Director of Engineering

Position Summary

The Director of Engineering oversees all process/manufacturing engineering functions within a high-mix, high-reliability PCBA manufacturing environment producing Class 3 aerospace and mission-critical assemblies. This role leads PCBA manufacturing engineering, process engineering, NPI, DFM/DFX, sustaining engineering, and automation/continuous improvement initiatives. The Director ensures that all engineering processes comply with IPC, J-STD, AS9100, and aerospace customer addendums while optimizing manufacturability, quality, cost, and throughput.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

Lead and develop a multidisciplinary engineering team (SMT Process, Manufacturing, New Product Introduction, and Automation).
Drive engineering strategy aligned with company objectives for quality, cost, yield, and delivery.
Serve as the technical authority for IPC-J-STD-001 Class 3, IPC-A-610 Class 3, IPC-7711/7721, and aerospace process controls.

Manufacturing / Process Engineering

Own company-wide engineering initiatives across all PCBA manufacturing functional areas, including build readiness reviews and standardization efforts.
Ensure process qualification and documentation aligns with J-STD-001 Space & Military Addendum and applicable aerospace customer requirements.
Establish and maintain process windows, control plans, PFMEAs, and validation reports.

New Product Introduction (NPI)

Lead DFM/DFX reviews, tooling design, stencil strategy, and prototype builds.
Oversee creation of travelers, BOM validation, build instructions, and work instructions in compliance with AS9100.
Manage engineering change control (ECOs), configuration management, and revision control.

Automation & Continuous Improvement

Lead LEAN/CI programs focused on waste reduction, defect elimination, and throughput improvement.
Collaborate closely with Quality Engineering to address defects, root cause investigations, and MRB activities.
Implement process monitoring, SPC, and industry 4.0 tools.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with Production, Quality, Program Management, Supply Chain, and SMT departments.
Provide engineering support during customer audits, FAIs, PFMEAs, and technical reviews.
Partner with external suppliers on polymerics, tooling, fixtures, materials, and new process technologies.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Industrial Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
10-15+ years in PCBA manufacturing engineering with at least 10+ years in a leadership role.
Deep knowledge of:

IPC-J-STD-001 Class 3 & Space/Military Addendums
IPC-A-610 Class 3
AS9100D
IPC-7351, 7711/7721, 2221

Experience with aerospace, defense, medical, or other high-reliability electronics.
Strong background in SMT (printing, placement, reflow), AOI/AXI, DFM/DFX, Rework, Chemical Wash, Polymerics, and test strategies.
Excellent leadership, communication, and technical decision-making abilities.

Pay Range

$150,000—$200,000 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.
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Pay Range 150000 - 200000 USD

About the company

Rocket EMS builds circuit board assemblies for technology companies that need to turn product designs into manufactured electronics. Its work spans prototypes and repeat production, with engineering support for customers developing or refining their own products. Customers buy contract manufacturing and related design services, while Rocket sources components and assembles boards into finished systems, including chassis, racks, and plastic enclosures. It also supplies standalone product engineering, from commercial design and documentation to preparation for factory production. Rocket EMS was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Santa Clara, CA

Founded

2011

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

Customer work continues beyond assembly: Rocket includes order fulfillment and returned-product logistics in its production services.
Supervisory experience substitutes for college: San Jose's quality supervisor accepts a high school diploma plus three supervisory years.
Engineering leadership has published pay: Carson City's director role lists a $150,000-$200,000 range.

What critics are saying

Production hours extend beyond weekdays: Carson City's second-shift machine operator role lists overtime and weekends as needed.
Inspection entry requires credentials: Carson City's quality inspector needs electronics workmanship or soldering certification plus two years' inspection experience.
Export controls restrict director eligibility: Carson City requires lawful technical-data access or eligibility for required government authorization.

What makes Rocket EMS unique

Fast prototypes are a core service: Rocket advertises circuit board assembly in 24-48 hours.
Design reviews cover detailed failure points: Rocket's Valor software runs over 700 fabrication and assembly checks.
Factory issues trigger software alerts: Rocket's Voyager tracks process deviations, quality, and shipment milestones.

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Rocket EMS

Director of Engineering