Director of Engineering - PCBA Manufacturing

Rocket EMS; Carson City (NV); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket EMS seeks a Director of Engineering to oversee all process and manufacturing engineering for high-mix, high-reliability PCBA production, including NPI, DFM/DFX, sustaining engineering, and automation initiatives.

The role ensures compliance with IPC, J-STD, AS9100, and aerospace addendums while optimizing manufacturability, quality, cost, and throughput. Leadership across SMT, QA, and supply chain is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 10-15+ years in PCBA manufacturing engineering with at least 10+ years in a leadership role.
• Deep knowledge of IPC-J-STD-001 Class 3 & Space/Military Addendums, IPC-A-610 Class 3, AS9100D, IPC-7351, 7711/7721, 2221.
• Experience with aerospace, defense, medical, or other high-reliability electronics.
• Strong background in SMT, AOI/AXI, DFM/DFX, Rework, Chemical Wash, Polymerics, and test strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary engineering team (SMT Process, Manufacturing, NPI, and Automation).
• Drive engineering strategy aligned with quality, cost, yield, and delivery.
• Serve as technical authority for IPC-J-STD-001 Class 3, IPC-A-610 Class 3, IPC-7711/7721.
• Own company-wide engineering initiatives across PCBA manufacturing functions.
• Ensure process qualification and documentation aligns with aerospace addenda and customer requirements.
• Establish process windows, control plans, PFMEAs, and validation reports.
• Lead NPI/DFM/DFX reviews, tooling design, and prototype builds.
• Manage ECOs, configuration management, and revision control.
• Lead LEAN/CI programs to reduce waste and improve throughput.
• Collaborate with Quality Engineering on defects, root causes, and MRB.

Skills

Leadership

Multidisciplinary teams

Strategic planning

Quality systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering

Master’s preferred

Job description

The Director of Engineering oversees all process/manufacturing engineering functions within a high-mix, high-reliability PCBA manufacturing environment producing Class 3 aerospace and mission-critical assemblies. This role leads PCBA manufacturing engineering, process engineering, NPI, DFM/DFX, sustaining engineering, and automation/continuous improvement initiatives. The Director ensures that all engineering processes comply with IPC, J-STD, AS9100, and aerospace customer addendums while optimizing manufacturability, quality, cost, and throughput.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary engineering team (SMT Process, Manufacturing, New Product Introduction, and Automation).
• Drive engineering strategy aligned with company objectives for quality, cost, yield, and delivery.
• Serve as the technical authority for IPC-J-STD-001 Class 3, IPC-A-610 Class 3, IPC-7711/7721, and aerospace process controls.

Manufacturing / Process Engineering

• Own company-wide engineering initiatives across all PCBA manufacturing functional areas, including build readiness reviews and standardization efforts.
• Ensure process qualification and documentation aligns with J-STD-001 Space & Military Addendum and applicable aerospace customer requirements.
• Establish and maintain process windows, control plans, PFMEAs, and validation reports.

New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Lead DFM/DFX reviews, tooling design, stencil strategy, and prototype builds.
• Oversee creation of travelers, BOM validation, build instructions, and work instructions in compliance with AS9100.
• Manage engineering change control (ECOs), configuration management, and revision control.
• Lead LEAN/CI programs focused on waste reduction, defect elimination, and throughput improvement.
• Collaborate closely with Quality Engineering to address defects, root cause investigations, and MRB activities.
• Implement process monitoring, SPC, and industry 4.0 tools.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Production, Quality, Program Management, Supply Chain, and SMT departments.
• Provide engineering support during customer audits, FAIs, PFMEAs, and technical reviews.
• Partner with external suppliers on polymerics, tooling, fixtures, materials, and new process technologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 10-15+ years in PCBA manufacturing engineering with at least 10+ years in a leadership role.
• Deep knowledge of:
• IPC-J-STD-001 Class 3 & Space/Military Addendums
• IPC-A-610 Class 3
• AS9100D
• IPC-7351, 7711/7721, 2221
​
• Experience with aerospace, defense, medical, or other high-reliability electronics.
• Strong background in SMT (printing, placement, reflow), AOI/AXI, DFM/DFX, Rework, Chemical Wash, Polymerics, and test strategies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and technical decision-making abilities.