Engineering Manager

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Technical Oversight
• Lead, manage, and mentor the Process Engineering team supporting Class 3 aerospace and high-reliability PCBA builds.
• Establish and track performance against KPIs tied to yield, defect reduction, process capability, and certification compliance.
• Enforce accountability and manage corrective or disciplinary actions in accordance with company policies.
• Facilitate structured cross-functional collaboration between Engineering, Quality, Production, and Program teams to resolve technical and process issues.
• Aerospace Manufacturing Process Development
• Review and approve all manufacturing documentation to ensure compliance with IPC Class 3, customer specifications, and aerospace quality requirements.
• Ensure MPI packages, tooling, fixtures, machine programs, and inspection criteria are complete, validated, and controlled prior to release.
• Maintain strict revision control for all manufacturing documentation, certifications, tooling qualifications, and machine programs.
• Develop, validate, and certify manufacturing processes from initial concept through first article, qualification, and sustained production.
• Ensure processes support full traceability, lot control, and defect containment as required for aerospace customers.
• Define robust work instructions and process flows that minimize variation and maximize repeatability in high-mix, low-volume environments.
• Production Support & Continuous Improvement
• Provide direct engineering support to production teams for SMT, thru-hole, selective solder, AOI, AXI, rework, conformal coating, and final inspection processes.
• Establish and maintain accurate route times, standard labor models, and lead times aligned with aerospace scheduling commitments.
• Support capacity planning to ensure staffing, equipment, and certifications meet current and future program requirements.
• Lead root-cause analysis and corrective action activities using production data, quality metrics, and customer feedback.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives on repeat aerospace builds, implementing controlled process or documentation revisions when required.
• Partner with Quality on NPI risk assessments, PFMEAs, control plans, and DFM/DFT reviews to ensure defect prevention at launch.
• Balance cost, schedule, and quality while never compromising Class 3 compliance or customer requirements.
• Education & Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or 10+ years of progressive experience in high-reliability EMS manufacturing.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in process engineering for Class 3 aerospace, defense, or mission-critical electronics.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of SMT, thru-hole, AOI/AXI, selective solder, rework, and inspection in regulated environments.
• Skills & Qualifications
• Deep understanding of IPC Class 3 standards and aerospace customer quality requirements.
• Proven ability to implement and enforce process validation, certification, and revision control disciplines.
• Strong command of DFM/DFT principles, PFMEA, control plans, and risk-based decision-making.
• Experience with manufacturing documentation systems, MES, and data-driven process analysis tools.
• Familiarity with ESD controls, safety regulations, and high-reliability workmanship standards.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills with the ability to lead across multiple facilities and teams.
• Pay Range
• $120,000 — $150,000 USD
• ITAR/EAR Compliance: Due to the nature of the work performed at Rocket EMS, this position may require access to export-controlled technical data or technology. The successful candidate must be eligible to access such information under applicable U.S. export-control laws or be eligible for any required government authorization.
• Rocket EMS will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the California Fair Chance Act. Candidates are not required to disclose criminal history or participate in a background check unless and until a conditional offer of employment has been made. Any final offer of employment may be conditioned on completion of a background check, consistent with applicable law. #zr

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or 10+ years of progressive experience in high-reliability EMS manufacturing.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in process engineering for Class 3 aerospace, defense, or mission-critical electronics.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of SMT, thru-hole, AOI/AXI, selective solder, rework, and inspection in regulated environments.
• Skills & Qualifications
• Deep understanding of IPC Class 3 standards and aerospace customer quality requirements.
• Proven ability to implement and enforce process validation, certification, and revision control disciplines.
• Strong command of DFM/DFT principles, PFMEA, control plans, and risk-based decision-making.
• Experience with manufacturing documentation systems, MES, and data-driven process analysis tools.
• Familiarity with ESD controls, safety regulations, and high-reliability workmanship standards.
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills with the ability to lead across multiple facilities and teams.
• Pay Range
• $120,000 — $150,000 USD
• ITAR/EAR Compliance: Due to the nature of the work performed at Rocket EMS, this position may require access to export-controlled technical data or technology. The successful candidate must be eligible to access such information under applicable U.S. export-control laws or be eligible for any required government authorization.
• Rocket EMS will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the California Fair Chance Act. Candidates are not required to disclose criminal history or participate in a background check unless and until a conditional offer of employment has been made. Any final offer of employment may be conditioned on completion of a background check, consistent with applicable law.
• #zr