SMT Process Engineer

About the role

This role focuses on developing and improving the manufacturing processes for printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) within the Starlink production organization. You will work to enhance product quality and reliability, design efficient production lines, and collaborate with suppliers to install and validate new equipment. The goal is to build high-quality products at commercial scale. You will oversee and manage PCBA manufacturing processes and products for in-house production while ensuring compliance with strict quality and safety standards. You will direct processes for high-volume PCBA production, including manufacturing execution, handling nonconforming products, configuration management, traceability, and process control. You will manage new product introductions for PCBA assemblies, collaborating with design engineers and process specialists to ensure smooth transitions. You will use tools like process capability analysis and gauge R&R to guide new equipment selection and validate process performance. You will design and implement systems to improve safety on the PCBA production line and drive continuous improvement initiatives. You will manage work instructions, process documentation, and training materials to maintain clarity and compliance across the team.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Oversee and manage PCBA manufacturing processes and products for in-house production.
• Direct processes for high-volume PCBA production, including manufacturing execution, handling nonconforming products, configuration management, traceability, and process control.
• Manage new product introductions for PCBA assemblies, collaborating with design engineers and process specialists.
• Use tools like process capability analysis and gauge R&R to guide new equipment selection.
• Design and implement systems to improve safety on the PCBA production line.
• Manage work instructions, process documentation, and training materials.
• Track schedules, work-in-progress levels, and defect rates for assigned products.
• Identify trends and opportunities to optimize product output, improve quality, and reduce manufacturing costs.
• Provide feedback to the engineering design team to enhance design for manufacturability.
• Identify, determine root causes for, and resolve SMT production and testing issues.
• Drive corrective actions and process improvements for assigned processes and products.
• Analyze production data to support decision-making and long-term process optimization.
• Support the implementation of automation solutions to increase efficiency and consistency.
• Liaise with cross-functional teams to align production capabilities with business objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline.
• 1+ years of experience in manufacturing engineering, surface mount technology (SMT), accelerated testing, hardware debug/triage, design for reliability, or printed circuit board (PCB) design and layout. School and project experience counts towards this requirement.
• U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee, or Asylee, or eligible to obtain necessary authorizations to meet ITAR requirements.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted as required for handling equipment and materials.
• Willingness to work weekends and extended hours as needed to meet production and operational demands.
• Ability to travel for business trips up to 10% on an ongoing basis for supplier visits, audits, and project support.
• Strong attention to detail and adherence to process standards in a high-volume production environment.
• Basic understanding of electronics manufacturing principles and quality systems.

Nice to have

• Experience in high-volume production environments (e.g., consumer goods, automotive).
• Practical experience with SMT processing or related PCBA processes from industry, research, or academic projects.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities to effectively interact with technical and operational teams.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a demanding, fast-paced setting.
• Familiarity with IPC manufacturing standards for electronics assembly.
• Experience with SQL and Python for data analysis and process reporting.
• Knowledge of statistical techniques such as experiment design, process capability analysis, and Gauge R&R.
• Experience with Six Sigma methodologies to drive quality and efficiency improvements.
• Experience with basic failure analysis tools and methods, including X-ray, cross-sectioning, and polishing.
• Proven ability to collect, analyze, and use data to implement systematic improvements in manufacturing processes.

Practical notes

• Applicants must meet ITAR requirements: U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee, or Asylee, or eligible to obtain necessary authorizations.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs unassisted.
• Willingness to work weekends and extended hours as needed.
• Ability to travel for business trips up to 10% on an ongoing basis.

About the company

Based in Starbase, Texas, a company pursues work in spaceflight, telecom, and artificial intelligence. A unit handles rocket launches, leading yearly orbital counts beyond other national and commercial teams. Another unit runs Starlink, a satellite communications firm. A third area, through SpaceXAI, advances Grok and AI integration with X, while managing data center operations. Roles often cross these paths. Candidates with engineering, software, or operations backgrounds may find chances to join projects that span launch, connectivity, and machine learning efforts in this Texas-based enterprise.