Process Engineering Manager

Location: Orange County, CA ( ~ 5% Travel Required)

Industry: High-Reliability, High-Technology Manufacturing (Aerospace, Defense, Advanced Electronics)

About Summit Interconnect

As North America's largest privately held printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturer, we specialize in delivering high-reliability and advanced technology solutions across our 7 manufacturing facilities providing mission critical support to diverse sectors, including defense, aerospace, and high-performance commercial markets. At Summit Interconnect, we are dedicated to excellence through innovation, collaboration, execution and customer service.

Summit Interconnect is proud to be a recipient of the Peter Sarmanian Corporate Recognition Award from IPC, acknowledging our leadership and active participation in developing industry standards.

Position Overview

The Process Engineering Manager will lead site-level activity including; deploying best practices, implementing problem-solving frameworks, and driving standardization across the plant through leadership and collaboration to achieve world-class performance.

The Process Engineering Manager works in close partnership with the General Manager, site peers in operations, quality and maintenance, as well as, the Senior Director of Corporate Engineering, Vice President of Technology and divisional Engineering peers.

Responsibilities

Engineering Leadership & Execution

Direct and mentor engineering team
Serve as the escalation point for systemic or high-impact technical issues.
Lead technical execution of engineering deliverables that support factory performance, yield, cost, and cycle time.

Standardization & Best Practice Deployment

Lead and enforce standardization of engineering practices and process control plans.
Drive development and implementation of best-in-class practices including:
Data driven, defined and documented process capabilities
Best practice process standardization following well controlled change management
Automation platforms to reduce/eliminate operator process influence
Statistical process control systems and proactive solutions
Scalable systems for uniform NPI handoff, minimizing variability and maximizing first-time yield.

Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement

Deploy structured problem-solving methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, 8D, DMAIC, A3).
Lead root cause analysis for critical defects and yield issues. Develop PFMEA’s for critical processes to prevent issues, democratize troubleshooting and resolution.
Facilitate Kaizen events and continuous improvement projects to drive performance metrics.

Capital & Technology Implementation

Oversee the engineering readiness and integration of capital equipment projects.
Partner with corporate technical resources and site team members to evaluate, validate, and deploy new technologies.
Develop robust change management and qualification plans for process introductions and upgrades.

Data & Performance Management

Analyze process data to identify improvement opportunities and track ROI of investments.
Drive labor efficiency through process variable reduction, elimination of non-value add process activity and capability improvements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with site leadership to align engineering priorities with plant-level goals.
Work closely with Quality to ensure compliance with QMS, root cause analysis, and preventive actions.
Coordinate with IT and Digital teams on MES, Industry 4.0 implementation and statistical process control tools.
Collaborate with HR to assess, train, and grow technical talent in the facility. Assist to develop future leaders.

Qualifications

Education Required:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or related).
5+ years leading engineering teams within high-reliability, high-tech manufacturing.
Demonstrated experience implementing standard processes leading to best in class performance.
Strong background and proven results in proactive risk analysis, continuous improvement and implementing forward looking process / technology solutions.
Proven track record in team leadership, troubleshooting, and lean transformation.

Education Preferred:

Master’s degree or advanced technical certification.
Printed circuit board or advanced electronics manufacturing expertise.
Formal training or certification in Six Sigma, Lean, or equivalent methodologies.
Deep experience with statistical process control and associated software tools.

Key Performance Metrics

Improvement in site FPY, RTY and engineering responsiveness
On-time, in-scope implementation of capital projects
Engineering process consistency and best practice adherence
Talent development and succession planning for technical roles
Positive feedback from cross-functional peers and factory teams

Why Join Us?

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity to define and execute engineering excellence for a fast-growing, technology-forward manufacturer. You will work on cutting-edge technologies, solve complex operational challenges, and help build a culture of technical rigor and continuous improvement.

Compensation & Benefits:

Base salary range: $120,000 - $145,000 (based on experience).
Medical, Dental, Vision, and HSA plans effective on the first day of the month following hire.
Medical Insurance, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays per company policy.
401(k) with company matching.
Relocation assistance may be considered for top candidates.

Work Location:
This position is based in Orange County, CA, with expected travel to other Summit facilities, suppliers, customers or trade shows as needed and from time to time.

Equal Opportunity Employer:
Summit Interconnect is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We value diversity, innovation, and collaboration, and are committed to inclusive hiring practices. Join us and help shape the future of high-performance PCB manufacturing.

ITAR Compliance Notice

This position requires compliance with the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Under ITAR, candidates must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (e.g., "Green Card" holder), asylee, or refugee as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). Applicants who do not meet this requirement may not be eligible for employment in this position.

Summit Interconnect is an Equal Opportunity Employer
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone is valued and respected. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.