Process Engineer

Rocket EMS; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Rocket EMS, Inc. is seeking a hands-on Process Engineer to support the manufacture of IPC Class 3 PCB assemblies for aerospace applications. You will develop, validate, and improve processes to ensure workmanship, reliability, and efficient production on the shop floor.

You will troubleshoot equipment, establish repeatable soldering and coating processes, and maintain clear process documentation while collaborating with Quality, Engineering, and Program Management to meet customer specifications.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience supporting PCB assembly manufacturing (SMT, reflow, through-hole, selective or wave soldering).
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, assembly documentation, BOMs, and customer specifications.
• Strong troubleshooting, data-based process improvement, and corrective action implementation.

Responsibilities

• Support daily production: troubleshoot equipment, processes, tooling, and instructions to reduce downtime.
• Develop and control solder paste printing, SMT placement, reflow, and selective/wave soldering processes.
• Ensure IPC J-STD-001 and IPC-A-610 Class 3 workmanship meet requirements.
• Prepare builds for production with drawings, BOMs, tooling, and routings verified.
• Validate setups and process changes with documented operating parameters and first article inspections.
• Maintain manufacturing process instructions and work instructions for operators.
• Manage production tooling such as stencils, fixtures, and pallets to ensure repeatable results.
• Lead root cause investigations and implement corrective actions with effectiveness checks.
• Train and support operators on methods and critical process parameters.
• Collaborate with Quality and Engineering on NPI, ECNs, and controlled rework.

Skills

Troubleshooting

Root cause analysis

Data-driven improvement

IPC J-STD-001

IPC-A-610 Class 3

Drawing interpretation

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or related technical field

Tools

AS9100 familiarity

AOI inspection

X-ray inspection

Job description

Process Engineer – Aerospace Electronics Manufacturing

About the Role

We are seeking a hands-on Process Engineer to support the manufacture of IPC Class 3 printed circuit board assemblies for aerospace applications. This position develops, validates, and improves manufacturing processes to deliver consistent workmanship, reliable products, and efficient production.

Working closely with Production, Quality, Engineering, and Program Management, you will resolve manufacturing issues, strengthen process controls, and ensure assemblies meet customer drawings, specifications, and applicable workmanship requirements. Success requires strong technical judgment, attention to detail, and an active presence on the production floor.

What You’ll Do

Support daily production: Troubleshoot equipment programming, process setups, tooling, manufacturing instructions, and line stoppages to resolve issues and reduce downtime.

Develop and control manufacturing processes: Establish and maintain repeatable processes for solder paste printing, SMT placement, reflow, through-hole assembly, selective and wave soldering, cleaning, and conformal coating, as applicable.

Ensure Class 3 workmanship: Develop processes that meet IPC J-STD-001, IPC-A-610 Class 3, and customer requirements, including the J-STD-001 Space/Military Addendum when contractually required.

Prepare builds for production: Conduct manufacturing readiness reviews to verify drawings, bills of materials, programs, tooling, routings, and manufacturing process instructions are complete, accurate, and at the correct revision.

Validate setups and process changes: Establish documented operating parameters, develop and verify thermal profiles, support first article inspections, and confirm process readiness before production release.

Maintain clear documentation: Create and update manufacturing process instructions, setup sheets, process specifications, and work instructions that operators can follow consistently.

Manage production tooling: Design, specify, qualify, and maintain stencils, solder pallets, fixtures, and other tooling needed to protect assemblies and achieve repeatable results.

Improve quality and yield: Analyze inspection, test, defect, and rework data; lead root cause investigations; and implement corrective actions with documented effectiveness checks.

Strengthen process discipline: Support material and serial number traceability, revision control, electrostatic discharge protection, foreign object debris prevention, moisture-sensitive component handling, and contamination controls.

Train and support operators: Provide practical technical guidance on approved methods, critical process parameters, workmanship expectations, and changes to manufacturing instructions.

Collaborate across teams: Support new product introduction, design for manufacturability reviews, engineering changes, failure analysis, and controlled rework activities in coordination with Quality.

Support continuous improvement and audits: Improve yield, cycle time, and process capability while maintaining product reliability, documentation, and compliance with the company’s quality management system.

What We’re Looking For

Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent relevant experience.

Hands-on experience supporting printed circuit board assembly manufacturing, including SMT, reflow, through-hole, and selective or wave soldering.

Working knowledge of IPC J-STD-001 and IPC-A-610 Class 3 requirements.

Ability to interpret engineering drawings, assembly documentation, bills of materials, and customer specifications.

Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills, including root cause analysis, corrective action, and data-based process improvement.

Experience creating clear manufacturing instructions and maintaining controlled process documentation.

Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with operators, technicians, engineers, and Quality personnel.

Ability to prioritize production needs while maintaining workmanship standards and required process controls.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience manufacturing aerospace, defense, spaceflight, or other high-reliability electronics.

Familiarity with AS9100 quality systems and customer-specific aerospace requirements.

IPC certification in J-STD-001 or IPC-A-610; experience with the Space/Military Addendum.

Experience with automated optical inspection, X-ray inspection, cleaning validation, conformal coating, statistical process control, or designed experiments.

Why Join Us

You’ll help build electronics used in demanding aerospace applications and see the direct results of your work on the production floor. This role offers the opportunity to solve technical challenges, improve manufacturing performance, and strengthen the processes that deliver dependable products to our customers.

Pay Range

$100,000 - $120,000 USD

ITAR/EAR Compliance: Due to the nature of the work performed at Rocket EMS, this position may require access to export-controlled technical data or technology. The successful candidate must be eligible to access such information under applicable U.S. export-control laws or be eligible for any required government authorization.

Rocket EMS will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the California Fair Chance Act. Candidates are not required to disclose criminal history or participate in a background check unless and until a conditional offer of employment has been made. Any final offer of employment may be conditioned on completion of a background check, consistent with applicable law.
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