Director of Engineering - Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS / PCBA)

Director of Engineering – Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS / PCBA)

Position Overview

The Director of Engineering – Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS / PCBA) provides strategic and operational leadership across the Engineering and Document Control organizations. This executive technical role develops advanced engineering capabilities, spearheads process and capital technology investments, directs New Product Introduction (NPI), and collaborates closely with tier-one customers and suppliers. Partnering across Operations, Quality, Program Management, Supply Chain, and Executive Leadership, the Director ensures all engineering practices drive best-in-class quality, delivery, productivity, unit economics, and client satisfaction.

Engineering Leadership & Organizational Development

Direct Engineering and Document Control departments, establishing priorities, deploying technical resources, and driving on-time deliverable execution.

Mentor, coach, and upskill engineering personnel to build technical depth, personal accountability, and collaborative cross-functional relationships.

Define and maintain engineering standards, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and operational KPIs supporting safety, quality, yield, and throughput.

Forecast departmental resource demands, including technical staffing, professional training, software tools, and capital equipment.

Drive continuous improvement, standardization, and root-cause problem solving utilizing Lean / Six Sigma frameworks.

Formulate and maintain an engineering technology roadmap aligned with organizational growth objectives, customer technology roadmaps, and emerging industry trends.

Benchmark internal manufacturing capabilities against market needs; recommend strategic investments in advanced equipment, software platforms, and automation.

Evaluate disruptive manufacturing technologies, identifying opportunities, implementation hurdles, and mitigation plans.

Direct the evaluation, procurement, qualification, and integration of high-precision PCBA manufacturing and test equipment.

Maintain expert command over SMT assembly, selective and wave soldering, box-build integration, high-level assemblies (HLA), and functional test architectures.

Customer Engineering & Business Development Support

Serve as the senior technical authority for existing and prospective customers, interfacing directly with client engineering teams to review designs and process capabilities.

Partner with Business Development and Program Management to assess customer fit, risk profiles, and project feasibility.

Provide engineering assessments for quotation packages, including DFM/DFT analysis, tooling requirements, process routing, cycle times, and technical risk factors.

Guide Design-for-Manufacturability (DFM) and Design-for-Test (DFT) reviews to optimize yield, reliability, and assembly costs.

New Product Introduction (NPI) & Document Control

Steer engineering participation across the complete NPI lifecycle from quoting through full-scale production ramp, ensuring seamless transition into manufacturing.

Oversee manufacturing process documentation, stencils, fixture design, machine programming, and work instructions for complex and quick-turn assemblies.

Oversee engineering component engineering, including regulatory declarations, obsolescence management, and product lifecycle health.

Ensure Document Control delivers rigorous, audit-ready, and revision-controlled documentation meeting internal, customer, and regulatory standards.

Provide escalation leadership and troubleshooting support to Manufacturing, Quality, and Process Engineering teams on complex production disruptions.

Direct defect analysis reviews, 8D root-cause investigations, and corrective action implementations for recurring or critical line issues.

Lead validation planning, IQ/OQ/PQ execution, and engineering change order (ECO) management.

Ensure technical processes maintain strict alignment with ISO, aerospace, defense, and medical regulatory standards.

Qualifications & Experience Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline (or an equivalent combination of education and direct industry experience).

Industry Experience:

Minimum 10+ years of progressive engineering experience within the Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) / contract manufacturing industry.

At least 5+ years dedicated to leading New Product Introduction (NPI) and manufacturing process development.

Demonstrated track record leading multi-disciplinary engineering teams in a high-reliability SMT / PCBA environment.

Background in highly regulated sectors (e.g., Aerospace & Defense, Medical Devices, High-Reliability Industrial).

Technical & Process Expertise:

Deep technical command of SMT equipment and line processes: solder paste printing, SPI, high-speed pick-and-place, reflow profiling, AOI, automated X-ray (AXI), wave/selective solder, and rework.

Proven experience with DFM/DFT methodologies, tooling/stencil design, component defect analysis, and testing strategies (ICT, Flying Probe, Functional).

Working knowledge of IPC and J-STD quality standards (IPC-A-610 Class 1–3, J-STD-001); formal IPC certifications preferred.

Hands-on familiarity with PCB design and CAD/CAM software (Valor, Cadence, CAM350, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or equivalent).

Continuous Improvement & Business Acumen

Demonstrated success championing Lean / Six Sigma implementations and organizational change; Six Sigma Black Belt certification preferred.

Solid grasp of business finance, capital budgeting, margin preservation, and the financial impact of engineering decisions.

Exceptional executive presentation and interpersonal skills, capable of influencing senior client stakeholders, suppliers, and internal executive teams.

Outstanding analytical reasoning, complex problem solving, and decisiveness in fast-paced manufacturing settings.

Work Environment & Physical Guidelines

Modern, well-lit, climate-controlled manufacturing and engineering office environment.

Compliance with facility Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) standards, including ESD-safe apparel and safety footwear in designated production zones in accordance with OSHA and facility guidelines.