Supplier Development Engineer, SMT

What you'll do

• Manage supplier qualification, development, and performance for SMT and PCBA manufacturing processes.
• Lead New Product Introduction (NPI) activities including process validation and equipment selection at global supplier sites.
• Identify and resolve manufacturing defects in solder paste application, component placement, reflow soldering, and AOI.
• Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions using PFMEA, DOE, and SPC to improve yield.
• Travel up to 50% of the time to audit facilities and provide on-site technical support for production ramp-ups.
• Develop supplier scorecards and KPIs focused on cost reduction and supply chain resilience.
• Manage the transition from prototype to mass production through capacity planning and automation integration.
• Ensure all manufacturing processes comply with IPC standards and SpaceX-specific quality requirements.

What we're looking for

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or a related technical field.
• 2+ years of experience in PCBA manufacturing with a focus on SMT processes.
• Hands-on experience with SMT equipment from manufacturers such as Fuji, Panasonic, DEK, or similar.
• 5+ years of experience in SMT engineering and leadership roles in supplier development or process engineering (preferred).
• Expertise in advanced SMT technologies like fine-pitch components, BGA/CSP assembly, and high-volume transitions (preferred).
• Experience with SPC, Six Sigma certification, or Lean manufacturing principles applied to SMT environments (preferred).
• Knowledge of environmental testing and reliability standards for consumer electronics (preferred).
• Must be a U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, or eligible for required export control authorizations.