ABOUT THE ROLEThe Manufacturing Engineer supports the engineering and production departments while serving as thepermanent technical resource for the sales and quoting team. This role is anchored to the front end of thebusiness: you are the standing engineering resource for sales and quoting, and that support always comes firstwhen a customer opportunity is on the clock. Between quoting demands, you'll develop and improvemanufacturing processes on the floor.When a new RFQ arrives, sales comes to you. You own the technical review of customer drawings, files, and datapackages, and you answer three questions that gate every quote: Is this build within our capabilities? Whatfixtures, tooling, or NRE does it require? And how would we process it through the floor? You'll also field technicalquestions directly with customers during the quoting cycle, so sales never has to guess at an engineering answer.This role exists because accurate quotes start with accurate engineering judgment. You are the differencebetween a quote built on assumptions and a quote built on a process plan.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESQuoting & Front-End Support (Standing Priority)Perform technical review of customer data packages — BOMs, Gerbers/ODB++, fab drawings, assembly drawings, and specifications — for buildability and completenessDetermine capability fit: assess whether each opportunity falls within our equipment, process, and quality system capabilities, and clearly document any gaps or risksIdentify and scope fixtures, tooling, stencils, test fixtures, and other NRE required for the build, with cost and lead-time inputs for the quoteDefine how the build would be processed: draft process routings and flows (SMT, through-hole, wash, conformal coat, inspection, test) that anchor labor estimatesHandle technical questions to and from customers during quoting — draft engineering questions (EQs), evaluate customer responses, and support technical calls alongside salesProvide DFM/DFA feedback during quoting and document manufacturability issues for customer dispositionSupport requote activity for ECOs and design revisions with updated technical assessmentsConfiguration Management & Part Number ReleaseCreate and release new part numbers into the ERP system (Cetec) with complete, standardized descriptions per our naming conventionsPerform the validation step before an order is released to the floor: verify the ERP BOM matches the customer's BOM of record, all part numbers carry proper descriptions, and approved alternates (ALTs) are valid, current, and documentedMaintain configuration control from quote through production release — the configuration we quoted is the configuration we build, and any discrepancy gets flagged and resolved before order release, not afterManage revision control of customer data (BOMs, drawings, specifications) so engineering, purchasing, and production are always working to the correct revisionManufacturing Engineering (Production & Engineering Support)Develop, document, and improve manufacturing processes across SMT, through-hole, and secondary operationsDesign and implement fixtures, tooling, and work holding for assembly, inspection, and testCreate and maintain work instructions, process routings, and manufacturing documentationSupport new product introduction (NPI) from quote through first article, carrying quoting-stage assumptions into production realityLead root cause and corrective action on process-related defects and yield issuesDrive continuous improvement in cycle time, first-pass yield, and process capabilityCross-Functional CollaborationIntercompany communication is critical to this role: work directly with sales, purchasing, planning, production, and quality teams dailyFeed production actuals and lessons learned back into quoting assumptions so estimates improve over timeSupport purchasing with technical evaluation of component alternates and supplier capability questionsREQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS3+ years of manufacturing engineering experience in electronics manufacturing (EMS/CM environment strongly preferred)Strong working knowledge of PCBA processes: SMT, through-hole, wash, conformal coat, AOI, X-ray, and functional testDemonstrated ability to read and interpret fabrication drawings, assembly drawings, Gerber/ODB++ data, and customer specificationsExperience defining process routings and identifying fixture/tooling requirements for electronic assembliesFamiliarity with IPC standards (IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, IPC-6012)Strong written and verbal communication — this role interfaces directly with customers on technical matters,and answers must be clear, direct, and professionalComfortable balancing scheduled engineering work against interrupt-driven quoting requestsU.S. Person status per ITAR (22 CFR §120.62) due to export-controlled workPREFERRED QUALIFICATIONSBroad understanding of PCB fabrication, construction, and specifications (materials, stackups, surface finishes, and related IPC standards)Fixture and tooling design experience, including CAD proficiency (SolidWorks or similar)Experience supporting quoting or estimating functions in a contract manufacturing environmentFamiliarity with quoting platforms (CalcuQuote or similar) and EMS ERP systems (Cetec, Aegis, etc.)Exposure to AS9100D or ISO 9001 quality systems and aerospace/defense contract flowdownsExperience with Class 3 / high-reliability assembliesTest strategy and test fixture development experience