Principal Manufacturing Engineer

Palo Alto Networks; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 209,000; Full time

Job summary

Palo Alto Networks in Santa Clara is seeking a Principal Manufacturing Engineer to lead the hardware product lifecycle from development to mass production. You will collaborate with design, supply chain, and contract manufacturers to ensure quality, schedule, and cost targets are met across the factory floor.

This role emphasizes DFx, factory readiness, BOM and ECO management in PLM tools, and robust SMT process expertise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent experience.
• Hands-on experience with DFM, DFA and FMEA, PFMEA, tolerance analysis, DoE, SPC, GR&R, CpK.
• Proficiency with CAD tools for component placement reviews.
• SMT assembly processes experience (solder paste, pick-and-place, reflow, AOI, SPI).
• Ability to read schematics, BOM reviews and BOM ECOs.
• Experience with PLM software (Arena, Agile).
• Track record launching complex electro‑mechanical products into manufacturing environments.
• Experience collaborating with contract manufacturers in high-mix environments.

Responsibilities

• Champion DFx by engaging in early design reviews to meet manufacturability, quality, time-to-market and cost targets.
• Own factory and line readiness for new product programs from development builds to mass production.
• Define and structure BOMs in PLM; manage ECOs with development teams.
• Drive ECOs for NPI, design changes, process improvements and quality issue resolutions.
• Lead Root Cause and Corrective/Preventive Actions at the factory.
• Provide sustaining engineering support for field failures and repair activities.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across Manufacturing Engineering and Technical Operations.

Skills

DFx principles

Factory leadership

Root cause analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

PLM experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

CAD tools

Arena PLM

Agile PLM

Job description

Our Mission

At Palo Alto Networks®, we’re united by a shared mission—to protect our digital way of life. We thrive at the intersection of innovation and impact, solving real-world problems with cutting-edge technology and bold thinking. Here, everyone has a voice, and every idea counts. If you’re ready to do the most meaningful work of your career alongside people who are just as passionate as you are, you’re in the right place.

Who We Are

In order to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, we must trailblaze the path and shape the future of our industry. This is something our employees work at each day and is defined by our values: Disruption, Collaboration, Execution, Integrity, and Inclusion. We weave AI into the fabric of everything we do and use it to augment the impact every individual can have. If you are passionate about solving real-world problems and ideating beside the best and the brightest, we invite you to join us! We believe collaboration thrives in person. That’s why most of our teams work from the office full time, with flexibility when it’s needed. This model supports real-time problem-solving, stronger relationships, and the kind of precision that drives great outcomes.

Job Summary

As a Principal Manufacturing Engineer, you will be a key leader on our Manufacturing Engineering team, steering the product lifecycle from initial development to mass production and beyond. You will be instrumental in the launch and ongoing support of our hardware products, ensuring a seamless flow from the design phase to the factory floor and supply chain. This is a high-impact role where you will collaborate with cross-functional teams and our contract manufacturing partners to deliver industry-leading cybersecurity products that drive outstanding business results.

Your Impact

• Design for Excellence (DFx): Champion DFx principles by proactively engaging in design reviews from the earliest stages of product development. Your expertise will be critical in ensuring manufacturability, quality, time-to-market, and cost targets are met, driving optimal outcomes for new hardware products.
• Strategic Factory Leadership: Take full ownership of factory and line readiness for all assigned new product programs. You will lead manufacturing and assembly activities on-site, managing the process from development builds through to mass production and sustaining phases.
• Product Lifecycle Management (PLM): Strategically define and structure complex bills of materials (BOMs) and assemblies within our PLM tools. You will lead the efficient management of Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) and deviations in close partnership with Document Control and development teams.
• Process and Change Management: Drive the development and implementation of ECOs to support new product introductions (NPI), design changes, manufacturing process improvements, and quality issue resolutions.
• Root Cause Analysis: Lead Root Cause, Corrective and Preventive Actions at the factory to resolve complex design, component and manufacturing process issues, ensuring continuous improvement.
• Sustaining Engineering Support: Provide technical support for failure analysis of product field failures across our global customer base and support repair activities as needed.
• Continuous Improvement: Champion and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across Manufacturing Engineering and Technical Operations, enhancing overall efficiency and quality.

Qualifications Required Experience

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant engineering discipline or equivalent experience.
• Hands-on experience in DFM, DFA and FMEA, PFMEA, tolerance analysis, DoE, SPC, GR&R, and CpK.
• Proficiency in CAD tools for component placement reviews.
• Hands-on experience in SMT assembly processes (solder paste printing, pick-and-place, reflow, AOI, SPI).
• Ability to read schematics, perform BOM reviews and BOM ECOs.
• Expertise in design and manufacturing processes, including mechanical assembly, printed circuit boards, and electro-mechanical integration. A focus on mechanical design is a significant advantage.
• Proficiency with PLM software (e.g., Arena, Agile).
• A proven track record of successfully launching and sustaining complex electro-mechanical products into manufacturing environments.
• Extensive experience collaborating with contract manufacturers in low/medium volume, high-mix production environments.
• Experience with various product development models, such as OEM, JDM, and ODM.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to lead multiple fast-paced projects simultaneously.
• Outstanding communication skills, capable of engaging professionally and effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, from technical peers to senior leadership and external suppliers.
• The ability to travel regularly to Palo Alto Networks' corporate locations and participate in calls with global teams as needed.

Compensation Disclosure

The compensation offered for this position will depend on qualifications, experience, and work location. For candidates who receive an offer at the posted level, the starting base salary (for non-sales roles) or base salary + commission target (for sales/com-missioned roles) is expected to be the annual range listed below. The offered compensation may also include restricted stock units and a bonus. A description of our employee benefits may be found here. $129,000.00 - $209,000.00/yr

Our Commitment

We’re trailblazers that dream big, take risks, and challenge cybersecurity’s status quo. It’s simple: we can’t accomplish our mission without diverse teams innovating, together. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all qualified individuals with a disability. If you require assistance or accommodation due to a disability or special need, please contact us at [e-mail].

Equal Opportunity Statement

Palo Alto Networks is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity in our workplace, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation or other legally protected characteristics. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Immigration Sponsorship

Is role eligible for Immigration Sponsorship? No. Please note that we will not sponsor applicants for work visas for this position. Please use this form to provide us with information that will help direct your request and find your data in all of our systems.