---
title: 'SMT Process Engineer at Neros Technologies'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/smt-process-engineer-neros-technologies-torrance-california-ja35p9t77vnb'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-06'
---

# SMT Process Engineer at Neros Technologies

- **Company:** Neros Technologies
- **Location:** Torrance California, United States
- **Posted:** 2026-09-03
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-06
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/nerostechnologies/jobs/5228947007

## Job description

## Who we are

Neros is a defense technology company rebuilding America’s drone industrial base. We design and manufacture high-performance unmanned systems that are tested in combat, iterated at startup speed, and built at massive scale. Our team culture is fast, hands-on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment.

As drones transform the character of warfare, Neros is delivering the systems the West needs to compete on the modern battlefield and deter the adversaries of democracy. We’re hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership, and get capability into the hands of warfighters in months, not years.

## What you will be doing

As an SMT Process Engineer, you will be responsible for defining and controlling processes in a fast-paced, high-volume PCB assembly environment. Your day-to-day will consist of providing front-line support to technicians and operators, while working to reduce scrap rates and implementing corrective and preventive measures.

In this highly dynamic role, you will have the opportunity to work with the best-in-class assembly equipment. This role will own NPI, equipment programming, process development, and play a critical role in providing DFM feedback to the Neros' Design Engineering team.

## Responsibilities

- Programming equipment used in the automated assembly of high-density PCBAs, including but not limited to screen printers, pick and place, reflow ovens, and inspection systems
- Specify and order tooling, including stencils
- Develop and maintain quality plans, SOPs, and other process documentation, as well as provide training to the operational staff
- Provide front-line support to day-to-day operations of the SMT line(s) by fixing line defects, reducing scrap rates, and implementing CAPA
- Provide DFM feedback to engineering regarding designs and support scale up from prototype to NPI to high-volume production builds

You should have the following

- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field
- 5+ years of experience directly supporting SMT PCBA assembly in a highly automated environment
- Knowledge of SPC, and DFM experience related to SMT and thru hole PCBAs
- Clear understanding of IPC-A-610, and J-STD-001 requirements

## Nice to have

- Lean Six Sigma certification
- Experience qualifying new capital equipment
- Experience auditing raw material suppliers (solder paste, PWBs)
- J-STD-001 certified trainer
- Knowledge in operating, planar 3D, or CT scanner

US Salary Range

$115,500 - $162,000 USD

The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a wide range of compensation factors, inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience, education and/or training, critical skills, and/or business considerations. Highly competitive equity grants are considered part of Neros' total compensation package.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applicants without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.

## About Neros Technologies

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: A defense technology company building combat-proven, attritable drones and unmanned systems to deliver asymmetric advantage for Western military forces at scale.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B)
- **Headquarters**: Los Angeles, California, United States (El Segundo area)
- **Founded**: 2023
- **Founders**: Soren Monroe‑Anderson (CEO) and Olaf Hichwa (CTO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Defense and Space Manufacturing
- **Target customers**: U.S. Department of Defense (Army, Marine Corps), allied nations (Ukraine, UK), and NATO partners – B2G / government.
- **Mission statement**: “Building unmanned superiority. At scale. In America.” The company was founded to onshore the manufacturing of drones critical to a modern arsenal and close the gap between design and deployment.

## Products & Services
Neros designs and manufactures high-performance unmanned aerial systems (UAS) with a focus on first‑person view (FPV) attritable drones, ground control stations, radios, and supporting software.
- **Archer Strike FPV**: A kinetic‑enabled FPV drone for lethal effects at range in contested environments. Combat‑proven, BlueUAS certified, and selected for the U.S. Army’s PBAS program.
- **Archer**: General‑purpose FPV drone built for modular payloads and resilient communications; also available as the **Archer Fiber** variant (fiber‑optic control link for jamming resistance, launched Dec 2025 in partnership with Kela Technologies).
- **Longbow / Crossbow**: Ground control stations – Longbow is a maximum‑range stationary GCS; Crossbow is a tactical GCS enabling electronic warfare resistance at range.
- **APEX (Adaptive Payload Exchange)**: An open‑source drone‑to‑payload integration standard (released May 2026) with commitments from Northrop Grumman and others.
- **Software**: Flight control, autonomy, and manufacturing‑support software. Custom flight computer with integrated sensor suite, designed for rapid iteration and software‑defined hardware.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding – **$120.9M** raised to date (Seed $10.9M, Series A $35M, Series B $75M)
- **Notable Investors / Partners**: Sequoia Capital (led Series B), Vy Capital, Cantos (led Seed); Kela Technologies (Archer Fiber), Northrop Grumman (APEX), DARPA (AI Grand Prix hardware provider)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Selected by U.S. Army for Purpose‑Built Attritable Systems (PBAS) program (one of three vendors) targeting up to 1M drones over two years.
  - 6,000‑unit export deal to Ukraine.
  - Established Neros Technologies UK with up to £10M investment over five years; manufacturing hub in Swindon.
  - Headcount growth: +355% YoY (approx. 75–88 employees); 52 active job postings as of mid‑2026.
  - Open‑sourced APEX standard to create ecosystem lock‑in.

## Competitive Advantages
- **Vertically integrated U.S. manufacturing** with a secure, onshored supply chain – founded specifically to rebuild the American drone industrial base.
- **Combat‑proven systems** (Ukraine, live‑fire testing) in high‑tempo electronic warfare environments.
- **BlueUAS certified** – compliance with NDAA and U.S. government standards.
- **Fiber‑optic control link** (Archer Fiber) that is immune to RF jamming – a unique differentiation in contested spectrum.
- **Open‑source payload standard (APEX)** to drive adoption and ecosystem dependence.
- **Rapid iteration culture** – “engineer at the speed of modern conflict” with continuous battlefield feedback.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scale production**: CEO has publicly stated a target of 10,000+ drones per month; PBAS award and UK hub are key enablers.
- **International expansion**: Establish sovereign manufacturing in the UK (Swindon) to supply British Armed Forces and NATO partners.
- **Autonomy advancement**: Hiring Head of Autonomy, autonomy simulation engineers, and computer vision engineers to mature software‑defined capabilities.
- **Ecosystem building**: Promote APEX as an industry standard to lock in partners and expand market reach.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: “Fast, hands‑on, and obsessed with closing the gap between design and deployment.” Emphasizes extreme ownership, rapid iteration, and real‑world impact. Attracts talent from SpaceX, Anduril, Skydio, and Relativity Space.
- **Work model**: On‑site in Torrance (CA), with a Tennessee office (Advanced Manufacturing) and Ukraine office. UK hub (Swindon) also hiring. Roles include engineering, manufacturing, autonomy, RF, IT, and business development.
- **Notable perks / engineering culture**: Build products that are actually tested in combat; startup speed with mission‑focused seriousness; opportunity to shape the future of attritable drone warfare. Strong preference for builders, not watchers.

## Sources
1. [neros.tech](https://www.neros.tech/)
2. [Greenhouse Careers Page](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/nerostechnologies)
3. [LinkedIn Company Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/company/neros-tech)
4. [Built In Neros Technologies](https://builtin.com/company/neros-technologies)
5. [robotics.press Company Profile](https://robotics.press/news/neros-technologies-company-profile/)

## Other roles at Neros Technologies

- [Defense Strategy](https://feeny.ai/job/defense-strategy-neros-technologies-washington-district-of-columbia-xqa49cfqxa5w) — Washington District of Columbia, United States
- [Operations Project Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/operations-project-manager-neros-technologies-ukraine-p35p9vj7haz3) — Ukraine
- [Administration & Procurement Specialist](https://feeny.ai/job/administration-procurement-specialist-neros-technologies-ukraine-qfe9qnmf93q5) — Ukraine
- [Finance & Operations Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/finance-operations-manager-neros-technologies-ukraine-83pf8eg8dqk3) — Ukraine
- [BD Pilot, USMC](https://feeny.ai/job/bd-pilot-usmc-neros-technologies-remote-85hnnrvdhpwd)
- [BD Pilot, Army](https://feeny.ai/job/bd-pilot-army-neros-technologies-remote-2008r199x9mp)
- [Production Planner](https://feeny.ai/job/production-planner-neros-technologies-torrance-california-hn7fvwy1a0x7) — Torrance California, United States
- [Mission Success Lead, UA](https://feeny.ai/job/mission-success-lead-ua-neros-technologies-ukraine-cnn8nzj4xg0g) — Ukraine
- [Manufacturing Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-engineer-neros-technologies-torrance-california-70akxxrw6rw7) — Torrance California, United States
- [Lead RF Test & Integration Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-rf-test-integration-engineer-neros-technologies-torrance-california-e30zhtjqysdb) — Torrance California, United States