SMT Production Supervisor

Northwood Space; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood Space is seeking a Production Supervisor to lead day-to-day SMT manufacturing operations, coordinating people, equipment, materials, and priorities to build PCB assemblies safely, efficiently, and to quality standards. You will collaborate with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Planning to sustain production flow and drive throughput improvements.

Ideal candidates have hands-on SMT experience, strong leadership, and the ability to read drawings and BOMs.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in electronics manufacturing or related production.
• 1+ years leading production operators or technicians.
• Hands-on familiarity with SMT processes.
• Ability to read manufacturing docs incl. work instructions & BOM.
• Experience coordinating priorities, staffing, materials, equipment.
• Knowledge of IPC workmanship standards and quality practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily SMT production operations including staffing and build schedule.
• Supervise and develop SMT operators and technicians.
• Ensure work is performed per instructions, plans, BOM, and quality requirements.
• Maintain SMT process discipline from solder paste to X-ray.
• Coordinate line setup, changeovers, material availability, and readiness.
• Monitor output, yield, downtime, and drive issue resolution.

Skills

Staff leadership

Production planning

Quality management

Reading drawings & BOM

Problem solving

ESD controls

Tools

SPI

AOI

X-ray inspection

Solder paste printing

Job description

About Northwood:

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real‑time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

About Northwood:

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real‑time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

Role:

Northwood is looking for a Production Supervisor to lead day‑to‑day production across our SMT manufacturing operations. This role will be responsible for our SMT production line, including coordinating people, equipment, materials, and production priorities to ensure PCB assemblies are built safely, efficiently, and to the required quality standards.

You will work closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Planning to maintain production flow, resolve issues on the floor, and continuously improve throughput, quality, and execution across the SMT operation.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the daily operation of SMT production, including staffing, work prioritization, production sequencing, and execution against the build schedule.
• Supervise and develop SMT operators and production technicians, including training, qualification, work assignments, and performance management.
• Ensure production is performed in accordance with released work instructions, process plans, drawings, bills of material, and quality requirements.
• Maintain disciplined execution of SMT processes including solder paste printing, SPI, pick‑and‑place, reflow, AOI, X‑ray inspection, and associated material‑handling processes.
• Coordinate line setup, feeder preparation, changeovers, material availability, and equipment readiness to minimize downtime and maintain production flow.
• Monitor production output, yield, rework, scrap, downtime, and schedule attainment, and drive resolution of issues affecting performance.

Basic Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in electronics manufacturing, PCB assembly, or a related production environment.
• 1+ years of experience leading, supervising, or coordinating production operators or technicians.
• Hands‑on familiarity with SMT manufacturing processes, including solder paste printing, pick‑and‑place, reflow, and automated inspection.
• Ability to read and work from manufacturing documentation including work instructions, drawings, bills of material, and assembly procedures.
• Experience coordinating production priorities, staffing, materials, and equipment to meet build schedules.
• Working knowledge of electronics manufacturing quality practices, including ESD controls, component handling, workmanship standards, and nonconformance processes.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in SMT or electronics manufacturing.
• Previous experience supervising an SMT production line or high‑mix electronics manufacturing operation.
• Experience with SPI, AOI, X‑ray inspection, selective solder, rework, or other electronics assembly processes.
• Familiarity with IPC workmanship standards such as IPC‑A‑610 and J‑STD‑001.

Additional Information:

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Additional Information:

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us Northwood is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.