Troubleshoot defects such as solder bridging, insufficient solder, component misalignment, poor wetting, contamination, coating adhesion problems, and assembly damage.
Create and maintain manufacturing process instructions (MPIs), equipment setup instructions, visual aids, and standard work that translate approved product requirements into clear operator tasks.
Review assembly drawings, BOMs, engineering changes, and customer requirements to ensure they are correctly implemented at the workstation.
Conduct controlled process trials and validation activities; document results and implement changes through the required approval process.
Develop and qualify process tooling and assembly aids, including stencils, solder pallets, board supports, masking fixtures, and workstation fixtures.
Analyze first-pass yield, defects, rework, scrap, cycle times, and process-related downtime to identify causes and verify improvements.
Lead process-related root cause investigations with Quality and Test Engineering, connecting inspection and test failures to upstream assembly conditions.
Develop and maintain process-level PFMEAs, control plans, parameter checks, and reaction plans with Quality Engineering.
Support NPI and first-article builds by preparing equipment, proving assembly methods, identifying process risks, and documenting lessons learned.
Train operators, leads, and technicians on assembly methods, equipment setup, process controls, and defect prevention.
Improve workstation layout, process sequencing within assigned operations, changeover methods, and line balance to reduce variation and wasted motion.
Coordinate with Maintenance and equipment vendors to distinguish process issues from equipment failures and support equipment qualification and maintenance planning.
Escalate design limitations, conflicting requirements, and issues requiring broader manufacturing changes to Manufacturing Engineering.
Support audits and maintain compliance with applicable safety, ESD, chemical handling, environmental, and customer requirements.
Qualifications
Education
Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field preferred.
Equivalent hands-on electronics manufacturing experience considered.
Experience
3+ years of process or manufacturing engineering experience in PCBA or electronics manufacturing.
Hands-on experience developing and troubleshooting SMT, through-hole, soldering, cleaning, coating, or mechanical assembly processes.
Experience establishing equipment settings, qualifying processes, and resolving recurring manufacturing defects.
Experience creating work instructions and training production personnel.
Working knowledge of J-STD-001 soldering requirements and IPC-A-610 acceptance criteria for Class 2 and Class 3 assemblies, as applicable to customer requirements.
Experience with conformal coating materials, application methods, cleanliness, and curing preferred.
Experience in high-reliability electronics manufacturing, including aerospace or defense applications, preferred.
Skills
Strong practical troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and corrective action skills.
Ability to interpret assembly drawings, BOMs, schematics, customer specifications, and equipment documentation.
Ability to establish process limits, validate changes, and sustain repeatable results.
Working knowledge of statistical process control (SPC), design of experiments (DOE), PFMEA, and Lean manufacturing.
Familiarity with equipment programming, thermal profiling, inspection data, and process measurement tools.
Strong communication, documentation, and operator training skills.
Ability to prioritize urgent production needs while completing sustained process improvements.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and manufacturing documentation systems; ERP/MES experience preferred.
Benefits
401(k) with company match
Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
Paid time off
Career growth opportunities in high-reliability electronics manufacturing
Schedule
8-hour shift, Monday–Friday
Overtime and weekends as needed
Pay Range
$70,000—$100,000 USD
ITAR/EAR Compliance: Due to the nature of the work performed at Rocket EMS, this position may require access to export-controlled technical data or technology. The successful candidate must be eligible to access such information under applicable U.S. export-control laws or be eligible for any required government authorization.
Rocket EMS will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the California Fair Chance Act. Candidates are not required to disclose criminal history or participate in a background check unless and until a conditional offer of employment has been made. Any final offer of employment may be conditioned on completion of a background check, consistent with applicable law. #zr
