VALOR DFM Engineer – Aerospace & Defense

Location: Naperville, IL

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VALOR DFM Engineer – Aerospace & Defense

Location: Naperville, IL 60563 (On-site) | Also open to Longmont, CO or Westborough, MA

Salary: $75,000.00 - $85,000.00 a year

Job Type: Full-time, 1st Shift

Job Overview

We are seeking a VALOR DFM (Design for Manufacturing) Engineer to join our Aerospace & Defense Division. In this critical role, you will perform design-for-manufacturing analysis using the VALOR platform to evaluate electronics PCBA assembly layouts.

You will ensure strict adherence to IPC guidelines, component manufacturer specifications, and industry standard practices. By translating VALOR output reports into qualified risk assessments, you will drive key design modifications, improve manufacturability, and maximize overall quality and yield.

Key Responsibilities

• DFM Analysis: Perform comprehensive Design for Manufacturing (DFM) analysis on complex electronics PCBA assembly layouts using the VALOR platform.

• Compliance Evaluation: Evaluate PCB/PCBA designs against IPC guidelines, manufacturer recommendations, and defense industry best practices.

• Risk Reporting: Generate qualified and quantified risk assessment reports in a standardized format, proposing actionable design modifications to improve production quality and yield.

• Component Research: Research, manage, and interpret electronic part data and component libraries.

• Design Optimization: Collaborate cross-functionally on PCB panel and array design optimization.

Qualifications

Required:

• Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen (Required to comply with ITAR, DFAR, and CUI regulations).

• Education: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Electrical Engineering (EE).

• Experience: 3+ years of experience working with basic PCB design guidelines (e.g., real estate constraints, component proximity, thermal relief, copper density/distribution, trace/pad copper balance).

• Technical Skills: Proven experience managing, viewing, and interpreting PCB files using standard viewers such as:

  • Cadence / Allegro

  • ODB++

  • Gerber / ASCII files

  • KiCAD

  • Siemens Xpedition

  • CAMvu

• Component Knowledge: Experience searching, validating, and interpreting electronic part data and component libraries.

Preferred:

• Prior component engineering experience.

• Hands-on PCBA assembly experience (SMT, Pin-Through-Hole, Press-Fit interconnects).

• Direct experience with PCB panel/array design.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support our employees' health, well-being, and financial security:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus a company-paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

• Insurance & Protection: Company-paid basic Life/AD&D insurance, Short-Term Disability (STD), and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance, with voluntary supplemental options available.

• Financial Security: Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with a competitive company match.

• Paid Time Off: Generous Paid Vacation Time, Sick Leave, and company-paid Holidays.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.