With a passion for electronics and a background in aerospace and audio, our recently hired Electronic Test Technician, Jacob Peterson is an asset to the MJS Designs team. With less than a year in his role, Jacob has already made an impact in our testing department, dedicating time to enhancing our testing procedures while expanding his knowledge.
“In my free time I am always educating myself further because electronics are constantly changing. There’s so much that MJS Designs does and the diverse project requirements change day-by-day.”
Jacob’s fascination with electronics started at a young age, when he found joy in fixing old gaming systems for friends. This passion led him into the world of vintage stereos from the 1970s, which he acquired off of eBay. Intrigued by the audio quality, he embarked on a journey to discover the ins and outs of the systems and the electronic makeup behind them. As a musician, Jacob truly appreciates sound systems and wanted to learn more about electronics in order to apply it to audio, especially when he started designing his own systems. Despite initially studying music in college, his interest in electronics led him to change his major. Upon graduation, Jacob entered the job force working in aerospace, and then with car audio amplifiers, combining his two interests daily: music and electronics. In October 2023, he joined MJS Designs, where he continues to foster his interest in electronics.
As the Electronic Test Technician, Jacob plays a pivotal role in the reliability, functionality and quality of electronic products at MJS Designs. One of his main responsibilities is programming and operating the SPEA 4060 flying probe test machine, a highly advanced piece of equipment that performs automated electrical testing on printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs). He also trouble shoots the PCBAs as necessary, along with managing any repairs. He ensures that the PCBAs pass test and customer requirements. Jacob also collaborates closely with Senior Test Technician, Dave Robbins, and Test Engineer, Tim Jefferies, to ensure the test programs are compliant, and he communicates with other departments for any electronic-related questions.
“What I love about the job is that I am not doing the same thing every day. Each circuit is different. Each need is different for each circuit. I like a challenge.”
For Jacob, he finds that he gets most excited when there is a challenge, and being able to work with the flying probe test machine is one of his favorite challenges thus far. He also relishes the opportunity to engage with electronics daily, and is fueled by the constant on-the-job learning. Since joining MJS Designs, he has immersed himself in diverse projects, gaining invaluable insights into manufacturing operations white honing his skills with the flying probe. Jacob attributes his positive experience to the supportive and collaborative team atmosphere.
“We are so fortunate that Jacob joined our team,” says Dawn Northrop, president of MJS Designs. “He is highly skilled when it comes to printed circuit board and component circuitry which has made him the perfect fit to take on the Spea 4060 programming. And not only that, Jacob is a pleasure to work with. He is thoughtful and makes suggestions where ever he sees an opportunity for improvement in manufacturing due to his experiences, not just with test. Early on, he was instrumental with an organizational project in the test lab and made improvements in test documentation.”
In his free time, Jacob still enjoys working with electronics and repairs audio equipment and designs his own hi-fi stereos. When he is not busy doing this, he also loves listening to music, collecting vinyl records and spending time with his family.
For more than 45 years, MJS Designs has brought together hard-working industry movers with a passion for electronic engineering and bringing client projects to life. We provide quality assemblies, designs and test solutions for industry leaders in the semiconductor, agriculture, automotive, commercial, aerospace and military industries. To learn about our test solutions and how MJS Designs can help with your next project, visit our test page here.