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Astrolab · 2 weeks ago

Sr. PCBA Manufacturing Engineer

Hawthorne, CA

Full-time

Hybrid

Mid, Senior Level

$129K/yr - $175K/yr

5+ years exp

Venturi Astrolab, Inc. (Astrolab) is pioneering new ways to explore and operate on distant planetary bodies. The company is seeking a Sr. PCBA Manufacturing Engineer to support the development of lunar rovers and improve production processes, overseeing manufacturing processes and ensuring high-quality delivery of PCBs and PCBAs.

AerospaceManufacturingSpace Travel

Responsibilities

Collaborate with Design Engineering to provide PCB/PCBA Design for Excellence (DFX) feedback and identify manufacturing risks early in development

Partner with supply chain and EEE components engineers to establish and enforce a preferred parts list, identify alternate parts, and address part obsolescence

Perform in-depth reviews of schematics, eCAD, and BOMs and create Fabrication and Assembly drawings in Altium

Contribute to design reviews as a subject matter expert in manufacturability, testability, yield improvement, supplier capability, and quality control

Define and document manufacturing and test best practices for PCB designers to adhere to

Lead PCB/PCBA manufacturing vendor selection and qualification, define manufacturing readiness requirements, and drive milestone reviews

Develop and validate advanced manufacturing and test processes, including equipment selection, commissioning, documentation, and training

Select and qualify materials including PCB substrates, solder, flux, and polymerics (staking, underfill, and conformal coat)

Work closely with CMs to establish repeatable, high-quality processes for quick-turn and flight-grade builds

Direct and coordinate PCB fabrication and PCBA manufacturing activities, including managing supplier relations, overseeing quarantine and rework operations, and spearheading continuous improvement initiatives

Write and maintain engineering documentation including drawing notes, mBOMs, work instructions, inspection requirements, rework practices, and standard operating procedures

Support technicians and engineers in building prototype hardware and transitioning designs from development, through qualification, and into production

Investigate non-conformances to identify root causes, develop corrective actions, and drive systemic improvements to designs and manufacturing processes

Identify opportunities to reduce risk, simplify processes, and enhance PCB/PCBA quality, throughput, and cost

Qualification

PCB fabricationPCBA assemblyDesign for ManufacturingAltiumIPC standardsFailure analysisMaterials knowledgeProcess improvementTechnical writingInterpersonal skillsCollaborative skills

Required

Bachelor's degree in a STEM field; master's degree or relevant certifications are a plus

5+ years of experience in PCB fabrication or PCBA assembly manufacturing. Preference for candidates with NPI, spaceflight hardware, and NASA program experience

Expertise in board assembly processes and equipment: stencil/paste print, SPI, pick & place, SMT reflow, AOI, selective solder, X-ray inspection, flying probe, cleaning, coating, and programming

Extensive knowledge of IPC and NASA standards (IPC-A-600/610 Class 3, J-STD-001, IPC-6012, IPC-CC-830, IPC-SM-840, IPC-TM-650, NASA-STD-8739.1). Experience with the IPC space addendum is a plus

Demonstrated experience with materials used in PCBA manufacturing including PCB substrates, polymerics (conformal coating, staking, underfill), solder alloys, and electrical components

Experience developing and supporting PCBA manufacturing processes (SMT, X-ray, ICT, flying probe, DFT)

Knowledge of circuit analysis, test plan development, and troubleshooting of electrical hardware failures

Skilled in failure analysis tools and techniques (SEM, EDX, X-ray, cross-sectioning) and driving root cause investigations

Experience with rigid and flex PCBs for high power and high data rates in high noise environments

Experience implementing and enforcing Design for Manufacturing (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Test (DFT) principles and leading DFX reviews

Experience with tools such as Altium, SiliconExpert, Valor, and GIDEP

Experience collaborating with contract manufacturers and suppliers to improve reliability, lead time, and cost

Ability to lead small teams in root cause investigations and process improvements

Strong technical writing skills for manufacturing documentation and communication

Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills with a track record of cross-functional teamwork

Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage priorities, and communicate effectively with internal and external partners

Must be able and willing to periodically travel (i.e. field testing events)

Must be able to lift 50 lbs