PCB | Front End Manager

Westak Circuits; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee-owned

Job summary

Westak is seeking a Front End Manager to oversee CAM operations for PCB manufacturing at our on-site facility in the United States (Oregon or California). The role focuses on ensuring customer designs are manufacturable and ready for production, leading tooling, DFM analysis, panelization, and stack-up validation while guiding a technical team.

You will drive improvements in manufacturability, cost reduction, and a smooth transition from design to fabrication, reporting to the COO and

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on CAM engineering experience in HDI, multi-layer, and rigid PCB fabrication.
• Degree in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years of supervisor or lead experience.
• Knowledge of IPC-A-600, IPC-6012 and related classes.
• Experience with CAD/CAM, electronic tech, CIS or MIS preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead CAM Tooling Department to improve quality, productivity and reduce costs.
• Support Customers, Sales and Manufacturing.
• Maintain and follow safety and company policies.
• Ensure departmental procedures are followed to produce quality results.
• Develop automation to improve CAM efficiency and reduce errors.
• Design tooling and panelization strategies to maximize yield.
• Create and issue Engineering Queries to resolve data discrepancies with customers.
• Mentor training and certifications for continuous improvement.

Skills

CAM engineering

Team leadership

English communication

Statistical methods

Education

Electrical/Mechanical Engineering degree

Tools

Frontline Genesis

CAD/CAM software

Polar software

Job description

Since 1972, Westak has been a trusted manufacturer of printed circuit boards, providing solutions from rapid prototypes to high-volume production through its domestic facilities and established global partnerships. The company is committed to delivering reliable, high-quality products while building lasting customer relationships founded on integrity, credibility, and trust. As an employee-owned organization, Westak invests in its people, technology, and facilities to maintain exceptional customer service and manufacturing excellence. By combining its wholly owned operations with strategic global alliances, Westak supports customers throughout the entire product lifecycle, from development to full-scale production.

We are seeking a Front End Manager to work on-site, either at our California or Oregon facility. The PCB Front End Manager oversees the pre-production engineering process for printed circuit board manufacturing, ensuring customer designs are accurate, manufacturable, and ready for production. This role leads CAM operations, DFM analysis, tooling, panelization, stack-up validation, and customer data reviews while managing the technical team responsible for converting design files into precise manufacturing data. The focus is on optimizing manufacturability, reducing costs, and ensuring a smooth transition from design to fabrication. The position consists of but is not limited to the following:

REPORTS TO: COO

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Effectively manage and lead the CAM Tooling Department to meet Company’s expectations with continuous improvements in quality, productivity, employees’ skill level, and decreasing operation costs.
• Provide support to Customers, Sales and Manufacturing.
• Maintain and follow safety and company policies.
• Ensure that departmental procedures are maintained and followed to produce quality results.
• Support CAM Tooling to meet goals and make continuous improvement in quality, productivity and labor cost.
• Accurately and professionally represent Westak to customers and vendors.
• Foster, promote, and schedule cross training to develop employee skills in order to have better coverage and increase employees’ value.
• Demonstrate professional, respectful interaction with other team members.
• Be a positive and professional role model.
• Take ownership of all tasks.
• Support Quality Policy.
• Support QA Manual.

TASKS:

• Manage all Tooling, Methodizing, Pre-Engineer, Photo, Programming of Fixtures, Fab and Drill areas.
• Leads daily CAM operations including layer editing, netlist comparison, and drill/rout optimization.
• Performs advanced DFM/DFA reviews focused on copper spacing, aspect ratios, and registration tolerances.
• Validates stack-ups and controlled impedance using tools such as Polar and selects appropriate materials.
• Develops automation and scripting to improve CAM efficiency and reduce errors.
• Designs tooling and panelization strategies to maximize manufacturing yield.
• Creates and issues Engineering Queries (EQs) to resolve design and data discrepancies with customers
• Support on-time and quality goals.
• Maintain, and when necessary, upgrade software used in analyzing and tooling part data
• Employee training and certification to achieve continuous improvement.
• Conduct Performance Reviews.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5+ years of hands-on CAM engineering experience in high-density interconnect (HDI), multi-layer, and rigid PCB fabrication.
• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a highly technical equivalent, or equivalent industry experience
• Three to five years supervisor or lead experience.
• Knowledge and application of statistical techniques for process control
• Mastery of advanced CAM and engineering platforms such as Frontline Genesis
• Deep, working knowledge of IPC-A-600, IPC-6012, and associated performance classes (Class 2, Class 3/Aerospace and Mil-Spec)
• Experience using CAD/CAM, electronic technology, CIS or MIS preferred
• Ability to read, write and communicate effectively in English
• Basic Math/English skills.
• Basic computer skills.
• Able to perform and maintain responsibilities and tasks in a timely manner.

SALARY RANGE: $100,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year DOE

Due to ITAR regulations, this position is only open to US Persons. ITAR defines a U.S. Person as a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident, Political Asylee, or Refugee.

Westak is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce.