Location: Bangalore, India

Thales is a global technology leader trusted by governments, institutions, and enterprises to tackle their most demanding challenges. From quantum applications and artificial intelligence to cybersecurity and 6G innovation, our solutions empower critical decisions rooted in human intelligence. Operating at the forefront of aerospace and space, cybersecurity and digital identity, we're driven by a mission to build a future we can all trust.

Present in India since 1953, Thales is headquartered in Noida and has other operational offices and sites spread across Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru and Mumbai, among others. Over 2200 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, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital sectors. Thales has two engineering competence centres in India - one in Noida focused on Cyber & Digital business, while the one in Bengaluru focuses on hardware, software and systems engineering capabilities for both the civil and defence sectors, serving global needs. The Group has also established an MRO (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) facility in Gurugram to provide comprehensive avionics maintenance and repair services to Indian airlines and support the growth of the local aviation industry.

Senior NPI Engineer (EMS)

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.

JOB Description:

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.

Technical Knowledge:

Strong understanding of PCB design and manufacturing processes, including multilayer boards, flex and rigid-flex PCBs.
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.

Quality Tools:

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

Design For Manufacturing:

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

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

Years Of Experience

Minimum 6 years of experience managing projects related to PCB and PCB assembly boards.
Experience in automotive or aerospace sectors preferred.

Educational Qualification

Bachelor in Electronics Engineering or related field

At Thales, we're committed to fostering a workplace where respect, trust, collaboration, and passion drive everything we do. Here, you'll feel empowered to bring your best self, thrive in a supportive culture, and love the work you do. Join us, and be part of a team reimagining technology to create solutions that truly make a difference – for a safer, greener, and more inclusive world.

Senior NPI Engineer(EMS)