Senior Electrical Manufacturing Engineer
MiniMed · Northridge, CA
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Reliability
- Base pay
- $87k–$149k
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 4+ years
- Certification
- Black Belt preferred
- Industry
- Medical devices
- Posted
- 4 days ago
The role in 30 seconds
A senior reliability role at MiniMed (medical devices) in Northridge, CA. Evaluate, qualify, and implement new materials, equipment, and technologies to improve process performance and competitiveness.
- They ask for
- 4+ years · degree required · Black Belt preferred
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Value stream mapping, Root cause, SPC
- Base pay
- $87k–$149k
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
How this role compares
Against 89 other live reliability postings in California.
- Base pay
- About 13% below similar roles
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (4+ vs 5+)
Typical $111k–$160k, from 50 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Root cause 79%
- ✓ FMEA 50%
- ✓ New product launch 49%
- ✓ Automation 39%
- ✓ DOE 29%
- ✓ SPC 24%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for Kaizen, Value stream mapping, CAPA, ISO 13485, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
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 Reliability team at MiniMed
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?
- The posting mentions a Black Belt. Does the company sponsor certification?
- 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.
This plant: MiniMed in Northridge
7 other open roles at this site.
- Sr Quality Engineer (New Product Development) · Quality · Senior
- Senior Operational Excellence Black Belt · Lean / CI · Black Belt
- Principal Packaging Engineer · Manufacturing · Senior
- Reliability Engineer II · Reliability
- Senior Quality Engineer · Quality · Senior
- Sr NPI Manufacturing Engineer · Manufacturing · Senior
Full description from MiniMedAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Senior Electrical Manufacturing Engineer to lead and drive the development, optimization, and sustaining of complex PCBA manufacturing processes within a highly regulated medical device environment. This senior-level role requires deep technical expertise, strong leadership capabilities, and a proven track record of delivering high-quality PCBA solutions for life-critical medical products.
The ideal candidate will serve as a technical subject matter expert (SME), driving continuous improvement initiatives, leading cross-functional teams, and ensuring that all PCBA processes meet the most stringent quality, reliability, and regulatory standards in the medical device industry.
Responsibilities
may include the following and other duties may be assigned.
requirements
- ✓Represent manufacturing engineering in cross-functional core teams and program reviews
requirements
- ✓Lead CAPA investigations and drive systemic corrective actions for PCBA-related non-conformances and customer complaints
- ✓Own process-level risk management activities in accordance with ISO 14971
- ✓Ensure compliance with FDA 21 CFR Part 820, ISO 13485, IEC 60601 , and other applicable standards
- ✓Support regulatory submissions, internal audits, and external inspections (FDA, Notified Body) related to PCBA manufacturing
- ✓Drive implementation of Statistical Process Control (SPC) and key process indicators (KPIs) to monitor and control PCBA process performance
requirements
and collaborate with supply chain to resolve supplier-related PCBA issues
- ✓Evaluate and approve material and component changes from a manufacturing process perspective
Required Qualifications
Requires a bachelor's degree and minimum of 4 years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree with a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓8–12+ years of progressive experience in PCBA manufacturing engineering
- ✓5 years of experience in a regulated medical device, aerospace, or defense manufacturing environment
- ✓Demonstrated experience leading NPI programs and complex process validation activities
- ✓Technical Skills - SMT & Through-Hole Assembly Processes
- ✓Expert - IPC Standards (IPC-A-610, J-STD-001)
- ✓Expert - Reflow, Wave & Selective Soldering
- ✓Expert - AOI, X-Ray & SPI Inspection Systems
- ✓Expert - DFM / DFA Principles & Application
- ✓Expert - IQ/OQ/PQ Process Validation
- ✓Expert - FDA 21 CFR Part 820 / ISO 13485
- ✓Expert - FMEA & Risk Management (ISO 14971)
- ✓Expert - Root Cause Analysis (8D, 5-Why, DOE)
- ✓Expert - Statistical Process Control (SPC)
- ✓Expert - Conformal Coating & Cleaning Pr
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
At MiniMed, you can begin a lifelong career of exploration and innovation, while helping make a difference in the lives of people living with diabetes around the globe. You'll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation for a more connected, compassionate world.
Advanced Process Engineering & Development
- •Lead the design, development, validation, and continuous improvement of complex PCBA manufacturing processes including SMT, through-hole, reflow soldering, wave soldering, selective soldering, and advanced cleaning processes
- •Drive process capability improvements using statistical methods and advanced engineering techniques to achieve best-in-class yields and quality metrics
- •Own and lead full process qualification and validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) activities from planning through execution and approval
- •Develop and implement Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) guidelines and ensure adoption by design engineering teams
- •Lead advanced root cause analysis for complex, recurring, or high-impact PCBA manufacturing failures
- •Evaluate, qualify, and implement new materials, equipment, and technologies to improve process performance and competitiveness
- •Define and own process control plans, FMEAs, and control strategies for critical PCBA processes
New Product Introduction (NPI) Leadership
- •Serve as the primary PCBA manufacturing engineering lead for NPI programs, from concept through full production transfer
- •Lead manufacturing readiness reviews and ensure all PCBA processes are production-ready prior to launch
- •Collaborate with R&D and design engineering teams during early-stage development to influence PCB layout, component selection, and assembly design decisions
- •Define pilot build strategies, process qualification plans , and production ramp activities
- •Develop and present manufacturing risk assessments and mitigation strategies to program leadership
Technical Leadership & Mentorship
- •Serve as the technical SME for all PCBA process-related topics across the organization
- •Mentor and coach junior and mid-level manufacturing engineers, technicians, and operators
- •Lead technical reviews, design reviews, and process audits with internal and external stakeholders
- •Develop and deliver training programs on PCBA processes, IPC standards, and quality
Quality, Compliance & Risk Management
- •Ensure all PCBA processes comply with IPC standards (IPC-A-610, IPC-7711/7721, IPC-J-STD-001) and medical device regulatory
Supplier & Contract Manufacturer Management
- •Lead qualification and ongoing oversight of contract manufacturers (CMs) and PCBA suppliers
- •Conduct supplier audits and technical reviews to assess process capability and quality performance
- •Define supplier quality
Continuous Improvement & Innovation
- •Champion Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies to drive waste reduction and process efficiency
- •Lead or participate in kaizen events, value stream mapping , and other continuous improvement initiatives
- •Identify and implement automation and digitalization opportunities in PCBA manufacturing processes
- •Track and report on yield, defect rates, cycle time , and other key PCBA process metrics