SMT(PCBA) DFM Engineer

We are looking for a self-driven, passionate Design for Manufacturability (DFM) Engineer. In this role, you will lead the development of manufacturing processes and stations (SMA, HotBar, etc.), ensure top-tier quality, and solve complex problems in creative, effective ways. You will also manage contract manufacturers (CMs) to support product development builds and high-volume mass production.

Description

• Collaborate tightly with the Cupertino Engineering team to validate product designs for manufacturability, recommending design changes to drive high quality (yield and reliability) and cost-effectiveness.
• Develop innovative and creative manufacturing processes and stations.
• Provide expert guidance and resources to contract manufacturer (CM) engineers.
• Support product builds through all developmental stages (Proto, EVT, DVT, PVT) and seamlessly into mass production ramps.
• Plan, develop, and implement rigorous procedures for PCBA, SIP, module manufacturing processes and quality control at CM sites.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to define requirements and establish suitable performance metrics for new processes.
• Lead cross-functional efforts to ensure the successful transition of projects from engineering to mass production, or during site-to-site transfers.
• Act as the primary project leader on a variety of complex manufacturing and engineering projects.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering (EE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related technical field, paired with relevant industry experience.
• Experienced in Surface-Mount Technology (SMT) or related fields (e.g., packaging assembly).
• General understanding of PCB fabrication, component packaging (general IC, SIP, discrete passive components), substrate materials, and surface finishes (OSP, ENIG, etc.), including how they impact solderability and reliability.
• Familiar with process failure analysis (FA) as well as it’s equipment, tools, and methodologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or above in Electrical Engineering (EE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, etc.,
• Additional technical expertise or PhD in automation, data science, or mechanical design is a strong plus.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with a collaborative, team-player mindset suited for working across multiple functional groups.
• Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to act as a project leader on complex initiatives.
• Strong quality mindset with experience navigating factory quality control systems (IQC, IPQC, SQE, QA/QE).
• Proficiency with software and CAD tools for running DFM analyses (e.g., Siemens/Mentor Graphics Valor NPI).
• A proactive, "can-do" attitude with the ability to perform well under pressure and tight deadlines.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.