Test Engineering Manager pcba ems

Top Dog Recruiting; Newark (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Top Dog Recruiting seeks a Test Engineering Manager to lead the Manufacturing Test Engineering team in Newark, CA. You will direct PCBA test strategy, support ICT and Flying Probe testing, and drive efficient test programs that meet product specs.

You will collaborate with NPI, Quality, Design Engineering, and Production to ensure test readiness and scalable production, continuously improving yields and test coverage.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in test engineering, preferably in EMS/PCBA electronics manufacturing.
• 3+ years of experience leading or managing engineering teams.
• Strong expertise in PCBA Functional Testing, ICT, and Flying Probe Testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Test Engineers, establishing priorities, timelines, and performance expectations.
• Define test engineering strategies, standards, and best practices across manufacturing programs.
• Oversee test strategies for NPI and production ramp-up, ensuring production readiness.
• Drive improvements in first-pass yield, test coverage, cycle time, false failures, and retest rates.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and customers to resolve technical issues and align test requirements with product specs.

Skills

PCBA test strategy

Test engineering leadership

NPI collaboration

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering

Job description

Test Engineering Manager
Department: Manufacturing Test Engineering (MTE)
Location: Newark, CA

Position Summary

Our client is seeking an experienced Test Engineering Manager to lead its Test Engineering team in an electronics manufacturing environment. This role will oversee the development, implementation, and optimization of Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) test processes, with a focus on Functional Testing, In-Circuit Testing (ICT), and Flying Probe Testing.

The Test Engineering Manager will provide technical leadership, manage engineering resources, establish test strategies, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure robust test coverage, manufacturing readiness, and consistent product quality. The ideal candidate brings strong expertise in PCBA testing, proven engineering team management experience, and a track record of improving test efficiency and manufacturing yields.

Key Responsibilities

1. Test Engineering Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Test Engineers, establishing technical priorities, project timelines, and performance expectations.

• Define test engineering strategies, standards, and best practices across manufacturing programs.

• Manage engineering resources and project deliverables to support production requirements and customer commitments.

2. PCBA Test Strategy and Development

• Oversee the development, implementation, validation, and maintenance of PCBA testing solutions, including Functional Test, ICT, and Flying Probe Test.

• Guide the development and optimization of test programs, test fixtures, test procedures, and test methodologies.

• Ensure test solutions provide adequate coverage of product requirements and manufacturing quality expectations.

• Evaluate test equipment, platforms, and technologies to improve test capability and production performance.

3. New Product Introduction (NPI) and Production Support

• Partner with NPI, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Design Engineering, and Program Management to establish test requirements and ensure production readiness.

• Oversee test strategy development during new product introduction, engineering builds, and production ramp-up.

• Lead engineering-level troubleshooting of complex test failures, yield issues, and recurring manufacturing defects.

• Drive root‑cause analysis and corrective actions to improve test reliability and manufacturing performance.

4. Continuous Improvement and Quality

• Drive improvements in first-pass yield, test coverage, test cycle time, false failure rates, and retest rates.

• Analyze test data and manufacturing trends to identify opportunities for process improvement.

• Ensure test processes align with customer specifications, quality requirements, and applicable industry standards.

• Standardize test engineering documentation, validation procedures, and troubleshooting practices.

5. Cross-Functional and Customer Collaboration

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and customers to resolve technical issues and align test requirements with product specifications.

• Coordinate test engineering priorities with production schedules, NPI milestones, and customer deliverables.

• Communicate technical risks, project progress, and improvement initiatives to management and relevant stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.

• 8+ years of experience in test engineering, preferably within an EMS, PCBA, or electronics manufacturing environment.

• 3+ years of experience leading or managing engineering teams.

• Strong expertise in PCBA Functional Testing, In-Circuit Testing (ICT), and Flying Probe Testing.

• Demonstrated experience overseeing test program development, test fixture design, test validation, and test process implementation.

• Strong understanding of electronic circuits, PCBA design, component-level troubleshooting, and manufacturing test methodologies.

• Experience supporting NPI, production ramp-up, yield improvement, and high‑volume manufacturing.

• Proven ability to lead technical projects, develop engineering talent, and manage competing priorities.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.