Aerospace SMT Programmer & NPI Specialist

Custom Manufacturing and Engineering; Florida; On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Custom Manufacturing & Engineering, Inc. in Florida on-site seeks an experienced SMT Programmer to support aerospace and defense electronics manufacturing. The role centers on programming, setting up, and optimizing Europlacer and DDM Novastar SMT equipment for PCB assemblies, from NPI through production.

You will generate programs from BOM/Gerber/CAD data, maintain libraries, and troubleshoot placement and process issues to ensure high reliability and quality in demanding applications.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience programming and operating automated SMT pick-and-place equipment.
• Experience with Europlacer and/or DDM Novastar equipment strongly preferred.
• Experience creating SMT programs from BOM, Gerber, CAD, and XY/centroid data.
• Strong understanding of the SMT manufacturing process, including solder paste printing, component placement, reflow, and inspection.
• Knowledge of electronic components, package types, polarity/orientation, feeders, nozzles, fiducials, and machine vision systems.
• Ability to read and interpret assembly drawings, schematics, BOMs, component datasheets, and manufacturing documentation.

Responsibilities

• Create, modify, debug, and optimize programs for Europlacer and DDM Novastar pick-and-place equipment.
• Program and support Europlacer equipment using applicable Europlacer programming software, including offline programming capabilities.
• Program and support DDM Novastar automated placement equipment, including SMTrue Run-Optimize or applicable Novastar software.
• Generate machine programs from BOMs, Gerber files, CAD data, centroid/XY placement files, assembly drawings, and customer documentation.
• Use Siemens Valor Process Preparation or similar software to prepare manufacturing data and support SMT programming.
• Create and maintain component libraries, package definitions, feeder setups, nozzle assignments, fiducials, placement coordinates, and component orientation/polarity.
• Set up and support SMT production equipment, including pick-and-place machines, solder paste/stencil printing, reflow, and inspection equipment.
• Perform program verification and first-article builds to confirm component placement, orientation, polarity, and assembly accuracy.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) and transition new PCB assemblies into production.
• Troubleshoot placement errors, machine vision issues, feeder problems, component recognition issues, and other SMT process problems.
• Optimize machine programs, feeder arrangements, and production setups to improve quality, efficiency, throughput, and changeover time.
• Work directly with Engineering, Quality, and Production to resolve manufacturing defects and process issues.
• Support root-cause analysis, corrective actions, and continuous improvement activities.
• Implement engineering changes and maintain accurate program revisions, setup documentation, and manufacturing instructions.
• Follow applicable ESD, FOD, quality, safety, and workmanship requirements.

Skills

SMT programming

Europlacer

DDM Novastar

BOM/Gerber/CAD data

Solder paste printing

Reflow/Inspection

Read drawings/docs

Troubleshooting

Job description

Custom Manufacturing & Engineering, Inc. in Florida on-site seeks an experienced SMT Programmer to support aerospace and defense electronics manufacturing. The role centers on programming, setting up, and optimizing Europlacer and DDM Novastar SMT equipment for PCB assemblies, from NPI through production.

You will generate programs from BOM/Gerber/CAD data, maintain libraries, and troubleshoot placement and process issues to ensure high reliability and quality in demanding applications.