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Northwood Space is seeking a Lead SMT Process Engineer to build and scale in-house PCB assembly capabilities for advanced space communications infrastructure. This is a hands-on leadership role responsible for developing the complete board assembly process from prototype through production, defining assembly standards, and establishing the PCB assembly manufacturing area.
Key responsibilities include:
- Developing and owning the SMT and PCB assembly manufacturing process, establishing standards for board assembly, inspection, rework, traceability, and quality control
- Leading the design and buildout of the PCB assembly area, including layout, material flow, operator workflow, and scalability considerations
- Specifying, sourcing, and implementing SMT line equipment, inspection tools, rework tools, ESD controls, benches, tooling, fixtures, and facility infrastructure (power, cooling, compressed air)
- Developing manufacturing processes for solder paste printing, pick-and-place, reflow, inspection, hand assembly, rework, and repair
- Establishing integration between PCB assembly workflows, quality data, and production tracking with manufacturing systems (Manufacturo and broader factory operations)
- Building and leading the team required to execute assembly operations
- Working cross-functionally with Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Production teams
Required qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field; 6+ years in PCB assembly, SMT process engineering, or electronics manufacturing; demonstrated experience developing and scaling SMT/PCB assembly processes in production environments; knowledge of PCB assembly equipment, inspection methods, and rework processes.
Preferred qualifications include experience standing up new PCB assembly lines from scratch, selecting and implementing SMT production equipment and infrastructure, integrating manufacturing processes with MES/MRP systems like Manufacturo, and familiarity with IPC standards (IPC-A-610, J-STD-001).
Compensation includes base salary (determined case-by-case based on skills and experience), company stock options, discretionary performance bonuses, comprehensive medical/vision/dental coverage, flexible spending accounts, flexible time off, 10+ paid holidays, retirement savings plans, and professional development opportunities.
Note: ITAR compliance required—must be U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or eligible for required authorizations from U.S. Department of State.
