JOB SUMMARY: The Process Engineer serves as a key technical interface between Design Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality within an aerospace and defense manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for supporting New Product Introduction (NPI), developing robust manufacturing processes, improving yield and productivity, and ensuring products are successfully transitioned into production. Process Engineer provides hands-on support to manufacturing operations while driving continuous improvement, root cause investigations, and process optimization.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS- Support New Product Introduction (NPI) by developing manufacturing processes, work instructions, and Design for Manufacturability (DFM) solutions to ensure successful production readiness.
- Develop, qualify, and optimize electronics manufacturing processes and automation solutions, including SMT assembly, reflow soldering, environmental screening, and other special processes, to improve yield, throughput, quality, and process capability.
- Develop and maintain manufacturing documentation including work instructions, process flows, assembly procedures, and visual manufacturing aids.
- Provide day-to-day technical support to manufacturing operations, resolving process-related issues and ensuring stable, repeatable production performance.
- Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions related to quality, yield, throughput, and manufacturing process issues.
- Analyze manufacturing data and apply Statistical Process Control (SPC) and other data-driven methodologies to improve process capability and product reliability.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on first-pass yield, scrap reduction, rework reduction, cycle-time improvement, and operational efficiency.
- Support qualification and deployment of new equipment, tooling, fixtures, automation technologies, and manufacturing processes.
- Collaborate with Engineering, Quality, and Operations teams to improve manufacturability, reliability, and production efficiency.
- Ensure compliance with AS9100, IPC, customer, and regulatory requirements through robust process controls, documentation, and participation in customer, supplier, and internal audits.
QUALIFICATIONS- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
- 3-10 years of experience in aerospace, defense, electronics, or other high-reliability manufacturing environments.
- Experience supporting NPI-to-production transfers and manufacturing process development.
- Working knowledge of IPC-A-610, J-STD-001, AS9100, and related quality requirements.
- Experience with Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA), CAPA, SPC, Lean Manufacturing, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience developing, qualifying, or supporting SMT electronics assembly processes, reflow soldering, and other special manufacturing processes preferred.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, BOMs, specifications, and manufacturing documentation.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:- This position is based in a regulated electronics manufacturing environment supporting aerospace and defense programs and requires regular presence on the production floor as well as close collaboration with cross-functional teams.
