SMT Line Lead

Etched is building hardware for frontier intelligence. We co-design chips, racks, software, and manufacturing to deliver best-in-class throughput and latency across both prefill and decode workloads. Our first products are heavily focused on inference. Backed by hundreds of millions from top-tier investors and staffed by leading engineers, Etched is redefining the infrastructure layer for the fastest growing industry in history.

The SMT Line Lead runs and operates Etched's in-house SMT line, from incoming material to finished, inspected modules. You'll build and lead the line's operations team (incoming quality, material handling and logistics, quality and test, machine operators, and rework), and turn a newly installed line into a reliable, high-yield operation. You'll work closely with our process engineering, DFM, equipment, and procurement teams, who own process setup, equipment, and sourcing.

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• Bachelor's degree in a STEM field or comparable experience.

• Minimum of five years of experience in electronics manufacturing (PCBA/SMT), with at least two years leading production teams.

• Hands-on experience running an SMT line day to day: build scheduling, kitting, feeder setup, changeovers, and line-side inventory.

• Experience managing mixed teams of full-time employees and contractors across shifts.

• Working knowledge of SMT inspection and quality (SPI, AOI, X-ray), IPC-A-610 and J-STD-001, and MSD handling.

• Familiarity with SMT process validation and characterization, enough to partner closely with process engineering on yield.

• Track record of building processes, training programs, and metrics from scratch.

• Passionate about automating parts of the job with agentic AI models, and willing to learn about this on the job.

• Experience leading an SMT line at a fast-growing hardware startup.

• Has brought a new SMT line from first build to stable production.

• Experience with complex, high-value assemblies (large BGAs, server or accelerator boards) and BGA rework.

• Experience with MES, traceability, or inventory systems.

We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet every single qualification.