Front-End Engineering Manager - PCB Manufacturing

Front-End Engineering Manager - PCB Manufacturing

Santa Ana, CA

Pioneer Circuits is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of innovative high-performance flexible circuit boards. We design, produce, and assemble advanced printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs) for mission-critical systems in aerospace and defense sectors.

About the Opportunity:

The Front-End Engineering Manager leads Pioneer Circuits' Front-End Engineering organization, overseeing the Planning Engineering and CAM Engineering functions to ensure customer requirements are translated into complete, manufacturable engineering data. This role is responsible for the quality, accuracy, and timely release of manufacturing documentation that enables efficient production, supports on-time delivery, and ensures compliance with customer, regulatory, and industry requirements. The Front-End Engineering Manager partners with Sales, Quality, Manufacturing, Operations, and Engineering to improve manufacturability, standardize engineering practices, and drive continuous improvement across the front-end engineering process.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead, coach, and develop the Planning Engineering and CAM Engineering teams by establishing clear priorities, providing technical guidance, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee the front-end engineering workflow from customer order review through manufacturing release, ensuring engineering packages are complete, accurate, and released on schedule.
• Manage department workload, staffing, and priorities to support production schedules while balancing customer commitments and business objectives.
• Provide technical leadership for complex engineering requirements, high-layer-count designs, sequential lamination, rigid-flex constructions, and other advanced PCB technologies.
• Ensure customer purchase orders, drawings, specifications, and engineering requirements are accurately interpreted and translated into manufacturing documentation.
• Oversee planning and CAM engineering activities to ensure travelers, manufacturing instructions, tooling data, drill files, AOI programs, panelization, stack-ups, impedance models, and related outputs meet customer and manufacturing requirements.
• Partner with Sales, Quality, Manufacturing, Planning, Operations, and customers to resolve technical issues, improve manufacturability, and support successful product launches.
• Establish and maintain engineering standards, procedures, and best practices that improve consistency, efficiency, and manufacturing readiness.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing engineering errors, improving documentation accuracy, shortening engineering lead times, and improving production throughput.
• Analyze department performance metrics, identify trends and bottlenecks, and implement improvements that enhance operational performance.
• Support customer meetings, technical discussions, and engineering reviews related to manufacturability, process capabilities, and complex product requirements.
• Collaborate with Quality and Manufacturing to investigate engineering-related production issues and implement corrective actions that improve first-pass yield and reduce scrap and rework.
• Evaluate new technologies, software, equipment, and processes that improve productivity, automation, and engineering effectiveness.

What You’ll Bring:

• Strong leadership experience managing engineering or technical teams within a PCB manufacturing environment.
• Comprehensive knowledge of PCB manufacturing processes, including rigid, flex, and rigid-flex technologies.
• Strong understanding of Planning Engineering, CAM Engineering, DFM, manufacturing documentation, and engineering release processes.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, and team development skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with experience making sound technical and operational decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across departments and interact professionally with customers.
• Ability to interpret complex customer drawings, specifications, military standards, engineering documentation, and manufacturing requirements.
• Experience driving process improvements, standardization, and operational excellence.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems, ProCIM, Microsoft Office Suite, and PCB engineering software such as Valor Genesis or equivalent.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Electronics, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent combination of education and industry experience.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in PCB manufacturing, including Planning Engineering, CAM Engineering, Process Engineering, or Front-End Engineering.
• 3+ years of leadership or supervisory experience managing technical or engineering teams.
• Strong understanding of rigid, flex, and rigid-flex printed circuit board manufacturing.
• Experience supporting aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments preferred.
• Experience with Valor Genesis, ProCIM, and manufacturing ERP systems preferred.
• Knowledge of military specifications, IPC standards, AS9100, and customer engineering requirements preferred.

Salary: $118,000 - $145,000 USD

The actual compensation offered is based on a wide array of factors unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, years and depth of experience, certifications, and other relevant business considerations.

Pioneer Circuits provides a comprehensive benefits package for all full-time roles, including healthcare, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents, paid vacation, paid holidays, and a 401(k) plan with company match.

This is an ITAR-controlled facility. All applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. Employment eligibility will be verified through the E-Verify system as part of the hiring process.

Pioneer Circuits is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, gender identity, or any other factor protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.