Process Engineer

SolarEdge•Austin, TX

26d•Onsite

About The Position

SolarEdge is seeking an experienced Process Engineer to join their manufacturing team in Austin. This role provides senior-level technical leadership for front-end (FE) production processes, with responsibility for process stability, equipment utilization, quality, cost, and readiness for high-volume manufacturing. The Process Engineer will lead complex problem-solving, equipment and product qualification, continuous improvement, and new product introduction initiatives in a production environment involving PCB fabrication and printed circuit board assembly (PCBA).

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial, Materials Engineering, or related technical field.
Substantial process engineering experience in PCB fabrication, PCBA, SMT assembly, or electronics manufacturing within a high-volume production environment, including ownership of complex production issues and improvement initiatives.
Advanced working knowledge of solder paste printing, component placement, reflow profiling, wave/selective soldering, cleaning, inspection, rework, and test-related process controls.
Strong knowledge of IPC workmanship standards, ESD controls, quality systems, statistical process control, process capability, control plans, and electronics manufacturing best practices.
Demonstrated ability to analyze SPC trends, first-pass yield, equipment utilization, capacity, defect Pareto data, scrap, rework, and downtime to determine root causes and implement sustainable corrective actions.
Hands-on experience using 5 Why, fishbone diagrams, 8D, DMAIC, FMEA, Lean, and Six Sigma methods to lead measurable process improvements.
Experience leading manufacturing readiness, DFM reviews, process validation, equipment and product qualification, risk assessment, and high-volume production ramp-up.
Experience qualifying production equipment and developing or improving SMT stencils, tooling, fixtures, jigs, pallets, and carriers, including maintenance, calibration, verification, and spare-parts considerations.
Ability to create and control clear SOPs, work instructions, process specifications, flow maps, qualification reports, troubleshooting guides, and manufacturing control documentation.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and experience with manufacturing systems, statistical analysis tools, MES/ERP platforms, or data visualization tools used for process monitoring and decision-making.
Strong communication, project leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to influence production, quality, test, maintenance, supply chain, design engineering, headquarters teams, and external suppliers.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, respond to urgent production needs, make sound technical decisions, and drive actions to closure with minimal supervision.

Responsibilities

Own, develop, document, and continuously improve PCB fabrication and PCBA production processes, including SMT, solder paste printing, component placement, reflow, wave/selective soldering, cleaning, inspection, and test-related process controls.
Ensure front-end production output and maximum equipment utilization are achieved at expected quality and cost by monitoring throughput, cycle time, downtime, capacity, yield, scrap, and rework performance.
Lead structured root cause investigations and corrective actions for FE defects and complex PCBA issues, including solder defects, placement errors, opens, shorts, tombstoning, bridging, contamination, insufficient wetting, and delamination.
Plan and execute equipment, process, material, tooling, and product qualifications; establish acceptance criteria, validate capability, document results, and support release to production.
Lead manufacturing readiness for new product introduction and production ramp-up, partnering with design engineering, quality, test, operations, and supply chain on DFM reviews, process validation, risk reduction, product qualification, capacity, and scalable production controls.
Define and maintain critical process parameters, control plans, SOPs, work instructions, process specifications, process flow maps, risk assessments, FMEAs, and production standards to ensure repeatable and compliant operations.
Develop, review, qualify, and continuously improve jigs, fixtures, pallets, carriers, and SMT stencils to strengthen process stability, solder paste deposition quality, manufacturability, ergonomics, and repeatable production performance.
Lead Lean, Six Sigma, and data-driven improvement projects that increase equipment utilization and throughput, improve line balance, reduce cycle time and defects, and identify sustainable cost-reduction opportunities.
Evaluate and implement production equipment and technologies, establish preventive maintenance, calibration, verification, and spare-parts requirements, and partner with maintenance and suppliers to resolve equipment-related constraints.
Coordinate with external suppliers on equipment, tooling, materials, services, and technical deliverables; support quotation reviews, purchase documentation, and timely processing of approved vendor payment requirements.
Provide technical guidance to production and engineering partners, drive actions to closure, and ensure processes meet internal standards, customer requirements, IPC workmanship criteria, ESD controls, environmental requirements, and applicable safety regulations.