Senior NPI Engineer (EMS) - PCB, PCBA

Location: Bangalore - Indraprastha, IndiaThales people architect solutions that enable two-thirds of planes to take off and land safely. We create in-flight entertainment systems that engross 50 million fliers every year and we develop the avionics that control the world’s largest commercial aircrafts. Our simulators train the next generation of pilots for fighter jets, transporters and search and rescue helicopters. And, together, each and every member of our aerospace team makes a difference.Present in India since 1953, Thales is headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, and has operational offices and sites spread across Bengaluru, Delhi, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune among others. Over 1800 employees are working with Thales and its joint ventures in India. Since the beginning, Thales has been playing an essential role in India’s growth story by sharing its technologies and expertise in Defence, Transport, Aerospace and Digital Identity and Security markets.

Senior NPI Engineer ( EMS) - PCB, PCBA.

Job Description

Primary Purpose of the Role

Thales is expanding its presence in India through the development of a Group Engineering Competence Centre (ECC), reinforcing its position as a leader in all its markets. Launching in early 2019 in Bengaluru, the ECC will expand Thales’ footprint in its core business areas and cement its long-standing relationship with India. Strong of more than 500 engineers as of today, ECC will grow to >1200 by 2029.

This role is part of the Industrial Process Engineering function within the AVS-FLX team. The position is Senior NPI Engineer – PCB,PCBA, responsible for managing the introduction of new products and overseeing industrial transfer activities.

AVS-FLX has an objective to expand industrial process engineering function in India ensuring remote engineering support to FLX Industry and preparing industrial footprint expansion in the region. Achieving a high level of maturity for our products in production is one of the major challenges of the AVS/FLX industry, both during the industrialization phase and throughout the product's life cycle. Supplier Industrialization in India is the core area in Industrial Footprint expansion.

You will join the Supplier Industrialization team responsible to develop & production of Thales Parts/Products at Supplier End.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

• NPI - You work Closely with Design Team from India/France to understand the design requirement & then work with Suppliers(India/Asia) to manufacture the PCB/PCBA complaint with Thales requirements
• Industrial Transfer - You are responsible to reindustrialize the production of PCB/PCBA Boards from Global Location to India/Asia Suppliers.

Detailed Responsibilities Below:

Project Planning and Execution

• Lead the planning, execution, and delivery of PCB and PCBA projects from concept through production and final shipment.
• Develop detailed project schedules, milestones, and timelines ensuring all deliverables meet quality, cost, and deadline targets.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams including design, procurement, manufacturing, and quality assurance.
• Monitor project progress and adjust plans as necessary to address risks, delays, or technical issues.

Technical Management

• Oversee PCB design reviews and ensure designs meet manufacturing and assembly requirements (DFM/DFA).
• Manage PCB and PCBA prototyping, pilot runs, and transition to volume production.
• Ensure all processes comply with industry standards such as IPC, ISO, RoHS, and other regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with suppliers and contract manufacturers to ensure product quality, cost efficiency, and timely delivery.
• Review and approve technical documentation including BOM (Bill of Materials), process flows, and work instructions.

Quality Assurance & Risk Management

• Implement quality control processes and oversee product testing (AOI, ICT, functional testing).
• Lead root cause analysis and drive corrective actions for manufacturing or assembly issues.
• Manage risk assessments and mitigation strategies throughout the project lifecycle.
• Ensure compliance with safety and environmental regulations.

Communication And Reporting

• Serve as the primary point of contact for internal teams, suppliers, and clients regarding project status and issues.
• Provide regular project updates and reports to senior management.
• Facilitate meetings, review sessions, and project documentation audits.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify cost reduction opportunities to improve PCB/PCBA design, manufacturing, and assembly processes.
• Implement best practices and lessons learned to enhance project efficiency and product quality.
• Stay current with industry trends, technologies, and standards.

The position is based in Bangalore, with frequent travel to supplier sites across Bangalore and other locations within India.

Major Challenges

• Ensure Supplier Schedule meets global industrial expansion plan & Timeline.
• Work with Design team of France in a different Time Zone & ECC Bangalore
• Work with multiple Suppliers/multiple projects in tandem for Process Qualification
• Continuously Develop the required technical skills (skilling-up) and capability by effective learning
• Promote collaboration within the team for Technology Specialist, Component Engineers
• Work with Multi Stakeholders(Design/Purchase/Supply chain/Production Engineers)

Opportunities

• The chance to work in an organization that is driving towards building a structured engineering footprint in line with Thales’ growth and competitiveness ambition
• The chance to be in contact with people having different cultural background from all across the world
• A young and enthusiastic team looking to take new interesting projects on board
• A working environment that facilitates professional development through continuous learning, close collaboration within teams and a solution-oriented attitude
• An opportunity to work in Bengaluru, the innovation and technological hub of India

Organization

Skills & Knowledge Required

Project Management Skills:

• Must have experience in technologies qualification plan definition and execution in order to increase technology maturity from TRL3-4 to TRL 5-6
• Must have experience in electronic manufacturing readiness definition and execution in order to increase process maturity from MRL2-4 to MRL7-8
• Must have experience to ensure the realization of your batch in the objective of the targeted RC series, the mastery of NRC industrialization and the provision of production lines of all means of production and testing
• Proven experience managing end-to-end PCB and PCBA projects from concept through production and delivery.
• Strong ability to coordinate cross-functional teams including design engineers, production, quality, and procurement.
• Expertise in project planning, scheduling, resource allocation, and risk management.
• Ability to manage budgets, timelines, and supplier/vendor relationships effectively.
• Strong understanding of PCB design and manufacturing processes, including multilayer boards, flex and rigid-flex PCBs.

Technical Knowledge:

• In-depth knowledge of PCBA (Printed Circuit Board Assembly) processes: SMT, through-hole, wave soldering, reflow soldering, and inspection techniques.
• Familiarity with DFM (Design for Manufacturability) and DFA (Design for Assembly) principles.
• Knowledge of industry standards and certifications (IPC standards like IPC-A-610, IPC-7711/7721, ISO, RoHS, REACH).
• Understanding of testing methodologies for PCBs and PCBA: AOI (Automated Optical Inspection), ICT (In-Circuit Test), functional testing.
• Knowledge of materials, components, and supply chain relevant to PCB & PCBA.
• Mastery of quality tracking tools for processes: FMEA, monitoring plan, MSA
• Knowledge of APQP methodology
• Practice of analysis and problem-solving techniques (PDCA, 8D, .) related to electronic board assembly technologies
• Knowledge of DFx approach (Design For Manufacturing, Test, Repair, ...).
• Knowledge of EN9100 standard requirements
• Knowledge of APQP requirements, particularly aerospace standard EN9145
• Ensure full collaboration and interaction within ECC and country stakeholders

Quality Tools:

Design For Manufacturing:

Soft Skills

• Proactive mindset with the ability to deliver results despite challenges or adversities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders
• Dynamic and flexible, able to adapt quickly to changing priorities and environments.
• Ability to work with deadlines and without supervision
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, Logical thinking
• Adaptability and learning skills
• Negotiation and networking skills
• Cost conscious and frugal thinking
• Multi- Disciplinary team working
• Strong willingness to interact with different stakeholders
• 5 to 8 years of experience managing projects related to PCB and PCB assembly boards.
• Experience in automotive or aerospace sectors preferred.

Years Of Experience

Educational Qualification

• Bachelor  in Electronics Engineering or related field

At Thales we provide CAREERS and not only jobs. With Thales employing 80,000 employees in 68 countries our mobility policy enables thousands of employees each year to develop their careers at home and abroad, in their existing areas of expertise or by branching out into new fields. Together we believe that embracing flexibility is a smarter way of working. Great journeys start here, apply now!