset to the MJS Designs team, and I’m truly grateful he found his way to us. We can always count on Dave to identify test issues and offer solutions to our customers to resolve the issues. He is a great communicator. His pass down emails are the first emails I read every morning, as I know Dave will provide a very thorough update on test projects in process. Our account manager, Sonia Suarez, values these updates just as much, if not more, than I do. Words cannot describe how much Dave will be missed when he retires next year! While we will have a talented person join our team to continue his work, Dave will never be replaceable, ” says Dawn Northrop, President of MJS Designs.
When Dave isn’t testing and troubleshooting at MJS Designs, you can find him biking, sometimes even to and from the office. This past presidential election, he worked for the Maricopa County Elections and is looking forward to doing so in the future. At home, he spends quality time with his cats and enjoys experimenting in the kitchen as he hones his cooking skills.
For over 45 years, MJS Designs has been a trusted leader in PCB engineering, CAD Layout, assembly and test driven by a commitment to delivering exceptional quality and precision. We partner with industry leaders in the semiconductor, agriculture, medical, commercial, aerospace, and military sectors, providing reliable PCB assembly solutions that bring their projects to life. Learn more about our capabilities and how MJS Designs can support your next project by visiting our homepage here.
