Senior SMT Process Engineer — NPI & Process Optimization

Kitron Group; Windber (PA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Health insurance

EAP

Life insurance

Disability insurance

401(k) match

Voluntary benefits

Job summary

Kitron Group in Windber, PA is seeking an experienced SMT Process Engineer to lead manufacturing readiness for new customer programs, conduct DFM/DFX reviews, and drive transfer of products from development into full‑rate production.

You will own SMT processes (printing, SPI, placement, reflow, AOI/AXI), develop process controls, analyze data, and partner with IT and Operations to improve yield, throughput, and cost. A bachelor's in engineering and 7+ years in SMT are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years SMT manufacturing experience with increasing responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience leading NPI activities in an EMS or electronics manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of SMT processes including printing, placement, reflow, AOI, SPI, AXI, and process validation.
• Experience with SMT machine programming and optimization.
• Strong understanding of PCB fabrication, assembly documentation, and manufacturing data.
• Proven problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead manufacturing readiness activities for new customer programs from quotation through production launch.
• Conduct DFM, DFA, DFT, and broader DFX reviews to identify risks and optimization opportunities.
• Review Gerber, ODB++, IPC-2581, CAD, BOM, fabrication drawings, and customer specs.
• Develop manufacturing process flows, equipment strategies, and production plans for new assemblies.
• Participate in customer design reviews and provide technical manufacturing recommendations.
• Lead prototype, first article, pilot, and pre-production builds.
• Drive successful transfer of products from development into full-rate manufacturing.
• Own SMT manufacturing processes including solder paste printing, SPI, placement, reflow, AOI, AXI, and post-reflow inspection.
• Develop and optimize process parameters to improve yield, throughput, quality, and efficiency.
• Perform root cause analysis and corrective actions for process, quality, and equipment issues.
• Support stencil design, solder paste optimization, component placement strategies, and reflow process development.
• Perform and analyze thermal profiling to ensure robust soldering processes.
• Establish process controls, validation plans, and manufacturing standards.

Skills

SMT manufacturing

NPI leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Root cause analysis

Process optimization

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Fuji

Universal Instruments

PARMI

Saki inspection

Aegis FactoryLogix MES

Job description

Kitron Group in Windber, PA is seeking an experienced SMT Process Engineer to lead manufacturing readiness for new customer programs, conduct DFM/DFX reviews, and drive transfer of products from development into full‑rate production.

You will own SMT processes (printing, SPI, placement, reflow, AOI/AXI), develop process controls, analyze data, and partner with IT and Operations to improve yield, throughput, and cost. A bachelor's in engineering and 7+ years in SMT are required.