Sr. Manufacturing Engineer - PCBA Validation

Xona; Burlingame (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Xona is seeking a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to own PCBA validation from receiving through functional release, enabling reliable production of flight hardware for our Pulsar platform.

You will define the PVT strategy for PCBAs, translate schematics and IPC criteria into digital work instructions, and design fixtures and test stations. You will collaborate with CM partners to close RCAs and mentor a fast-moving team in a growing factory.

Qualifications

• B.S. in EE/ME/IE or equivalent practical experience.
• 7+ years in manufacturing or test engineering in PCBA/electronics.
• Experience with production/process validation testing (PVT).
• Knowledge of IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001 standards.
• Hands-on in fast-moving production with CM partners.

Responsibilities

• Own the PVT strategy for incoming PCBA validation and drive it into digital work instructions.
• Define inspection/test procedures aligned with schematics and IPC criteria.
• Specify and qualify test fixtures, bed-of-nails, and functional test stations.
• Manage nonconformance, containment, and MRB disposition with root cause analysis.
• Collect and analyze yield/defect data to drive improvements with suppliers.

Skills

PCBAs validation

Root cause analysis

GD&T

Mentoring

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Bed-of-nails fixtures

ICT/flying probe testers

X-ray inspection

DMMs/Oscilloscopes

Job description

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

Xona's Manufacturing team is responsible for the assembly, integration, and test of flight hardware, including the printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) that go into every satellite subsystem. We're looking for a Senior Manufacturing Engineer to own how those boards get validated once they land in our factory — from receiving through functional release to build.

As the technical owner of PCBA validation and test, you will define the production/process validation testing (PVT) strategy for incoming boards, drive it into digital work instructions, and close the loop with our contract manufacturers when hardware doesn't meet spec. You've worked inside a PCBA production environment before and know the difference between inspecting boards and actually controlling the process that produces them. You'll bring that experience to a small, fast-moving team building flight hardware for the first time at rate.

What You’ll Do

• Define and own the PVT strategy for incoming PCBAs — receiving inspection, ICT/flying probe, X-ray and conformal coating inspection, and functional or environmental screening as warranted — and drive continuous improvement in cycle time
• Translate schematics, assembly drawings, and IPC-A-610 / J-STD-001 workmanship criteria into inspection and test procedures embedded directly in digital work instructions and travelers
• Specify, build, and qualify test fixtures, bed-of-nails and functional test stations, and the instrumentation behind them (power supplies, DMMs, oscilloscopes, signal generators, data acquisition systems)
• Own nonconformance management for incoming boards — containment, root cause analysis (8D/5-Why/Fishbone), and MRB disposition
• Work with the QA and supply chain teams to conduct PCB contract manufacturer audits and own SCAR workflows, driving supplier corrective action to closure
• Build measurement and test confidence through gage/test method validation and Gage R&R
• Analyze yield, defect, and escape trends from incoming PCBA data to drive both supplier-side and internal process improvement
• Partner with electrical design and systems engineering to feed manufacturing and test data back into DFM for future board revisions
• Mentor engineers and technicians on PCBA inspection and test practices as the team and factory scale

What You Bring

• B.S. in Electrical, Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
• 7+ years in manufacturing or test engineering in a PCBA/electronics production environment (5+ with an advanced degree)
• Direct experience standing up or owning production/process validation testing (PVT) for electronic assemblies
• Working knowledge of IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001 workmanship and acceptance standards
• Experience with PCBA test methods: ICT, flying probe, functional test and the fixtures and equipment behind them
• Ability to read and interpret schematics, assembly prints, and BOMs, with working knowledge of GD&T
• Experience with nonconformance management and root cause analysis
• Hands-on in a fast-moving production environment, working directly with technicians and CM partners

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace, space, defense, or other high-reliability electronics manufacturing (IPC Class 3, J-STD-001 Space Addendum)
• PCB or electronics contract manufacturer audit experience
• Experience with MES/ERP systems and configuration-controlled manufacturing records
• Programming experience (Python or similar) for test automation or data analysis
• Experience scaling a validation process from NPI/first article through repeatable production rate

For U.S. Roles:

To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles:

To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles:

Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.