PCBA Manufacturing Engineer

Rocket EMS•San Jose, CA

3d•$90,000 - $110,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Manufacturing Engineer supports and improves printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) manufacturing processes in a high-mix, fast-paced electronics manufacturing environment. The role works closely with production, process engineering, quality, test, materials, and program management to help ensure assemblies are built efficiently, consistently, and in compliance with customer requirements. It requires hands-on PCBA manufacturing experience across processes such as SMT, through-hole, rework, selective solder, conformal coating, test, and final inspection, along with strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail. The position is based in a PCBA manufacturing facility in Santa Clara, California, with both office work and hands-on production-floor support. The production environment includes SMT lines, inspection equipment, soldering operations, test areas, conformal coating, rework, and final assembly. Compensation is based on experience, qualifications, and market conditions, with a listed pay range of $90,000–$110,000 USD. Due to the nature of work at Rocket EMS, access to export-controlled technical data or technology may be required. The successful candidate must be eligible for access under applicable U.S. export-control laws or eligible for any required government authorization.

Requirements

At least 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 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 and willingness to spend significant time on the production floor.
Ability to work on the production floor for extended periods; sit, stand, walk, bend, and reach as needed; and occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
Ability to use a computer, review detailed documentation, and inspect small electronic components.
Ability to follow ESD, safety, and clean manufacturing practices.

Nice To Haves

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.

Responsibilities

Support day-to-day PCBA manufacturing operations to meet production schedules, quality requirements, and customer commitments.
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, engineering change orders, deviations, and manufacturing requirements.
Support new product introduction, including process planning, first-article builds, prototype builds, and transition to production.
Identify and resolve manufacturing issues involving SMT, through-hole, soldering, rework, coating, inspection, test, and final assembly.
Investigate defects with production and quality teams, determine root causes, and implement corrective actions.
Assist with DFM/DFA reviews and provide manufacturability feedback to customers or internal teams.
Create and maintain process flows, manufacturing routings, labor standards, and production support documentation.
Support continuous improvement 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 involving shortages, AVL concerns, substitutions, or documentation gaps.
Support implementation of engineering changes and ensure they are communicated to production.
Maintain a safe, organized, and efficient production environment.