Lead Spacecraft PCB Assembly Engineer

Apex Space, Inc.; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

World‑class healthcare

Comprehensive PTO (vacation)

Job summary

Apex Space, Inc. in Playa Vista, CA, seeks a PCBA Manufacturing Development Engineer to develop, implement, and scale manufacturing processes for high‑reliability spacecraft electronics.

You will own process development from prototype builds through production ramp, coordinating with avionics engineering, manufacturing technicians, quality, and suppliers to improve yield and ensure robust hardware quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical field with focus on electronics fabrication.
• 4+ years in PCBA manufacturing engineering, electronics manufacturing, or SMT process development.
• Hands-on experience with SMT assembly, soldering, reflow profiling, and PCBA inspection.
• Understanding PCB fabrication, packaging, solder joint reliability, and assembly requirements.
• Experience troubleshooting defects and implementing corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and optimize PCBA manufacturing processes for spacecraft avionics and electronic hardware.
• Own process development from prototype builds through qualification and production ramp.
• Establish SMT assembly processes including paste printing, placement, reflow, and inspection.
• Develop processes for through-hole, selective soldering, hand soldering, and rework.
• Define manufacturing requirements, process parameters, inspection criteria, and workmanship standards.
• Partner with avionics design to address manufacturability challenges.
• Support equipment selection, tooling, line configuration, and manufacturing readiness.
• Investigate and resolve PCBA defects, including solder joint failures and contamination.
• Develop process controls and validation methods to improve first-pass yield and throughput.
• Collaborate with quality to drive root cause investigations and corrective actions.
• Support board-level inspection and testing (AOI, X-ray, ICT, functional tests).
• Work with external partners to ensure process consistency and readiness.

Skills

PCBA manufacturing

SMT process development

Troubleshooting PCBAs

DFM/DFMA

Education

B.S. in Electrical/Manufacturing/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

AOI systems

X-ray inspection

IPC 610 / J-STD-001 knowledge

Rework equipment

Job description

Apex Space, Inc. in Playa Vista, CA, seeks a PCBA Manufacturing Development Engineer to develop, implement, and scale manufacturing processes for high‑reliability spacecraft electronics.

You will own process development from prototype builds through production ramp, coordinating with avionics engineering, manufacturing technicians, quality, and suppliers to improve yield and ensure robust hardware quality.