SMT Process Engineer

Spectrum Control; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

3-day weekend

PTO from day 1

Competitive wages

Job summary

Spectrum Control is seeking a Process Engineer – SMT to lead SMT manufacturing processes, collaborate with Design Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality, and support NPI and production transfers for aerospace and defense electronics.

You will optimize solder paste printing, stencil design, pick-and-place programming, reflow, AOI/SPI, and related processes while ensuring robust process controls and regulatory compliance on the production floor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Manufacturing, Industrial or Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 3–10 years of experience in aerospace, defense, electronics, or other high-reliability environments.
• Experience supporting NPI-to-production transfers and process development.
• Knowledge of IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, AS9100 and related quality requirements.
• Experience with RCCA, CAPA, SPC and Lean methodologies.
• Experience with SMT electronics assembly processes, reflow soldering, AOI/SPI.
• Ability to read engineering drawings and BOMs.

Responsibilities

• Support NPI by developing processes, work instructions, and DFM solutions for production readiness.
• Develop and optimize SMT processes including printing, stencil design, placement programming, reflow, AOI/SPI to improve yield and throughput.
• Create and maintain manufacturing documentation and visual aids.
• Provide day-to-day technical support on the production floor and resolve process issues.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions related to quality and throughput.
• Analyze data using SPC and other data-driven methods to improve process capability.
• Drive continuous improvement: first-pass yield, scrap reduction, cycle time.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, and Operations to improve manufacturability and reliability.
• Ensure compliance with AS9100, IPC, customer, and regulatory requirements; participate in audits.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Manufacturing Engineering

Experience in high-reliability manufacturing

Tools

AOI/SPI systems

Stencil printers

Pick-and-place equipment

Reflow ovens

Job description

At Spectrum Control, most departments operate on a 4-day, 10-hour work schedule in exchange for a 3-day weekend. We offer competitive wages and PTO, plus our benefits begin on day 1 of employment. Come join a workforce where we put you first!JOB SUMMARY: The Process Engineer – SMT serves as the technical lead for Surface Mount Technology (SMT) manufacturing processes while partnering with Design Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality to support New Product Introduction (NPI), optimize production processes, improve yield, and ensure successful transition of aerospace and defense electronics into manufacturing.ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONSSupport New Product Introduction (NPI) by developing manufacturing processes, work instructions, and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) solutions to ensure successful production readiness.Develop, qualify, and optimize SMT manufacturing processes including solder paste printing, stencil design, pick-and-place programming, component placement optimization, reflow soldering, AOI/SPI process optimization, and other electronics manufacturing processes to improve yield, throughput, quality, and process capability.Develop and maintain manufacturing documentation including work instructions, process flows, assembly procedures, and visual manufacturing aids.Provide day-to-day technical support to manufacturing operations, resolving process-related issues and ensuring stable, repeatable production performance.Support qualification, validation, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement of SMT manufacturing equipment including stencil printers, pick-and-place systems, reflow ovens, AOI, and SPI equipment.Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions related to quality, yield, throughput, and manufacturing process issues.Analyze manufacturing data and apply Statistical Process Control (SPC) and other data-driven methodologies to improve process capability and product reliability.Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on first-pass yield, scrap reduction, rework reduction, cycle-time improvement, and operational efficiency.Support qualification and deployment of new equipment, tooling, fixtures, automation technologies, and manufacturing processes.Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, and Operations teams to improve manufacturability, reliability, and production efficiency.Ensure compliance with AS9100, IPC, customer, and regulatory requirements through robust process controls, documentation, and participation in customer, supplier, and internal audits.QUALIFICATIONSBachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).3–10 years of experience in aerospace, defense, electronics, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments.Experience supporting NPI-to-production transfers and manufacturing process development.Working knowledge of IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, AS9100, and related quality requirements.Experience with Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA), CAPA, SPC, Lean Manufacturing, and continuous improvement methodologies.Experience developing, qualifying, or supporting SMT electronics assembly processes, reflow soldering, and other special manufacturing processes preferred.Ability to interpret engineering drawings, BOMs, specifications, and manufacturing documentation.Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.WORK ENVIRONMENT:This position is based in a regulated electronics manufacturing environment supporting aerospace and defense programs and requires regular presence on the production floor as well as close collaboration with cross-functional teams.It is located in our Delmar, DE manufacturing facility.Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with DisabilitiesThe contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)Third-Party RecruitersPlease note, that per Spectrum Control Policy, we do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters unless such recruiters are engaged to provide candidates for a specified opening and in alignment with our values and expectations. Any employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume does so with the understanding that Spectrum Control will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity. If you or your agency are interested in becoming an approved vendor please contact [e-mail].