Engineering Manager Rocket EMS

About The Role

The Engineering Manager is responsible for leading the Process Engineering function in support of Class 3, high-reliability aerospace and mission-critical PCBA manufacturing across all Rocket EMS facilities.

Requirements

for quality, repeatability, traceability, and regulatory compliance. The Engineering Manager owns process integrity from NPI through sustained production , overseeing documentation, validation, certification, capacity planning, and continuous improvement. Working closely with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, and approved offsite partners, this role drives operational excellence through disciplined revision control, data-driven decision-making, and proactive risk management consistent with aerospace and defense expectations.

Ensure MPI packages, tooling, fixtures, machine programs, and inspection criteria are complete, validated, and controlled prior to release.

Lead root-cause analysis and corrective action activities using production data, quality metrics, and customer feedback. Drive continuous improvement initiatives on repeat aerospace builds, implementing controlled process or documentation revisions when required. Partner with Quality on NPI risk assessments, PFMEAs, control plans, and DFM/DFT reviews to ensure defect prevention at launch.

Education & Experience Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or 10+ years of progressive experience in high-reliability EMS manufacturing . Demonstrated leadership experience in process engineering for Class 3 aerospace, defense, or mission-critical electronics . Strong hands-on knowledge of SMT, thru-hole, AOI/AXI, selective solder, rework, and inspection in regulated environments.

Proven ability to implement and enforce process validation, certification, and revision control disciplines. Strong command of DFM/DFT principles, PFMEA, control plans, and risk-based decision-making .

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Technical Oversight Lead, manage, and mentor the Process Engineering team supporting Class 3 aerospace and high-reliability PCBA builds . Establish and track performance against KPIs tied to yield, defect reduction, process capability, and certification compliance. Enforce accountability and manage corrective or disciplinary actions in accordance with company policies.

Facilitate structured cross-functional collaboration between Engineering, Quality, Production, and Program teams to resolve technical and process issues.

Qualifications

, and machine programs. Develop, validate, and certify manufacturing processes from initial concept through first article, qualification, and sustained production . Ensure processes support full traceability, lot control, and defect containment as required for aerospace customers.

Define robust work instructions and process flows that minimize variation and maximize repeatability in high-mix, low-volume environments. Production Support & Continuous Improvement Provide direct engineering support to production teams for SMT, thru-hole, selective solder, AOI, AXI, rework, conformal coating, and final inspection processes. Establish and maintain accurate route times, standard labor models, and lead times aligned with aerospace scheduling commitments.

Deep understanding of IPC Class 3 standards and aerospace customer quality