Engineering Manager - Rocket EMS

Engineering Manager Rocket EMS About the Role

The Engineering Manager is responsible for leading the Process Engineering function in support of Class 3, high-reliability aerospace and mission-critical PCBA manufacturing across all Rocket EMS facilities. This role ensures that manufacturing processes meet the most stringent industry requirements for quality, repeatability, traceability, and regulatory compliance.

The Engineering Manager owns process integrity from NPI through sustained production , overseeing documentation, validation, certification, capacity planning, and continuous improvement. Working closely with Production, Quality, Supply Chain, and approved offsite partners, this role drives operational excellence through disciplined revision control, data-driven decision-making, and proactive risk management consistent with aerospace and defense expectations.

• Lead, manage, and mentor the Process Engineering team supporting Class 3 aerospace and high-reliability PCBA builds .
• Establish and track performance against KPIs tied to yield, defect reduction, process capability, and certification compliance.
• Enforce accountability and manage corrective or disciplinary actions in accordance with company policies.
• Facilitate structured cross-functional collaboration between Engineering, Quality, Production, and Program teams to resolve technical and process issues.

• Review and approve all manufacturing documentation to ensure compliance with IPC Class 3 , customer specifications, and aerospace quality requirements.
• Ensure MPI packages, tooling, fixtures, machine programs, and inspection criteria are complete, validated, and controlled prior to release.
• Maintain strict revision control for all manufacturing documentation, certifications, tooling qualifications, and machine programs.
• Develop, validate, and certify manufacturing processes from initial concept through first article, qualification, and sustained production .
• Ensure processes support full traceability, lot control, and defect containment as required for aerospace customers.
• Define robust work instructions and process flows that minimize variation and maximize repeatability in high-mix, low-volume environments.

• Provide direct engineering support to production teams for SMT, thru-hole, selective solder, AOI, AXI, rework, conformal coating, and final inspection processes.
• Establish and maintain accurate route times, standard labor models, and lead times aligned with aerospace scheduling commitments.
• Support capacity planning to ensure staffing, equipment, and certifications meet current and future program requirements.