Manufacturing Engineering Manager - PCBA

USA Tech Recruit; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

USA Tech Recruit is representing a leading aerospace company seeking a Manufacturing Engineering Manager (PCBA) to lead the development and scaling of internal PCB assembly production operations for flight hardware.

The role is full-time, five days onsite in San Francisco, with ITAR requirements. You will manage a growing team of engineers, technicians, and specialists, drive SMT line setup, DFM feedback, and continuous improvement to meet aggressive production targets.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in PCBA manufacturing or assembly engineering environments.
• Experience with SMT processes: reflow, assembly, inspection, and rework.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical preferred).

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of engineers, specialists, and technicians responsible for PCBA assembly and test operations.
• Develop and execute the strategy for scaling internal PCBA manufacturing capabilities to meet production targets.
• Drive SMT line setup, process development, equipment selection, qualification, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Provide DFM feedback and collaborate with hardware design teams to improve manufacturability.
• Own factory layout and material flow planning to optimize production efficiency.
• Establish production metrics and monitor yield and on-time delivery; implement corrective actions.

Skills

PCBA manufacturing

SMT processes

Team leadership

DFM feedback

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Manufacturing equipment

Job description

Our client is a leading aerospace company developing next-generation satellite platforms that deliver affordable, high-performance connectivity and mission capabilities across commercial and government markets. With significant customer demand, strong financial backing, and an ambitious production roadmap, they are investing heavily in expanding their in-house manufacturing capabilities to support the delivery of mission-critical hardware at scale.

We are looking for a Manufacturing Engineering Manager (PCBA) to lead the development and scaling of internal PCB assembly production operations. This is an opportunity to build and optimize manufacturing systems that directly support the production of advanced satellite hardware while leading a growing team of engineers, specialists, and technicians.

This is a full time, perm position 5 days onsite in SF, and due to ITAR requirements, you must be a US citizen, LPR, Asylee, or Refugee at the time of application.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead a team of engineers, specialists, and technicians responsible for PCBA assembly and test operations supporting both development and flight hardware.
• Develop and execute the strategy for scaling internal PCBA manufacturing capabilities to meet aggressive production targets.
• Drive SMT production line setup, process development, equipment selection, qualification, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Partner closely with design engineering teams to provide Design for Manufacturing (DFM) feedback and improve hardware manufacturability.
• Own factory layout and material flow planning, optimizing production efficiency from receiving through finished goods.
• Establish production metrics, monitor yield and on-time delivery performance, and implement corrective actions where needed.
• Lead new equipment qualification activities and ensure manufacturing processes meet quality, reliability, and production requirements.
• Identify bottlenecks, improve throughput, and implement scalable manufacturing practices as production volumes increase.
• Support the transition of products from development into repeatable, high-rate production environments.

Key Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in PCBA manufacturing or assembly engineering environments.
• Hands-on experience with SMT manufacturing processes, including reflow, assembly, inspection, and rework operations.
• Experience leading engineers, technicians, or manufacturing teams in a production environment.
• Proven track record of standing up, insourcing, or scaling manufacturing lines and production equipment.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing process development, process qualification, and production readiness.
• Experience providing DFM feedback and collaborating closely with hardware design teams.
• Ability to explain and justify manufacturing process decisions from an engineering and operational perspective.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical Engineering preferred, but other engineering disciplines will be considered).
• Strong communication skills with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-accountability environment.

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