Supply Chain Engineer, PCB/PCBA (Senior / Principal)

We are looking for a Senior to Principal Supply Chain Engineer with deep expertise in electronics manufacturing — specifically printed circuit boards (PCB) and printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA) — to own the technical relationship between our engineering teams and our supplier base. This is a hands-on, high-impact role for someone who is equally comfortable on a factory floor troubleshooting a yield problem and in a conference room presenting a supplier development roadmap to leadership.

You will be responsible for building supplier capability from the ground up: qualifying new suppliers, developing and enforcing manufacturing process standards, driving root cause and corrective action on quality escapes, and partnering with design engineering to ensure our hardware is manufacturable at rate. This role requires significant travel — you will spend meaningful time at supplier sites, not just reviewing data from a desk.

Responsibilities

Supplier Discovery & Qualification

• Collaborate with broader supply chain team to identify PCB and PCBA suppliers.  Own the assessment, auditing, and onboarding of PCB and PCBA suppliers; develop a qualified supplier list (QSL) aligned to program needs and production ramp timelines
• Define and implement supplier technical requirements, quality flow-downs, and process control plans; ensure suppliers understand and can execute to Eclipse Supplier Manual and specifications

Process Development & Improvement

• Develop, document, and continuously improve manufacturing processes for PCB fabrication and PCBA — including SMT, through-hole, conformal coating, cleanliness, and test — at the supplier level
• Lead Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) and First Article Inspection Report (FAIR) activities with new and existing suppliers
• Conduct in-depth process audits and capability assessments; identify and implement solutions to mitigate bottlenecks, yield loss drivers, and rate limiters;
• Implement and own Statistical Process Control (SPC) programs at critical suppliers; drive data-driven decision-making on process stability and capability
• Apply DFA/DFM/DFT (design for assembly/design for manufacturability / design for test) principles in close collaboration with hardware and EE teams to reduce risk and defect opportunities before design release

Quality & Corrective Action

• Lead root cause and corrective action (RCCA) investigations for supplier quality escapes, non-conformances, and field returns; drive 8D problem-solving discipline at suppliers
• Serve as the primary technical liaison between internal manufacturing, quality, procurement, and design teams and the supplier.  Own primary review and disposition of non-conforming hardware and work with Responsible Engineering for reliability check and final approval.
• Lead containment efforts and implement effective solutions to prevent recurrence supplier escapes  

Strategic Supply Chain Contribution

• Develop long-range supplier capability roadmaps aligned to program technology and production rate requirements
• Influence make/buy decisions and sourcing strategy with data-driven technical assessments
• Mentor junior supply chain and quality engineers; establish and socialize best practices across the team
• Lead cross-functional initiatives to reduce supply chain risk, improve lead times, and drive cost efficiency without compromising quality
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, or a related engineering discipline
• 5+ years (Senior) or 8+ years (Principal) of hands-on experience in electronics manufacturing, supplier development, or supply chain engineering with a direct focus on PCB and/or PCBA fab
• Deep working knowledge of PCB manufacturing processes: laminate materials, layer stackups, impedance control, plating chemistries, surface finishes (ENIG, HASL, OSP, etc.), and inspection methods (AOI, X-ray, microsection)
• Strong familiarity with PCBA processes: SMT (paste printing, pick-and-place, reflow), through-hole, wave soldering, conformal coating, cleanliness testing, and functional/in-circuit test (ICT/FCT)
• Hands-on experience implementing supplier quality processes: PPAP, APQP, FAIR, RCCA, and corrective action systems
• Working knowledge of quality management systems (IPC-A-600, IPC-A-610, ISO 9001, AS9100, or equivalent)
• Demonstrated ability to perform and lead supplier audits and process capability assessments
• Demonstrated knowledge and application of GD&T
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to present technical findings and recommendations to suppliers, peers, and senior leadership
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 50% of the time, domestically and internationally

Nice to Have

• Experience with high-reliability or high-complexity PCB/PCBA applications (aerospace, defense, space, medical, automotive)
• Familiarity with high-speed PCB design constraints and their manufacturing implications
• Six Sigma Green or Black Belt, or equivalent structured problem-solving training
• IPC-7711/7721 or CIS/CID certification
• Proficiency with ERP/MES systems and supplier quality management platforms

Salary:  $140k - $180k