PCBA Manufacturing Engineer

Flex · California

Apply on Flex ↗

Level: Engineer
Team: Manufacturing
Degree: Required
Experience asked: 5+ years
Industry: Industrial
Posted: 2 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

An engineer-level manufacturing role at Flex (industrial) in California.

They ask for: 5+ years · degree required
Tools it names: Root cause, FMEA, Control plans, Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ), Assembly lines

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 26, 2026

Manufacturing Engineer roles in California: typical posted base $111k–$165k.

Median of the low and high ends of 131 live postings that list pay, out of 359 manufacturing engineer openings in California, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

California plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 358 other live manufacturing postings in California.

Base pay: Not listed in this posting
Experience asked: Typical (5+ years)

Skills these teams ask for most

Tooling 52%
✓ New product launch 50%
✓ Root cause 38%
Automation 35%
CATIA / NX 28%
Machining 27%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for Control plans, Assembly lines, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

It asks for 5+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

1
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at Flex
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

Full description from FlexAs posted on their careers site.Show

Job Summary

To support our extraordinary teams who build great products and contribute to our growth, we’re looking to add a PCBA Manufacturing Engineer located in Milpitas, CA.

Reporting to the Director, Operations Engineering, the PCBA Manufacturing Engineer will play a critical role in the development, industrialization, and optimization of advanced PCBA manufacturing processes supporting next-generation AI, rack-scale computing, and data center applications. This position is part of a cross-functional team (CFT) responsible for building and scaling complex printed circuit board assemblies at the Milpitas campus.

The ideal candidate will possess hands-on experience across the complete SMT manufacturing process, including pick-and-place, reflow soldering, wave soldering, process validation, and yield improvement. This role requires a strong understanding of PCBA chemistry, mechanical interactions, manufacturing design considerations, and advanced packaging technologies, including large BGA components utilized in high-performance AI infrastructure. This position aligns with the core

responsibilities

of Manufacturing Engineering as defined within the Flex Production Engineering organization.

The experience we’re looking to add to our team

✓Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
✓3-5 years of hands-on experience in PCBA manufacturing, with strong knowledge of the complete SMT process including solder paste printing, pick-and-place, reflow soldering, wave soldering, AOI, SPI, X-ray inspection, and process optimization for high-volume production.
✓Experience supporting complex PCBAs featuring large BGAs, high-density assemblies, and advanced packaging technologies, with the ability to troubleshoot manufacturing defects such as voiding, head-in-pillow, bridging, warpage, insufficient solder, and BGA-related failures.
✓Strong understanding of PCBA materials, solder chemistry, thermal management, mechanical interactions, and reliability considerations that impact assembly performance and manufacturing yield.
✓Working knowledge of DFM, DFA, IPC standards, PFMEA, control plans, manufacturing validation methodologies, and experience supporting NPI programs from development through successful production ramp.
✓Experience supporting AI servers, accelerator cards, GPU-based platforms, rack-scale computing, or data center infrastructure products, combined with strong analytical, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

EA42

SS26

AA01

CH12

MS14

CC11

EC37

PF38

JS21

NV60

FL75

Show full description ↓

Flex is the diversified manufacturing partner of choice that helps market-leading brands design, build and deliver innovative products that improve the world.

A career at Flex offers the opportunity to make a difference and invest in your growth in a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative environment. If you are excited about a role but don't meet every bullet point, we encourage you to apply and join us to create the extraordinary.

What a typical day looks like

•Drive and optimize the end-to-end PCBA manufacturing process, including solder paste printing, pick-and-place, reflow, wave soldering, inspection, and final assembly for AI, rack-scale computing, and data center products.
•Lead NPI builds and production readiness activities while partnering with Design, Quality, Test, Supply Chain, and Operations teams to ensure manufacturability, yield, reliability, and scalable production.
•Provide technical expertise for complex PCBAs featuring large BGA devices, supporting process development, thermal profiling, defect reduction, DFM/DFA reviews, and assembly optimization.
•Troubleshoot manufacturing, process, and product-related issues using structured root cause analysis and implement corrective and preventive actions to improve quality and throughput.
•Develop and maintain manufacturing documentation, including work instructions, process specifications, PFMEAs, control plans, validation reports, and process control strategies.
•Analyze manufacturing data and lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on yield enhancement, cycle-time reduction, cost optimization, equipment efficiency, and overall operational excellence.

What you'll receive for the great work you provide

•Full range of medical, dental, and vision plans
•Life Insurance
•Short-term and Long-term Disability
•Matching 401(k) Contributions
•Vacation and Paid Sick Time
•Tuition Reimbursement