Electrical Manufacturing Engineer

Job Title: Electrical Manufacturing Engineer Job Description
This Electrical Manufacturing Engineer role focuses heavily on hands-on manufacturing rather than pure design. You will bridge the gap between customer PCB designs and reliable, repeatable production processes on SMT lines. This position is ideal for someone with PCB design experience who wants to move into an electrical manufacturing environment and own the processes that bring complex electronic assemblies from concept to volume production.
Responsibilities
- Review incoming customer designs, including Gerber files, bills of materials (BOMs), and assembly drawings, prior to production release to identify and flag potential issues before they reach the manufacturing floor.
- Develop, optimize, and document SMT process parameters such as stencil design, solder paste printing, reflow oven profiles, and pick-and-place programming to ensure robust, high-yield production.
- Convert engineering BOMs (EBOM) into manufacturing BOMs, including the creation of detailed work instructions, routing information, and traveler documentation to support smooth production flow.
- Lead New Product Introduction (NPI) builds from first article through production ramp, coordinating with cross-functional teams to ensure successful launches and stable manufacturing processes.
- Set up, program, and maintain AOI (Automated Optical Inspection) and SPI (Solder Paste Inspection) systems, driving improvements in first-pass yield and reducing defects.
- Troubleshoot SMT line issues in real time, including component placement defects, solder joint failures, and test escapes, to minimize downtime and improve product quality.
- Support test engineering activities by assisting with ICT (In-Circuit Test) and functional test fixture bring-up, debug, and optimization to ensure effective test coverage.
- Perform root cause analysis and corrective action (CAPA) on quality escapes and customer returns, implementing sustainable process improvements to prevent recurrence.
- Ensure manufacturing processes and workmanship meet relevant industry standards, including IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001, and promote consistent adherence on the production floor.
- Coordinate with quality, purchasing, and production planning teams to resolve component sourcing challenges, address obsolescence, and manage approved substitutions.
- Maintain, update, and improve process documentation, work instructions, and control plans to reflect current best practices and support training and compliance.
- Support scheduling and coordination of equipment calibration and preventive maintenance for SMT and test equipment to maintain performance and reliability.
- Work directly and frequently on the production floor to observe processes, gather feedback, and implement improvements in real time.
Essential Skills
- Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline, or equivalent hands-on experience in electronic manufacturing.
- Experience working with Gerber files and interpreting PCB manufacturing data.
- At least 3 years of PCB design experience, including familiarity with PCB layout and electronic assembly considerations.
- Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics, BOMs, and assembly drawings accurately.
- Comfort working directly on the production floor in a highly hands-on manufacturing environment.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes for PCB assemblies and SMT lines.
- Ability to analyze and optimize SMT process parameters, including stencil design, paste printing, and reflow profiles.
- Proficiency in troubleshooting manufacturing and process issues related to electronic assemblies.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Working knowledge of SMT equipment such as pick-and-place machines, reflow ovens, AOI, and SPI systems.
- Familiarity with IPC standards, including IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001, and their application to electronic assembly workmanship.
- Experience in a low-to-mid volume, high-mix contract manufacturing or similar environment.
- Exposure to ERP/MRP systems for BOM management, work order routing, and production planning.
- Experience with test fixture design or debug for ICT and functional test systems.
- Familiarity with wave soldering and selective soldering processes for through-hole and mixed-technology assemblies.
- Exposure to Lean manufacturing principles or Six Sigma methodologies for process improvement.
- IPC certifications such as CIT (Certified IPC Trainer) or CID (Certified Interconnect Designer) are a plus.
Work Environment
This role is predominantly floor-based, with approximately 90% of your time spent on the production floor and 10% at a desk performing documentation, analysis, and coordination tasks. Standard working hours are either 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., providing a stable daytime schedule. You will work closely with SMT lines, AOI and SPI equipment, test fixtures, and other electronic manufacturing technologies in a dynamic, high-mix environment focused on quality and continuous improvement.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Medina, OH.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $50.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Medina, OH.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 26, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Medina,OH. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
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San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law
shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
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