Lead, SMT Process Engineer

Northwood Space; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity options

Comprehensive health care

Flexible vacation

Retirement savings plans

Opportunities for professional development

Job summary

A leading space technology firm is seeking a Lead SMT Process Engineer to develop and scale their in-house PCB assembly capabilities. This hands-on role involves defining assembly standards, building a team, and ensuring robust manufacturing capabilities. The ideal candidate will have over 6 years of experience in PCB assembly and be skilled in cross-functional collaboration. Benefits include equity and comprehensive health care, offering a compensation range from $100K to $175K.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in PCB assembly, SMT process engineering or related roles.
• Experience developing and scaling SMT or PCB assembly processes.
• Strong understanding of ESD controls and quality requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own the in-house SMT and PCB assembly manufacturing process.
• Define process standards for board assembly and quality control.
• Lead the design of the PCB assembly area and specify necessary equipment.

Skills

PCB assembly

SMT process engineering

Electronics manufacturing

Cross-functional teamwork

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering

Tools

Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

SMT line equipment

Inspection tools

Job description

Location

Torrance, CA

Employment Type

Full time

Department

Engineering

Compensation

• $100K – $175K • Offers Equity

Compensation at Northwood Space is based on role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual base pay is determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary depending on job‑related skills, education, experience, and technical expertise. In addition to base salary, Northwood Space offers long‑term incentives such as company stock options and discretionary performance bonuses. Benefits include equity, comprehensive health care, flexible vacation, retirement savings plans, and opportunities for professional development.

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.

Compensation Range: $100K - $175K