SMT Stencil CAM Design Engineer

SMT Stencil CAM Design Engineer

Sierra Circuits is a Silicon Valley-based leader in printed circuit board manufacturing and assembly, specializing in high-quality, quick-turn and complex prototypes. With over 35 years of experience, Sierra provides a seamless, end-to-end PCB solution—from design and fabrication to assembly and testing—all under one roof at its state-of-the-art facilities in Sunnyvale, California. Sierra Circuits is committed to supporting engineers and designers through extensive educational resources. The company offers free online tools such as the Stackup Designer, Impedance Calculator, Material Selector, and BOM and DFM Checkers, along with technical blogs, webinars, design guides, and its SierraConnect community forum. Sierra Circuit serves all industries including aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, and telecommunications, building PCBs to the highest industry standards, and keeping innovation at the forefront of everything we do.

Job Descriptions: 

We are seeking a detail-oriented SMT Stencil CAM Design Engineer to join our manufacturing team. This role involves creating and optimizing stencil designs for Surface Mount Technology (SMT) processes, ensuring high-quality, manufacturable solutions that meet customer and industry specifications. The ideal candidate will have experience with CAM software, PCB assembly requirements, and a strong understanding of stencil design considerations for optimal solder paste deposition.

Key Responsibilities:

• Utilize CAM software (e.g., CAM350, Valor, AutoCAD, or Gerber editing tools) to design stencils for SMT applications.
• Interpret Gerber files, ODB , and CAD data to create precise stencil layouts for manufacturing.
• Optimize aperture designs to improve paste transfer efficiency and mitigate defects such as bridging, insufficient solder, or tombstoning.
• Collaborate with process engineers, PCB designers, and production teams to refine stencil designs for manufacturability.
• Ensure compliance with IPC-7525 stencil design standards and customer specifications.
• Work with suppliers and in-house manufacturing teams to ensure proper stencil fabrication and alignment.
• Troubleshoot and resolve stencil-related manufacturing issues, making necessary design adjustments.
• Maintain documentation for stencil design revisions, process improvements, and best practices.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Experience in SMT stencil design and PCB manufacturing processes.
• Proficiency in CAM software (such as CAM350, Valor, or Altium Designer).
• Strong understanding of stencil material selection, thickness, and aperture geometries.
• Knowledge of solder paste printing process and SMT assembly defects.
• Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, Gerber files, and CAD data.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills to collaborate with engineers, suppliers, and customers.
• [Optional] Experience with laser-cut stencil fabrication or nanocoating technologies is a plus.

Education & Experience:

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• 2 years of experience in SMT stencil design or PCB manufacturing.