Lead SMT Process Engineer

Department: Engineering

Location: Torrance, CA

Compensation: $100K – $175K • Offers Equity

Employment Type: FullTime

About Northwood Space:

Northwood is on a mission to build a data highway between earth and space and bring the benefits of space to the masses through innovations in space communications technologies. If you like building quickly and seeing your work deployed in locations around the globe with real impact, we want you at Northwood.

The Role:
We are seeking a Lead SMT Process Engineer to build and scale our in-house PCB assembly capability. This person will be responsible for developing the full board assembly process, defining assembly standards, standing up the PCB assembly area, and building the team required to execute it. You will work cross-functionally with Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Production to ensure our electronics manufacturing capability is robust, scalable, and tightly integrated into overall factory operations and systems.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can move fluidly between process development, factory buildout, equipment selection, production readiness, and team building.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and own the in-house SMT and PCB assembly manufacturing process from prototype through production

• Define process standards for board assembly, inspection, rework, traceability, quality control, and workmanship

• Establish how PCB assembly workflows, quality data, and production tracking integrate with Manufacturo and broader manufacturing systems

• Lead the design and buildout of the PCB assembly area, including layout, material flow, operator flow, and future production scaling considerations

• Specify, source, and implement equipment and infrastructure required for PCB assembly, including:

  • SMT line equipment

  • Inspection tools

  • Rework tools

  • ESD/anti-static controls

  • Benches, tooling, fixtures, and storage

  • Power, cooling, compressed air, and other facility needs

• Develop manufacturing processes for solder paste printing, pick-and-place, reflow, inspection, hand assembly, rework, and repair

• Create process documentation including work instructions, process flows, training materials, control plans, and acceptance criteria

• Define quality standards and inspection methodologies for assembled boards

• Partner with Electrical Engineers to drive DFM/DFT for PCBAs, improving manufacturability, yield, reliability, and testability

• Identify and resolve process issues, yield losses, and quality escapes through structured root cause analysis and continuous improvement

• Build and lead the PCB assembly organization, including hiring and developing manufacturing engineers, production supervisors, and technicians

• Establish training systems and production readiness standards for PCB assembly operators and technicians

• Drive ramp readiness for new products and ongoing improvements for cost, throughput, and quality

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field

• 6+ years of experience in PCB assembly, SMT process engineering, electronics manufacturing, or related manufacturing roles

• Experience developing and scaling SMT or PCB assembly processes in a production environment

• Experience with PCB assembly equipment, inspection methods, and rework processes

• Experience creating manufacturing documentation, standards, and process controls

• Experience working cross-functionally with design engineering on DFM for electronics assemblies

• Strong understanding of ESD controls, electronics manufacturing quality requirements, and operator workflow design

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience standing up a new PCB assembly line or manufacturing area from scratch

• Experience selecting and implementing SMT production equipment and supporting infrastructure

• Experience integrating manufacturing processes with MES/MRP systems such as Manufacturo

• Familiarity with IPC standards such as IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, and related electronics manufacturing requirements

• Experience hiring, training, and leading technicians, supervisors, and manufacturing engineers

• Strong problem-solving skills with experience in yield improvement, defect reduction, and root cause analysis

• Comfortable in a fast-paced environment where processes, products, and factory systems are being built in parallel

Ideal Candidate:

• Hands-on and practical, with the ability to both define strategy and execute on the factory floor

• Excited by building new manufacturing capability from the ground up

• Strong technical judgment in process development, tooling, equipment, and quality systems

• Able to balance speed with rigor in a low-volume, high-complexity manufacturing environment

• Effective cross-functional communicator who can work closely with EE, manufacturing, and operations teams

Additional Information:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.