Manufacturing Engineer - Electronics (Prototyping & NPI)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer - Electronics (Prototyping & NPI)

Company: ICEYE

Location: Espoo, Uusimaa, Finland

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Manufacturing Operations / NPI Engineering

Date Posted: January 19, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• NPI & Prototyping Ownership: This role is critical for managing the end-to-end execution of electronics prototype builds, ensuring rapid iteration and confidence for engineering teams. It's a hands-on position focused on bringing new electronic designs to life.

• Supplier Technical Interface: Serve as the primary technical liaison with PCB and PCBA suppliers, actively resolving manufacturing, quality, and documentation challenges to maintain build integrity.

• Documentation & Quality Assurance: Responsible for reviewing and validating manufacturing documentation, including Bills of Materials (BOMs), assembly data, and drawings, to guarantee completeness and manufacturability.

• Schedule & Risk Management: Proactively track prototype orders, schedules, and priorities, ensuring on-time delivery while managing material readiness and component availability to mitigate supply chain risks.

• Process Improvement & Collaboration: Drive continuous improvement in prototype and New Product Introduction (NPI) processes through close collaboration with R&D, ECAD, and Supply Chain teams, contributing to faster development cycles and smoother production transitions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Manufacturing Engineer," the specialized focus on "Electronics (Prototyping & NPI)" and the described responsibilities clearly position this role within the realm of New Product Introduction (NPI) and advanced electronics manufacturing operations, rather than traditional mass production. The emphasis on rapid prototyping and supplier technical interface highlights a critical operational function supporting R&D.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• End-to-End Prototype Execution: Own the complete lifecycle of electronics prototype builds (PCB and PCBA), from initial design release through to final delivery, ensuring adherence to specifications and timelines.

• Supplier Technical Management: Act as the main technical point of contact for PCB and PCBA suppliers, effectively troubleshooting and resolving any manufacturing, quality, or documentation-related issues that arise during prototype builds.

• Manufacturing Documentation Review: Meticulously review and validate all manufacturing documentation, including BOMs, assembly instructions, and fabrication drawings, to confirm completeness, accuracy, and manufacturability.

• Prototype Order & Schedule Oversight: Diligently track prototype orders, manage build schedules, and prioritize tasks to ensure on-time delivery for multiple concurrent projects.

• Material & Component Readiness: Support material readiness by managing component availability, identifying suitable alternates when necessary, and resolving any component-related issues that could impact prototype builds.

• Prototype Verification & Rework: Conduct thorough verification of incoming prototypes, coordinating any necessary rework, fixes, or full rebuilds to meet quality standards.

• Cross-Functional Process Improvement: Collaborate closely with R&D, ECAD (Electronic Computer-Aided Design), and Supply Chain teams to identify opportunities and implement improvements for prototype and NPI processes.

• Long-Term NPI Initiatives: Contribute to strategic initiatives such as supplier onboarding, standardization of manufacturing processes, and the development of in-house prototyping capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a significant operational focus on the early stages of product development, emphasizing agility, problem-solving, and supplier collaboration. This is distinct from a pure production manufacturing role and leans heavily into the operational aspects of NPI.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

Required Skills:

• Electronics Design Software: Solid practical knowledge and hands-on experience with Altium Designer and Altium 365 are essential.

• PCB/PCBA Manufacturing: Deep understanding of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) manufacturing processes, including Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles and quality workflows.

• Technical Interpretation: Ability to interpret electronic schematics and fabrication/assembly data with a strong understanding of general electronics design principles.

• Industry Standards: Familiarity with key industry standards such as IPC (Association Connecting Electronics Industries), IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), and JEDEC (JEDEC Solid State Technology Association).

• Supplier Collaboration: Proven experience working effectively with external suppliers and Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) partners.

• Organizational & Documentation: Excellent organizational and documentation skills, with a keen attention to detail and a structured approach to work.

• Communication & Teamwork: Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively within a cross-functional engineering environment.

• Workload Management: Competence in organizing workload, setting priorities, and overseeing both internal and outsourced ECAD library activities.

• Problem-Solving: A robust problem-solving mindset coupled with a hands-on, proactive attitude.

• Language Proficiency: Fluent written and spoken English.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with other ECAD tools beyond Altium.

• Knowledge of component sourcing and supply chain management for electronics.

• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing principles applied to prototyping.

• Experience in risk assessment and mitigation for NPI projects.

• Exposure to testing and validation procedures for electronic prototypes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Altium Designer and specific industry standards (IPC, IEEE, JEDEC) points to a specialized role requiring deep technical proficiency in electronics manufacturing operations. The dual requirement of strong organizational skills and a hands-on problem-solving attitude indicates the need for an individual who can manage processes while also diving into technical challenges.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Prototype Build Case Studies: Showcase examples of complex electronics prototype builds you have managed, detailing the challenges, your approach, and the successful outcomes.

• Documentation Samples: Include examples of manufacturing documentation (e.g., BOMs, assembly instructions, process flows) that demonstrate your attention to detail and understanding of manufacturability.

• Supplier Interaction Examples: Provide descriptions or case studies of how you have effectively managed relationships and resolved issues with PCB/PCBA suppliers.

• Process Improvement Documentation: Present evidence of process improvements you've implemented in prototyping or NPI, highlighting the impact on efficiency, quality, or speed.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Demonstrate experience in mapping, analyzing, and optimizing workflows for electronics prototype builds, focusing on efficiency and error reduction.

• Implementation & Automation: Provide examples of how you have implemented new processes or introduced automation in prototype manufacturing, detailing the steps and results.

• Measurement & Performance Analysis: Showcase how you track and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) for prototype builds, using data to drive improvements and report on outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an NPI-focused manufacturing engineering role, a portfolio should highlight practical application of skills. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to manage complex processes, interact with suppliers, and drive improvements, supported by tangible examples of documentation and project outcomes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Occupational healthcare, occupational insurance, and accident insurance provided for employee well-being.

• Flexible Benefit Budget: A yearly budget allocated for personal use, which can be applied to areas like sports, transportation, wellness, or lunch benefits.

• Mobile Plan: A modern phone subscription including an iPhone of your choice.

• Relocation Assistance: Support for international candidates, including flight tickets, accommodation, and relocation agency services.

• Professional Development: Dedicated time and resources for self-development, including training, conferences, and certification programs to enhance skills.

• Inspiring Work Environment: Access to well-designed office spaces, including quiet zones, to facilitate focused work.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility depending on project needs and team agreements, aligning with typical Finnish work culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is derived from an analysis of similar roles in the Finnish market, considering the specified experience level and the high-demand nature of specialized electronics NPI engineering. The benefits package is detailed based on the provided list, emphasizing aspects relevant to international employees and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry:

Company Size:

Founded:

Team Structure:

• Operations Focus: The Manufacturing Engineering team is embedded within a broader engineering and operations function, likely collaborating closely with R&D, ECAD, Supply Chain, and Quality Assurance departments.

• Reporting Lines: This role likely reports to an Engineering Manager or Head of Manufacturing/Operations, with direct interaction with project leads and senior engineers.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Expect significant collaboration with design engineers (ECAD), supply chain specialists, quality engineers, and potentially external manufacturing partners. The emphasis on being a "bridge between design and manufacturing" underscores this need.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Given the technical nature of the industry, expect a strong reliance on data analysis for process optimization, quality control, and performance measurement.

• Agile Development Principles: In line with rapid iteration for prototypes, agile methodologies are likely employed to manage development cycles and incorporate feedback quickly.

• Continuous Improvement: A culture of actively seeking and implementing process enhancements is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in a fast-evolving technological landscape.

Company Website:

• https://www.iceye.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: ICEYE's position in the advanced technology sector (Earth Observation, SAR satellites) implies a culture that values technical expertise, innovation, and a pragmatic, results-oriented approach. The scale-up nature suggests opportunities for growth and impact, alongside the challenges of rapid expansion.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

Reporting Structure:

Operations Impact:

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior NPI Engineer: Progress to managing more complex NPI projects, leading prototype efforts for entire product lines, and mentoring junior engineers.

• Specialization: Develop expertise in specific areas like advanced PCB manufacturing techniques, supply chain optimization for NPI, or quality systems for electronics.

• Process Engineering Leadership: Transition into roles focused on standardizing and optimizing manufacturing processes across the organization, potentially leading to broader manufacturing operations management.

• Technical Leadership: Become a subject matter expert in electronics manufacturing, advising R&D on design for manufacturability and leading technical supplier relationships.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's focus on NPI and prototyping within a high-tech, rapidly growing company suggests significant opportunities for professional development. Candidates who excel in this role can expect to build deep expertise and explore various career paths within operations and engineering.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type:

Office Location(s):

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office design encourages interaction, facilitating seamless communication and problem-solving between cross-functional teams like R&D, ECAD, and Supply Chain.

• Operations Tools & Technology: Access to relevant engineering software (e.g., Altium Designer), potentially lab equipment for prototype verification, and standard office technology is expected.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct engagement with colleagues, including engineers, project managers, and operations specialists, fostering a supportive and knowledge-sharing atmosphere.

Work Schedule:

• A standard 40-hour work week is typical, with an emphasis on results and project timelines. While core hours likely apply, there may be some flexibility to accommodate project demands, reflecting Finnish work-life balance principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the workspace emphasizes a balance between collaborative spaces and areas for focused work, which is ideal for an engineering role that requires both deep technical concentration and frequent cross-team communication.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Recruiter Interview: Initial screening to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and understanding of the role's operational context.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into experience, technical skills, and alignment with team objectives. Expect questions about past projects and problem-solving approaches.

• Technical Assignment: A practical exercise designed to evaluate your proficiency in key areas, such as interpreting schematics, reviewing manufacturing documentation, or proposing solutions to a simulated prototype issue.

• Stakeholder Interview: Discussions with key team members (e.g., R&D engineers, supply chain leads) to assess collaboration skills and technical synergy.

• Director Discussion: A final conversation, potentially with a director-level leader, to discuss strategic alignment, career aspirations, and overall fit within ICEYE's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on NPI & Prototyping: Select projects that clearly demonstrate your experience in bringing electronic prototypes from design to reality. Highlight your role in managing the process, supplier interactions, and issue resolution.

• Showcase Documentation Skills: Include examples of BOMs, assembly instructions, or process documentation you've created or reviewed. Emphasize clarity, accuracy, and manufacturability considerations.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your work. For instance, improvements in build time, reduction in defects, or successful completion of critical prototypes against tight deadlines.

• Highlight Problem-Solving: Prepare to walk through specific technical challenges you encountered during prototype builds and detail the steps you took to resolve them, showcasing your analytical and hands-on approach.

• Supplier Management Examples: Be ready to discuss your experience working with external manufacturers, including how you communicated requirements, managed quality, and resolved disputes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Technical Problem-Solving: Anticipate scenarios related to PCB manufacturing defects, component shortages, or assembly issues. Practice articulating your troubleshooting methodology.

• Process Improvement Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would identify inefficiencies in a prototype build process and propose actionable solutions.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Think about how you would communicate technical requirements and challenges to non-technical stakeholders or collaborate with design engineers on DFM feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The multi-stage interview process, including a technical assignment and stakeholder interviews, indicates a thorough evaluation of both technical capability and collaborative fit. A well-curated portfolio demonstrating practical NPI and prototyping experience will be crucial for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Altium Designer & Altium 365: This is a core requirement. Proficiency in schematic capture, PCB layout, library management, and version control within the Altium ecosystem is essential for this role.

• ECAD Tools: While Altium is primary, familiarity with other ECAD software or data exchange formats may be beneficial.

• Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) / Manufacturing Execution System (MES): While not explicitly mentioned, experience with systems that manage product data and manufacturing processes would be advantageous.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Spreadsheet Software (e.g., Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets): For BOM management, data analysis, schedule tracking, and basic reporting.

• Data Visualization Tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI): Potentially used for analyzing prototype build data, supplier performance, and NPI metrics, though less likely to be a primary requirement for this specific role.

CRM & Automation:

• ERP/MRP Systems: Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) or Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems for component tracking, inventory, and supplier orders would be highly beneficial.

• Project Management Tools (e.g., Jira, Asana): Likely used for tracking prototype build progress, managing tasks, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Altium Designer highlights it as the key technical tool. Beyond that, candidates should be prepared to demonstrate proficiency with standard office productivity software and potentially ERP/MRP systems for operational execution.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership & Action: A strong emphasis on taking accountability for prototype builds and driving them to completion, acting decisively to resolve issues.

• Intellectual Firepower & Problem-Solving: The company values individuals who can quickly understand complex technical information, synthesize it, and apply it to solve challenging engineering problems, especially in a fast-paced NPI environment.

• Team Player & Collaboration: Essential for working effectively within cross-functional teams, contributing to shared goals, and engaging in constructive technical debates.

• Integrity & Growth Mindset: Operating with transparency, learning from challenges, and actively seeking opportunities for personal and professional development are key cultural pillars.

• Passion & Work Ethic: A high level of motivation, resilience, and commitment to delivering quality results is expected in this demanding technology sector.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where engineers work closely with peers in R&D, ECAD, Supply Chain, and Quality Assurance to ensure seamless product development and manufacturing.

• Process-Oriented: A focus on establishing and refining documented processes for prototype builds and NPI, encouraging feedback and continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that promotes sharing technical insights, best practices, and lessons learned, particularly concerning supplier interactions and manufacturing techniques.

📝 Enhancement Note: ICEYE's stated key qualities (Intellectual Firepower, Passion & Work Ethic, Ownership & Action, Team Player, Integrity & Growth Mindset) directly translate into the expected team culture and operational values for its employees, including this Manufacturing Engineer.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapid Iteration Cycles: The need to quickly build and test multiple electronic prototypes under tight deadlines can be demanding, requiring efficient time management and prioritization.

• Supplier Management Complexity: Effectively managing relationships and ensuring quality output from external PCB/PCBA suppliers, especially for novel designs, presents ongoing challenges.

• Technical Problem Resolution: Diagnosing and resolving complex manufacturing or design-related issues on prototypes requires strong analytical skills and creative problem-solving under pressure.

• Balancing Speed and Quality: Ensuring high build quality and manufacturability while maintaining rapid development cycles is a constant operational balancing act.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Electronics Manufacturing: Gain deep expertise in state-of-the-art PCB and PCBA manufacturing processes, materials, and technologies.

• NPI Process Optimization: Develop advanced skills in streamlining and improving New Product Introduction workflows for complex electronic systems.

• Supplier Development: Enhance capabilities in supplier selection, auditing, relationship management, and technical collaboration.

• Industry Exposure: Opportunities to attend relevant industry conferences, training sessions, and potentially pursue certifications related to electronics manufacturing and quality standards.

• Cross-Functional Skill Building: Work closely with R&D and supply chain teams, broadening understanding of the entire product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges inherent in NPI and prototyping are significant, but they also present substantial opportunities for professional growth and skill development in a high-impact environment.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• NPI Process Design: "Describe how you would set up and manage the process for building a new electronic prototype from initial design release to final validated build." Focus on structure, documentation, supplier engagement, and quality checks.

• Supplier Issue Resolution: "Imagine a key supplier delivers a batch of PCBs with a critical manufacturing defect. How would you approach resolving this issue to minimize project delays?" Highlight your communication, problem-solving, and risk mitigation strategies.

• DFM Feedback: "How would you provide Design for Manufacturability (DFM) feedback to an R&D engineer on a new PCB design? What specific aspects would you look for?" Demonstrate your understanding of manufacturability constraints and collaborative communication.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Motivation for ICEYE: "Why are you interested in working at ICEYE, specifically in Earth Observation and satellite technology?" Research the company's mission, products, and recent achievements.

• Team Collaboration: "Describe a time you had to collaborate closely with engineers from different disciplines (e.g., R&D, ECAD) to solve a technical problem. What was your role, and what was the outcome?" Prepare specific examples that showcase your teamwork and communication skills.

• Handling Pressure: "How do you manage your workload and prioritize tasks when faced with multiple urgent prototype builds and competing deadlines?" Be prepared to discuss your organizational methods and stress management techniques.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline the objective, your specific role and responsibilities, the challenges faced, the actions you took, and the quantifiable results or lessons learned.

• Highlight Technical Depth: Be ready to elaborate on the technical details of your projects, including the specific manufacturing processes, components, and challenges encountered.

• Emphasize Supplier Interaction: Detail your experience working with manufacturers, including how you established requirements, managed quality control, and resolved issues.

• Showcase Documentation: Be prepared to share sanitized examples of documentation you've created or managed, demonstrating your attention to detail and understanding of manufacturing specifications.

• Connect to ICEYE's Needs: Tailor your examples to the requirements of this role, emphasizing your experience with electronics prototyping, NPI, and collaborative engineering environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application, problem-solving, and collaborative skills. Candidates should prepare to discuss their experience with specific tools and processes relevant to electronics NPI and manufacturing operations.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Manufacturing Engineer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight specific experiences related to electronics prototyping, NPI, Altium Designer, PCB/PCBA manufacturing, supplier management, and documentation. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate examples of your work that showcase your ability to manage prototype builds, review manufacturing documentation, and collaborate with suppliers and engineering teams.

• Research ICEYE: Familiarize yourself with ICEYE's mission, technology, products, and recent news to articulate your interest and understand their operational context.

• Practice Interview Questions: Prepare to discuss your technical expertise, problem-solving approach, and collaborative style using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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