Supplier Industrialization & Quality Engineer - PCBA

Figure is an AI Robotics company developing a general-purpose humanoid. Our Humanoid is designed for corporate tasks targeting labor shortages and jobs that are undesirable or unsafe. We are based in San Jose, CA and require 5 days/week in-office collaboration. 

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Supplier Industrialization Engineer (SIE) with a deep specialization in Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBAs) and Top Level Assemblies (TLAs) . In this critical role, you will be the technical expert responsible for ensuring the quality, reliability, and manufacturability of our PCBA components from our global supplier base. You will bridge the gap between design engineering and manufacturing, driving continuous improvement and scaling our production capabilities to meet our ambitious goals.

Responsibilities

Supplier Development & Qualification: 

• Conduct comprehensive audits and assessments of existing and potential PCBA suppliers (domestic and international) to evaluate their manufacturing infrastructure, process controls, automation levels, and quality systems.
• Collaborate within Supply Chain and Engineering teams to define rigorous supplier selection criteria and execute sourcing strategies.
• Lead supplier onboarding, development, and risk mitigation strategies to ensure long-term quality, cost optimization, and supply chain resilience.

Design for Manufacturability (DFM) & Assembly (DFA): 

• Actively participate in early-stage product development, providing critical DFM/DFA feedback on PCBA designs to engineering teams.
• Work closely with design engineers to optimize PCBA layouts for manufacturability, integrating supplier-specific feedback into part and assembly designs (e.g., panelization, stencil design, soldering, AOI, ICT).
• Ensure manufacturing best practices are embedded early in the design process.

Process Optimization & Manufacturing Readiness: 

• Lead the development and validation of new SMT (Surface Mount Technology) processes and technologies (e.g., fine-pitch, micro-BGA, PoP, 0201/01005 components) at supplier sites.
• Develop and implement Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs) to identify bottlenecks, improve throughput, and optimize automation.
• Drive prototyping and pilot builds to evaluate and refine PCBA manufacturing processes prior to volume ramp-up.
• Implement End-of-Line (EOL) test strategies and in-line process validation to ensure stable and repeatable quality.
• Identify and implement automation and process controls for scalable, cost-efficient PCBA manufacturing.
• Lead trials and qualifications for new solder pastes, fluxes, nozzles, and reflow profiles.

Quality & Compliance: 

• Collaborate with the Quality team to establish robust vendor certification processes, ensuring high-performance PCBAs.
• Implement quality controls at suppliers, pushing defect prevention upstream through root cause analysis and corrective actions (SCARs - Supplier Corrective Action Requests).
• Deploy and monitor Statistical Process Control (SPC) methodologies, ensuring data-driven decision-making and process stability.
• Develop and implement Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (pFMEA) to proactively identify and mitigate risks in PCBA manufacturing.
• Lead Design of Experiments (DOE) and Gage R&R studies to validate process robustness, test equipment reliability, and measurement system accuracy.
• Own and be responsible for field quality failures, driving suppliers to implement sustainable corrective actions and lessons learned.

Supplier Management & Performance: 

• Determine and manage production line layout capacity by balancing cycle time and driving process flow changes at supplier sites.
• Drive continuous improvement in supplier scalability, cost, and quality performance, minimizing inspections and improving first-pass yield.
• Act as the critical-to-quality (CTQ) leadership during New Product Introductions (NPIs) for suppliers.
• Facilitate clear communication of technical requirements between suppliers and internal teams (Purchasing, Quality, Design).
• Utilize data analytics tools to analyze process trends, identify quality issues, and drive improvements.
• Partner with suppliers to implement robust quality systems and drive operational excellence.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 7+ years of experience progressive experience in supplier industrialization, manufacturing engineering, or process engineering, with a strong focus on Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) and Top Level Assembly (TLA).
• Deep understanding of PCBA manufacturing processes, including SMT, Through-Hole Technology (THT), reflow, conformal coating, underfill, washing, press fit, pin insertion, and depanelization.
• Proficiency in Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles.
• Strong knowledge and practical experience with quality methodologies and tools (e.g., Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA), Fishbone, Process Mapping, 5S, SPC, pFMEA, DOE, Gage R&R).
• Solid experience with New Product Introductions (NPIs) and project management in a manufacturing environment.
• Familiarity with industry standards such as IPC-A-600, IPC-A-610, J-STD-001.
• Experience with CAD software and PCBA layout tools.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and drive actionable insights.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with suppliers and internal cross-functional teams.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 30%, sometimes with short notice, to engage with manufacturing partners.
• Self-motivated, hands-on, and adaptable to a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Bonus Qualifications: 

• Master's degree in a relevant engineering field.  
• Certifications such as ASQ CQE, CQM, CRE, CQA. 
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies (Green Belt or Black Belt certification a plus). 
• Experience in the [mention relevant industries, e.g., automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics, medical device] industry.

 

The US base salary range for this full-time position is between $140,000 - $220,000 annually.

The pay offered for this position may vary based on several individual factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package may also include additional components/benefits depending on the specific role. This information will be shared if an employment offer is extended.