SMT Line Lead

Etched • San Jose, CA

10d • $250,000 - $350,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Etched is building hardware for frontier intelligence, focusing on co-designing chips, racks, software, and manufacturing for best-in-class throughput and latency, particularly for inference workloads. The SMT Line Lead will be responsible for running and operating Etched's in-house SMT line, managing the entire process from incoming material to finished, inspected modules. This role involves building and leading the line's operations team, including incoming quality, material handling, quality and test, machine operators, and rework. The goal is to transform a newly installed line into a reliable, high-yield operation, working collaboratively with process engineering, DFM, equipment, and procurement teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field or comparable experience.
• Minimum of five years of experience in electronics manufacturing (PCBA/SMT), with at least two years leading production teams.
• Hands-on experience running an SMT line day to day: build scheduling, kitting, feeder setup, changeovers, and line-side inventory.
• Experience managing mixed teams of full-time employees and contractors across shifts.
• Working knowledge of SMT inspection and quality (SPI, AOI, X-ray), IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001, and MSD handling.
• Familiarity with SMT process validation and characterization, enough to partner closely with process engineering on yield.
• Track record of building processes, training programs, and metrics from scratch.
• Passionate about automating parts of the job with agentic AI models, and willing to learn about this on the job.

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading an SMT line at a fast-growing hardware startup.
• Has brought a new SMT line from first build to stable production.
• Experience with complex, high-value assemblies (large BGAs, server or accelerator boards) and BGA rework.
• Experience with MES, traceability, or inventory systems.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day operation of a US-based SMT line assembling Etched's modules, for both NPI and mass production.
• Hire, lead, and develop the line's operations team: incoming quality (IQC), material handlers, quality and test technicians, machine operators, and rework technicians.
• Own shift schedules and coverage for full-time employees and contractors, including overtime, cross-training, and backfill. Manage contractor headcount with staffing partners.
• Build training and certification programs (IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, ESD, MSD handling) and maintain a skills matrix.
• Turn program priorities into a daily and weekly build schedule, coordinate changeovers, and resequence quickly when parts or priorities change.
• Own the flow from receiving to finished goods: incoming inspection, kitting, feeder setup and staging, line-side inventory, WIP, and finished-goods packing and storage.
• Work with supply chain and procurement teams to ensure build targets are met. Collaborate with the inventory team to ensure material availability and quality.
• Run the inspection flow (IQC, SPI, AOI, AXI, test) and the rework operation, including ASIC rework. Partner with process engineering to debug yield issues and close out corrective actions.
• Define how the line runs: work instructions, travelers, shift handoffs, nonconforming material disposition, and ESD, 5S, and safety programs.
• Report line status, schedule attainment, yield, scrap, and inventory health daily, and raise risks early.
• Collaborate with engineering and capital projects teams to bring up future lines on world-class timelines as Etched scales.
• Help extract data from the production line and set up an auto-research loop to improve SMT throughput and yield.
• Lead the integration of frontier AI technology into SMT operations.

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)
• Various wellness benefits covering fitness, mental health, and more
• Daily lunch and dinner in our office
• Unlimited compute budget subject to ROI justification

What This Job Offers

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