Manufacturing Engineer – PCBA Manufacturing

Location: Santa Clara, CA
Department: Manufacturing / Operations
Employment Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Operations Manager / Manufacturing Engineering Manager

Job Summary

The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for supporting and improving printed circuit board assembly manufacturing processes in a high-mix, fast-paced electronics manufacturing environment. This role will work closely with production, process engineering, quality, test, materials, and program management to ensure assemblies are built efficiently, consistently, and in compliance with customer requirements.

The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience in PCBA manufacturing, including SMT, through-hole, rework, selective solder, conformal coating, test, and final inspection processes. This position requires strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to drive continuous improvement across the production floor.

Key Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day PCBA manufacturing operations to ensure production schedules, quality requirements, and customer commitments are met.

• Develop, maintain, and improve manufacturing processes, work instructions, visual aids, routings, and production documentation.

• Provide technical support to production operators, leads, supervisors, quality inspectors, and test personnel.

• Review customer documentation, assembly drawings, bills of material, Gerber files, ECOs, deviations, and manufacturing requirements.

• Support new product introduction activities, including process planning, first article builds, prototype builds, and transition to production.

• Identify and resolve manufacturing issues related to SMT, through-hole, soldering, rework, coating, inspection, test, and final assembly.

• Work with production and quality teams to investigate defects, determine root cause, and implement corrective actions.

• Assist with DFM/DFA reviews and provide feedback to customers or internal teams to improve manufacturability.

• Create and maintain process flows, manufacturing routings, labor standards, and production support documentation.

• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on yield, throughput, cycle time, rework reduction, and labor efficiency.

• Analyze production data, defect trends, WIP movement, and process performance to identify improvement opportunities.

• Support equipment, tooling, fixture, and process validation activities.

• Work with quality to ensure compliance with IPC standards, customer specifications, and internal quality requirements.

• Assist with training production personnel on new processes, updated work instructions, and manufacturing best practices.

• Participate in MRB, root cause analysis, corrective action, and customer issue resolution as needed.

• Coordinate with materials and planning teams to resolve build readiness issues related to shortages, AVL concerns, substitutions, or documentation gaps.

• Support implementation of engineering changes and ensure changes are properly communicated to production.

• Maintain a safe, organized, and efficient production environment.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, process engineering, or production engineering in a PCBA or electronics manufacturing environment.

• Working knowledge of SMT, through-hole, soldering, rework, inspection, test, and final assembly processes.

• Familiarity with IPC-A-610, IPC-J-STD-001, and general electronics manufacturing quality standards.

• Ability to read and interpret assembly drawings, bills of material, schematics, work instructions, and customer specifications.

• Strong troubleshooting, analytical, and root cause analysis skills.

• Experience creating or maintaining manufacturing documentation, process instructions, and production routings.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and common manufacturing data analysis tools.

• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with production, quality, test, materials, and engineering teams.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

• Hands-on approach with a willingness to spend significant time on the production floor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field.

• Experience in an EMS or contract manufacturing environment.

• Experience with high-mix, low- to medium-volume PCBA production.

• Experience with SMT programming, stencil design, reflow profiling, selective solder, conformal coating, or automated inspection processes.

• Knowledge of AOI, AXI, flying probe, ICT, functional test, and box-build processes.

• Experience with ERP, MES, or shop-floor tracking systems.

• Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experience.

• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, or other highly regulated electronics customers.

• IPC certification or prior IPC training.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong technical problem-solving ability.

• Excellent attention to detail.

• Ability to work cross-functionally and communicate clearly with technical and non-technical teams.

• Strong sense of urgency and ownership.

• Ability to balance production support with long-term process improvement.

• Practical understanding of PCBA defects, soldering workmanship, component handling, ESD controls, and manufacturing flow.

• Comfortable working in a dynamic production environment with changing priorities.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work on the production floor for extended periods.

• Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and reach as needed.

• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.

• Ability to use a computer, review detailed documentation, and inspect small electronic components.

• Must be able to follow ESD, safety, and clean manufacturing practices.

Work Environment

This position is based in a PCBA manufacturing facility in Santa Clara, CA. The role will involve both office work and hands-on production floor support. The environment includes SMT lines, inspection equipment, soldering operations, test areas, conformal coating, rework, and final assembly processes.

Compensation

Compensation will be based on experience, qualifications, and market conditions.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

Rocket EMS will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the California Fair Chance Act. Candidates are not required to disclose criminal history or participate in a background check unless and until a conditional offer of employment has been made. Any final offer of employment may be conditioned on completion of a background check, consistent with applicable law.