Senior Principal Process Engineer Lead

Job Description:

Job Description
This role is responsible for developing, optimizing, and sustaining manufacturing processes including solder paste screen printing, solder paste inspection (SPI), pick-and-place assembly, reflow soldering, automated optical inspection (AOI), X-ray inspection, chip bonding processes.

The Senior Principal Process Engineer will be the SME (subject matter expert) and lead process capability improvements, equipment qualification, statistical process control (SPC) implementation, and manufacturing readiness efforts while supporting New Product Introductions (NPI) and Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) builds. The position requires strong collaboration with Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and Program Management teams.
This is a FT onsite position on a 9/80 work schedule with every other Friday off.

Job Duties

Provide technical leadership and ownership of SMT and advanced microelectronics assembly processes including screen printing, SPI, pick-and-place, reflow, AOI, AXI/X-ray, chip bonding, and underfill processes.
Develop, optimize, and sustain manufacturing process parameters to ensure high reliability, repeatability, and process capability for aerospace and defense electronics.
Lead process troubleshooting and root cause analysis for manufacturing defects using structured problem-solving methodologies.
Implement and maintain Statistical Process Control (SPC) monitoring across critical manufacturing processes to ensure process stability and early detection of variation.
Support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities including design for manufacturability (DFM) reviews, process development, prototype builds, and production readiness validation.
Provide engineering support for Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) builds, including prototype and engineering development builds, new process development, and early manufacturing risk mitigation.
Lead equipment qualification and process validation activities including installation qualification (IQ), operational qualification (OQ), and performance qualification (PQ).
Develop and maintain manufacturing documentation, including process specifications, PQP’s, validation reports, and engineering procedures.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on yield improvement, defect reduction, and manufacturing efficiency.
Generate Basis of Estimates (BOEs).
Partner with Quality Engineering to ensure compliance with AS9100 quality management requirements and IPC standards.
Collaborate with Maintenance and Operations teams to improve equipment performance, reliability, and production throughput.
Provide technical mentorship and guidance to process engineers and technicians.
Participate in cross-functional reviews with program management, design engineering, and manufacturing teams to support production readiness and manufacturing risk reduction.
Ensure compliance with safety requirements including LOTO procedures, Job Safety Analysis (JSA), and environmental health and safety standards.
Support manufacturing readiness for high-reliability aerospace and defense programs.

Key Responsibilities
Manufacturing Process Leadership
Provide technical ownership and oversight of critical assembly processes including:

Solder Paste Screen Printing
Solder Paste Inspection (SPI)
Pick and Place Assembly (Fuji)
Reflow Soldering
Automated Optical Inspection (AOI)
Automated X-ray Inspection (AXI)
Chip Bonding / Die Attach
Underfill dispensing and curing processes
Process Capability & Yield Improvement
Lead continuous improvement initiatives
Improve process capability (Cp/Cpk)
Increase manufacturing yield
Reduce defects and process variation
Improve equipment performance and utilization
Equipment Qualification & Process Validation

Lead validation activities including:

Equipment, installation and qualification

Reflow thermal profiling

Inspection program optimization
Equipment capability studies
Ensure compliance with IPC standards and AS9100 quality requirements.
Statistical Process Control (SPC)

Develop and implement SPC strategies to monitor critical process parameters such as:

solder paste deposition
placement accuracy
reflow temperature profiles
inspection defect trends

Job Requirements:

Required Education, Experience, & Skills
Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Manufacturing, Mechanical, Electrical, or related field)
8+ years of experience in electronics manufacturing or advanced assembly processes
Strong experience with Surface Mount Technology (SMT) manufacturing processes and Circuit Card Assembly (CCA)
Must be able to obtain a secret clearance

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills
10+ years of experience in electronics manufacturing or advanced assembly processes
Strong experience with Surface Mount Technology (SMT) manufacturing processes and Circuit Card Assembly (CCA). Experience leading high performing teams.

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $132962 - $226035

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.

Job Ident #: 123179BR

Company Details

BAE Systems

1601 Research Blvd
Rockville, Maryland 20850 USA
www.baesystems.jobs

BAE Systems is a premier global defense and security company with approximately 100,000 employees delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions...

Benefits:
Competitive

Supported Manufacturers:
Various

Supported Models:

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Job Info

Location

Austin, Texas, United States

Type

Permanent

Company Details

BAE Systems

1601 Research Blvd
Rockville, Maryland 20850 USA
www.baesystems.jobs