PCBA DFM Engineer

Etched • San Jose, CA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Etched is seeking a PCBA Design for Manufacturing (DFM) Engineer to ensure next-generation hardware is designed for reliable, scalable manufacturing. The role brings manufacturing expertise into the design process, resolves risks before boards are released, and establishes the design rules, documentation, and review practices needed for successful production ramps.

The engineer will work closely with Electrical Engineering, PCB Layout, Mechanical, Thermal, Power, Test, and Manufacturing teams to prepare products for production across Etched’s internal SMT operation and external manufacturing partners. The position combines PCBA manufacturing knowledge with disciplined documentation, clear technical communication, and practical use of AI tools to improve engineering workflows.

Requirements

• A degree in electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, or materials engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience in PCBA DFM, manufacturing engineering, or hardware NPI, including direct involvement in moving complex electronics from design into production.
• Strong understanding of SMT assembly processes, including stencil design, solder paste printing, component placement, reflow, inspection, and rework.
• Experience reviewing PCB layouts, component footprints, assembly drawings, bills of materials, and manufacturing release packages.
• Knowledge of manufacturability challenges associated with high-density assemblies, fine-pitch components, and large BGA packages.
• Ability to distinguish issues that require design changes from those addressable through manufacturing process development.
• Strong documentation and organizational skills, including revision-history management, tracking reviews and action items through closure, and producing clear technical reports for engineering and business stakeholders.
• Practical experience using AI tools for technical reporting, analysis, automation, or application development, and sound judgment when reviewing generated outputs.
• Experience working directly with design engineers and contract manufacturers to resolve technical issues.
• Familiarity with IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, and relevant PCB design and fabrication standards.
• Strong ownership, clear communication, and the ability to prioritize manufacturing risks across concurrent programs.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with high-performance compute, accelerator, server, or networking hardware.
• Experience with high-layer-count PCBs, HDI structures, via-in-pad designs, and board or package warpage.
• Experience with thermally demanding or high-power assemblies.
• Experience establishing DFM guidelines and formal design review processes.
• Hands-on experience with solder paste inspection, AOI, X-ray inspection, and assembly failure analysis.
• Experience supporting both internal SMT operations and external manufacturing partners.
• Experience with Python, SQL, or similar tools for engineering data analysis, automation, and application development.
• Experience with machine learning applications in manufacturing, such as defect classification, anomaly detection, yield prediction, or automated inspection.

Responsibilities

• Lead PCBA manufacturability reviews from early design through production release, evaluating component placement, footprints, spacing, solderability, assembly access, inspection coverage, and rework feasibility.
• Translate manufacturing review findings into actionable design changes, assign owners and deadlines, and verify implementation before builds and production release.
• Develop and maintain DFM rules, checklists, and review milestones that reflect the capabilities of internal SMT operations and external manufacturing partners.
• Maintain accurate, version-controlled, accessible review records, issue trackers, design decisions, manufacturing requirements, and lessons learned.
• Partner with design and process engineering teams to identify assembly challenges early, distinguish design limitations from process-development needs, and prepare products for repeatable volume production.
• Evaluate supplier DFM feedback, resolve technical questions, and align manufacturing requirements across internal operations and contract manufacturers.
• Investigate design-related assembly issues during prototype and NPI builds, and incorporate findings into subsequent board revisions, manufacturing guidelines, and future products.
• Use build results, inspection data, and failure analysis to reduce recurring defects, late design changes, board respins, scrap, and rework.
• Partner with Test Engineering to address test access, design-for-test requirements, and inspection limitations before production release.
• Use AI tools to develop technical reports, summarize DFM and build findings, and create lightweight applications for documentation, issue tracking, and data analysis; validate outputs for technical accuracy and protect sensitive engineering information.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision packages with generous premium coverage.
• $500 per month credit for waiving medical benefits.
• Housing subsidy of $2,500 per month for those living within walking distance of the office.
• Relocation support for those moving to San Jose (Santana Row).
• Wellness benefits covering fitness, mental health, and more.
• Daily lunch and dinner in the office.
• Unlimited compute budget subject to ROI justification.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed