Lead, SMT Process Engineer

Northwood; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Comprehensive medical coverage

Vision coverage

Dental coverage

Flexible spending accounts

Flexible time off

10+ paid holidays per year

Retirement savings plans

Professional development

Job summary

Northwood is seeking a Lead SMT Process Engineer to build and scale our in‑house PCB assembly capability. You will lead development from prototype through production, define standards, and work with Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply‑Chain, and Production to ensure robust, scalable electronics manufacturing.

This hands‑on leadership role sits at the intersection of process development, factory build‑out, equipment selection, and team building, delivering a tightly integrated PCB

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.

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 build‑out 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, and 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

Skills

PCB assembly

SMT process engineering

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Equipment selection

Education

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

Tools

Manufacturo MES/MRP integration

PCB assembly equipment

Job description

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

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 build‑out, 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 build‑out 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

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

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

Compensation

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. Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at Northwood. In addition to base salary, Northwood Space offers long‑term incentives such as company stock options and discretionary performance bonuses. Benefits include equity, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, flexible spending accounts, flexible time off, 10 or more paid holidays per year, retirement savings plans, and opportunities for professional development.

Additional Information

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

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.