- ITAR-registered contract manufacturer in San Jose, CA, in operation since 1995.
- Boards and systems are assembled in our own San Jose facility.
- PCB assembly, box build and test for prototype and NPI builds, and production when the volume fits.
- ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485 certified; builds to IPC-A-610 at the class you specify.
- Programs we can name by type: satellites, drones, and aerospace and defense hardware.
- Published delivery and quality data: 99.81% on-time and 0.02% RMA, January–June 2026.
What ITAR registration means, and what it doesn't
Under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), any US company that manufactures defense articles must register with the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC). That applies even if the company never exports anything. Registration is the entry ticket for building controlled hardware.
Registration is not a certification. No body certifies a company as "ITAR compliant". Registration obliges the company to follow the regulations, and ITAR compliance is the registrant's ongoing responsibility. When a supplier calls itself "ITAR certified", ask what they mean.
Surface Art is ITAR-registered. We can provide documentation of our current registration on request.
What we build for ITAR programs
The same San Jose line handles defense, space and medical programs. Every build gets DFM, DFT and BOM review before the first part is placed, and AOI inspection on the line.
| Capability | Surface Art, San Jose |
|---|---|
| Assembly | SMT, through-hole and mixed technology; hand, wave and selective solder; press-fit |
| Smallest parts | 01005 passives · 0.4 mm-pitch BGA · 0.25 mm CSP · fine-pitch QFN |
| Board size | Up to 18" × 24"; single, double and high-layer-count boards |
| Line | 4 Juki SMT work cells, nitrogen reflow, up to ~171,000 placements per hour |
| Solder | Sn63/Pb37 (leaded) and SAC 305 (lead-free) |
| Inspection & test | AOI on every build · X-ray · flying probe · thermal · functional and in-circuit test fixtures |
| Quality system | ISO 9001:2015 · ISO 13485 · IPC-A-610 · UL Registered Firm |
| Registration | ITAR-registered · woman- and minority-owned small business |
| Facility | 40,000 sq ft in San Jose, CA, in operation since 1995 |
Beyond board assembly, we handle box build and system integration: cable and harness assembly, enclosure integration, functional test, labeling and drop-ship.
Where the bare boards come from
Assembly is only part of a program's supply chain. For programs that need it, we build on bare boards fabricated by US fabs. If your program allows offshore fabrication and you ask for it, we can quote that too. Either way, tell us in the RFQ which your program requires.
Domestic sourcing rules for defense circuit boards are getting tighter. Our post on US PCB manufacturing covers the 2027 DoD printed circuit board rule (10 U.S.C. 4873) and what it means for suppliers.
Sending controlled technical data
Say in your RFQ that the program is ITAR-controlled, and mark the technical data accordingly. Before you send controlled files, we'll agree with you how they'll be transferred and handled on our side.
What to ask any ITAR assembly partner
- Can you show current DDTC registration, not just a logo on a website?
- Is every assembly step done in the US, or are any steps sent overseas?
- Where are the bare boards fabricated, and can you guarantee domestic fabrication when the program requires it?
- How do you receive, store and limit access to controlled technical data?
- Which IPC-A-610 class do you build to, and what inspection (AOI, X-ray, flying probe) is included?
- What part and lot traceability do you keep, and for how long?
- Do you publish actual on-time delivery and return rates?
On-time delivery was 99.81% and the RMA rate was 0.02% for January–June 2026. We publish both every six months on our homepage.
Getting a quote
Send the BOM as an Excel file with manufacturer part numbers, your Gerber, ODB++ or IPC-2581 data, and a PDF assembly drawing that states your workmanship standard and any special notes. We pull datasheets for every part for process review.
Before we quote, we send a short list of clarifying questions and state our assumptions, and we quote the quantity breaks you need (plus annual volume, if the build continues through the year). Email quotes@surfaceart.com.
Frequently asked questions
Is Surface Art ITAR certified?
There's no such thing as ITAR certification. Surface Art is ITAR-registered with the US State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), which is the requirement for US companies that manufacture defense articles.
Where does Surface Art do its assembly?
In Surface Art's own facility in San Jose, California, where it has built boards and systems since 1995.
Can you build prototypes for defense and space startups?
Yes. We build prototype and NPI quantities with DFM review on every package, and we carry programs into production when the volume fits.
Which certifications does Surface Art hold?
ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485. Surface Art is also a UL Registered Firm, is ITAR-registered and builds to IPC-A-610. It is a woman- and minority-owned small business.
Sources
- 22 CFR §122.1, Registration requirements (ITAR). www.ecfr.gov
- US Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls: registration. www.pmddtc.state.gov