NPI Product Engineer

Sanmina Corporation; Fremont (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanmina Fremont in California's Silicon Valley seeks an NPI Fabrication Product Engineer to bridge design, customers, quality, and shop-floor operations. You will optimize new sheet metal and electromechanical products for manufacturability, cost, and yield as they move from concept to production.

Responsibilities include leading early builds, supporting RFQs, conducting DFM/DFA reviews, creating BOMs and production routings in ERP, and collaborating with engineering, procurement, and pricing

Qualifications

• BS degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials or Industrial Engineering (or equivalent hands-on technical experience).
• 2-3+ years in a fabrication, sheet metal, or electromechanical environment with NPI/launch engineering.
• Deep practical understanding of metal deformation, bend deductions, grain direction, and tolerance stack-up analysis.
• Proficient with Microsoft Suite; Google Workspace experience preferred.
• Proficient with SolidWorks or equivalent; strong experience with ERP platforms (Oracle, SAP).
• Experience with 2D GD&T drawings and 3D CAD platforms; ability to communicate technical constraints clearly.

Responsibilities

• Oversee early build phases (Alpha, Beta, Pilot runs), driving prototype execution and resolving bottlenecks before full volume release.
• Lead design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) reviews on CAD models and prototypes.
• Create, structure, and maintain pre-production BOMs, assemblies, and production routings in the ERP system.
• Support procurement by coordinating drawings and specifications with Purchasing and Engineering.
• Process RFQs and negotiate pricing; collaborate with Pricing to update tools; assist in vendor reviews.

Skills

NPI experience

Problem-solving

Root-cause analysis

GD&T understanding

Education

BS degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing/Materials/Industrial Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

ERP systems (Oracle/SAP)

Agile PLM

Job description

Sanmina Corporation (Nasdaq: SANM) is a leading integrated manufacturing solutions provider serving the fastest-growing segments of the global Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) market. Recognized as a technology leader, Sanmina Corporation provides end-to-end manufacturing solutions, delivering superior quality and support to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) primarily in the communications networks, defense and aerospace, industrial and semiconductor systems, medical, multimedia, computing and storage, automotive and clean technology sectors. Sanmina Corporation has facilities strategically located in key regions throughout the world.

The Sanmina Fremont facility is a full-service enclosure systems solution manufacturing plant. Located in California’s Silicon Valley, this facility produces low-to-mid volume New Product Introduction (NPI) runs to full-scale volume. The Fremont facility offers everything from small piece parts to fully integrated and tested systems. In addition, this location offers in‑house painting capabilities and flexible logistics solutions in distribution, inventory management and hubbing, as well as repair services.

Job Purpose

The NPI Fabrication Product Engineer plays a pivotal role in bringing new sheet metal and electromechanical products from concept to full‑scale production. Acting as the technical bridge between Design Engineering, Customers, Quality, and Shop‑Floor Operations, this role ensures new products are optimized for manufacturability, cost, yield, and seamless integration into manufacturing lines.

Nature of Duties/Responsibilities:

Provide technical and commercial leadership for the development and manufacture of new product platforms that deliver competitive advantage in the market, meet financial/ growth goals, and exceed customers’ performance and quality expectations at or below target costs.

Key Items of Responsibility:

• Oversee early build phases (Alpha, Beta, Pilot runs), driving prototype execution, validating shop‑floor processes, and resolving early manufacturing bottlenecks before full volume release.
• Sales support in participating in Project Technical Reviews to help guide manufacturing.
• Lead FAI processes for initial product builds to ensure prototype parts meet customer specs and engineering tolerances.
• Conduct rigorous Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) reviews on early‑stage customer CAD models, drawings, and prototypes prior to release.
• Create, structure, and maintain accurate pre‑production Bills of Materials (BOMs), assembly structures, and detailed Production Routings in the ERP system for new product launches.
• Support engineering through review of vendor’s drawings ensuring accuracy and suitability for the application and distribution.
• Upload, organize, and track technical specifications, engineering drawings, and customer documentation in Agile PLM through initial engineering releases and ECOs/ECNs.
• Collaborate and partner with the entire engineering department.
• Support Procurement by working with Purchasing and Engineering to create drawings/specifications and Long Leadtime Bills of Material.
• Support Product Development as required.
• Identify and coordinate procurement of specialized tooling, welding jigs, and bending fixtures required for new product launches.
• Support Pricing by working with the Estimating Team to update and improve pricing tools used.
• Process RFQs and negotiate pricing where applicable.
• Participate as requested in company training events, applicable industry and product related training or certification classes and marketing – industry sector events. Travel as necessary to client projects, vendor, jobsite, and event locations.

Education and Experience:

• BS degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Materials or Industrial Engineering (or equivalent hands‑on technical experience).
• 2-3+ years in a fabrication, sheet metal, or electromechanical environment, with a strong emphasis on New Product Introduction (NPI) or launch engineering.
• Deep practical understanding of metal deformation, bend deductions, grain direction, standard tooling constraints, welding sequencing, and tolerance stack‑up analysis.
• Proficient with Microsoft Suite. Preferred experience with Google Workspace.
• Proficient with Solidworks or equivalent.
• Proven track record in prototype execution, pilot runs, line layout validation, and hand‑off to sustaining operations.
• Advanced experience with Agile PLM and standard ERP platforms (e.g., Oracle, SAP) for configuring initial part masters and production structures.
• Expertise in interpreting complex 2D GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) drawings and navigating 3D CAD platforms (SolidWorks, Pro/E, Inventor).
• Demonstrated ability to articulate technical constraints, trade‑offs, and DFM recommendations to customer design engineers, suppliers, and shop‑floor technicians.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills are required. Preferred strong root‑cause analysis skills (5-Why, 8D) to resolve unexpected issues during fast‑paced prototype builds.
• Ability to act independently and resourcefully to solve problems and ensure high levels of technical accuracy and quality.
• Ability to be flexible and discern appropriate plans of action when working on multiple tasks.
• Implements and maintains engineering objectives and initiatives such as cost savings and complexity reductions.

This is an ITAR facility and applicant must be a US Citizen or a lawful permanent resident.

Sanmina is an Equal Opportunity Employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

Salary Range (annual): $80,000 - $99,500. Actual base pay within this range (determined at the offer stage) will be based on a candidate's years of relevant work experience, education, certifications, and skills, and is just one element of our total rewards package. The total rewards package also includes a variety of benefits, including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business and, depending on the role, may include eligibility for restricted stock unit awards and participation in a discretionary bonus program.