Front-End Engineering Manager - PCB Manufacturing

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 accurately 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 closely 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 and guidance 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 engineering 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 manufacturing 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 engineering 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 effectively 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.

California Pay Range $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.

Pay and benefits

Pioneer Circuits provides a comprehensive benefits package for all full-time roles, encompassing healthcare, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents. Additionally, employees enjoy paid vacation, paid holidays, and a 401(k) plan + company match, along with various voluntary benefits options.