Principal Engineer

The Principal Manufacturing Engineer – SMT is a senior technical leader responsible for defining the strategic direction, advanced engineering capabilities, and long‑term roadmap of SMT manufacturing processes. This role drives operational excellence, leads complex cross‑functional initiatives, and mentors a team of 10+ engineers and technicians. The Principal Engineer ensures world‑class SMT performance through deep technical expertise, data‑driven decision making, and strong financial awareness, supporting both current business needs and future growth.

• Serve as the highest technical authority for SMT processes, equipment, and technologies.
• Develop long‑term strategies for SMT capability expansion, automation, efficiency, and quality improvement.
• Lead advanced engineering initiatives including technology scouting, digital transformation, and data‑centered process control.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to align engineering strategies with site-level and global business objectives.
• Provide expert guidance for equipment selection, capital expenditure justification, and ROI evaluations.

• Own the end‑to‑end SMT manufacturing process, ensuring stability, capability, and continuous optimization for:
  • Solder paste printing
  • SPI systems
  • FUJI placement platforms
  • Reflow ovens and thermal profiling
• Develop, validate, and maintain data‑driven profiles and process windows to meet customer and product requirements.
• Oversee stencil design strategies, including aperture optimization and print performance analysis.
• Lead the technical execution of complex NPIs, ensuring smooth transition to mass production and readiness for scale.
• Ensure compliance with best‑in‑class manufacturing standards and industry guidelines (IPC, JEDEC, etc.).

• Implement and maintain statistical process control (SPC) across all SMT stages.
• Use advanced data analytics tools to identify trends, optimize parameters, and prevent defects.
• Perform DOE, regression analysis, capability studies (Cp/Cpk), and machine data mining to enhance process robustness.
• Define KPIs and develop dashboards to monitor performance of equipment, quality, and throughput.

• Prepare and support financial justification for capital investments, upgrades, and process improvements.
• Evaluate cost models, productivity gains, and impacts on operational efficiency.
• Participate in quoting processes for new business, providing SMT cost drivers, time analysis, and feasibility inputs.
• Identify opportunities for cost reductions through material, cycle time optimization, and improved yield.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 10+ Manufacturing Engineers and SMT Technicians.
• Build technical succession pipelines and develop high‑performance engineering culture.
• Set clear expectations, measurable objectives, and conduct ongoing performance evaluations.
• Provide technical coaching and promote a proactive, problem‑solving mindset.
• Foster collaboration with cross‑functional teams including Quality, Test, Production, and Supply Chain.

• Lead high‑impact root cause investigations using:
  • Ishikawa
  • 5 Whys
  • Pareto
  • DOE
• Drive continuous improvement programs focused on yield, uptime, and process efficiency.
• Promote Lean and Six Sigma principles to eliminate waste and reduce variation.
• Serve as escalation point for the most complex technical challenges in SMT.

• Act as a senior technical liaison with customers, supporting audits, technical reviews, and escalations.
• Provide expert-level communication on process capability, improvements, and manufacturing readiness.
• Collaborate with business development teams to assess new customer requirements and technical feasibility.

• 8+ years of experience in SMT Manufacturing Engineering, including senior or lead roles.
• Demonstrated expertise with:
  • SMT printers
  • SPI systems
  • FUJI placement machines
  • Reflow ovens and profiling
• Strong knowledge of NPI launches and complex program management.
• Experience in PCB design fundamentals and DFM/DFX principles.
• Advanced problem-solving and statistical analysis skills (SPC, DOE, capability studies).

• Proficient in data analysis tools (Minitab, JMP, Python, Excel advanced, or similar).
• Experience with MES systems, machine-level data, and real-time monitoring platforms.

• Excellent communication skills, including conversational English for global interaction.
• Proven ability to manage and develop large engineering teams.
• Strong decision-making skills based on data, risk assessment, and technical depth.
• High sense of ownership, service orientation, and strategic thinking.

• Understanding of financial metrics such as ROI, payback, depreciation, and cost modeling.
• Ability to support budget planning and evaluate process improvements with financial impact.