Electronics Manufacturing/Process Engineer (SMT/PCBA)

Design West Technologies, Inc. • Tustin, CA

6d

About The Position

Design West Technologies Inc. (DWT) is a leading provider of cutting-edge aerospace and military technologies. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, we specialize in designing, manufacturing, and delivering high-performance solutions for our clients worldwide. Our team comprises passionate professionals dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in aerospace and defense.
We are expanding our electronics manufacturing capabilities and are seeking a high-performing Electronics Manufacturing / Process Engineer to help drive operational excellence in our PCB assembly and electronics production operations. Success in this role includes improving SMT first-pass yield, reducing defect rates, and accelerating NPI transitions from prototype to production. You will also drive higher machine uptime and line throughput while strengthening documentation, repeatability, process control, and cross-functional collaboration with Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Engineering.
Position Overview:
The Electronics Manufacturing / Process Engineer is responsible for developing, improving, and sustaining manufacturing processes related to SMT, through-hole, box build, and electronic assembly operations. This role is heavily focused on SMT/PCBA process engineering, line optimization, yield improvement, defect reduction, and support of new product introduction (NPI). The ideal candidate combines hands-on factory floor problem solving with strong engineering discipline and thrives in a fast-paced, high-mix / low-to-medium volume manufacturing environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering (Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial) or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of experience in electronics manufacturing, EMS, or PCB assembly environment.
• Strong knowledge of SMT manufacturing processes and PCB assembly best practices.
• Experience with pick-and-place, AOI, SPI, reflow ovens, stencil printing, and electronic test processes.
• Ability to read schematics, assembly drawings, Gerbers, BOMs, and ECO documentation.
• Experience troubleshooting production issues in a hands-on manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and cross-functional problem-solving skills.

Nice To Haves

• IPC-A-610, IPC J-STD-001, or related IPC certifications.
• Experience in defense, aerospace, or highly regulated manufacturing.
• Familiarity with ERP / MES systems.
• Familiarity Working with Juki SMT/AOI.
• Experience with high-reliability electronics, ruggedized systems, or mixed-technology assemblies.
• Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma training.

Responsibilities

• Optimize SMT production processes including solder paste printing, stencil setup, pick-and-place programming, reflow profiling, selective soldering, and hand assembly.
• Develop, validate, and maintain machine programs for printers, SPI, AOI, pick-and-place equipment, and related production systems.
• Improve first-pass yield, reduce defects, and increase throughput across electronic assembly lines.
• Troubleshoot common SMT defects including insufficient solder, bridging, tombstoning, skew, opens, and placement issues.
• Create and maintain work instructions, process flows, setup sheets, tooling documentation, and manufacturing routers.
• Design and improve fixtures, tooling, and ergonomic workstation layouts.
• Analyze line balance, labor efficiency, bottlenecks, and capacity utilization.
• Support preventive maintenance coordination and equipment uptime initiatives.
• Lead manufacturing readiness for new products from prototype through production release.
• Review Gerbers, assembly drawings, BOMs, AVL data, and manufacturing packages for producibility.
• Coordinate stencil design, feeder setup, tooling needs, and pilot builds.
• Provide DFM / DFA feedback to engineering teams.
• Drive root cause corrective action using 8D, 5 Why, Fishbone, Pareto, SPC, and Lean tools.
• Partner with Quality to reduce escapes, rework, scrap, and recurring process variation.
• Support internal audits and compliance requirements including IPC, AS9100, ISO9001, and customer standards.
• Use data to recommend process improvements and capital equipment upgrades.

Benefits

• Join a growing U.S. manufacturer supporting national security missions with products that matter.
• You will have the opportunity to directly impact factory performance, manufacturing capability, and the delivery of mission-critical systems to customers who depend on them.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level