An method for operating an object printing system printer prints electrical circuits on non-planar areas of objects and accurately places electronic components within the printed circuits. The method includes operation of a direct-to-object printer to form an electrical circuit on an object secured within the direct-to-object printer and operation of an electronic component placement system to retrieve an electronic component and install the electronic component in the electrical circuit on the object secured within the direct-to-object printer in response to a generation of a signal by the direct-to-object printer for the electronic component placement system that indicates the electronic component is to be installed in the circuit on the object secured within the direct-to-object printer.