Senior PCB Designer

Job Description

Job Description

PCB Designer – Avionics

Position Overview

The PCB Designer will develop complex printed circuit board layouts and supporting schematics for advanced electronic and avionics products. This position works closely with electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, and test engineering teams to take designs from initial concept through prototype, production release, and manufacturing support.

The ideal candidate has hands-on experience with multi-layer PCB design, high-speed circuitry, signal integrity requirements, and PCB fabrication and assembly processes within a high-reliability environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Create complex multi-layer PCB layouts supporting high-speed digital, analog, RF, and power electronics.
• Develop and update electrical schematics while ensuring proper component selection, connectivity, and alignment with system requirements.
• Implement design constraints for differential pairs, controlled impedance, trace-length matching, propagation delay, signal integrity, and power integrity.
• Incorporate EMI/EMC and ESD considerations throughout the PCB design process.
• Generate complete manufacturing release packages, including Gerber files, ODB++, drill files, fabrication drawings, assembly drawings, and BOMs.
• Partner with electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, and test engineers to ensure designs meet electrical, mechanical, and production requirements.
• Participate in engineering design reviews and DFM/DFA evaluations and incorporate required design changes.
• Support prototype builds, board bring-up, debugging, testing, and subsequent design revisions.
• Maintain PCB footprints, component libraries, templates, and related ECAD design data.
• Follow established configuration management, documentation, and quality-control processes.
• Work directly with PCB fabrication and SMT assembly teams during prototype and production builds.
• Investigate PCB-related design or manufacturing issues and support root cause and corrective action activities.
• Provide estimates for PCB layout complexity, design effort, and project timelines.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives related to PCB design processes, libraries, documentation, and manufacturing handoffs.
• Share technical knowledge and PCB design best practices across the engineering team.

Qualifications

• Associate degree, technical certification in PCB/electronics design, or equivalent hands-on industry experience.
• 4+ years of professional PCB layout/design experience, ideally supporting aerospace, defense, avionics, or another high-reliability industry.
• Strong understanding of multi-layer PCB layout and high-speed design techniques.
• Experience with differential pair routing, impedance-controlled routing, trace-length matching, and signal integrity fundamentals.
• Working knowledge of IPC standards such as IPC-2221, IPC-7351, and IPC-A-600.
• Proficiency with Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro/OrCAD, or comparable ECAD platforms.
• Experience with rigid-flex and/or HDI PCB technologies is preferred.
• Good understanding of PCB fabrication, SMT assembly, and manufacturing processes.
• Familiarity with EMI/EMC mitigation techniques and ESD protection practices.
• Ability to interpret electrical schematics, mechanical drawings, technical specifications, and manufacturing documentation.
• Experience working within AS9100, ISO 9001, or another structured quality management environment is preferred.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively across engineering and manufacturing teams.

Physical Requirements

• Primarily a desk-based engineering position requiring extended computer and ECAD tool use.
• Ability to occasionally lift or move items weighing up to approximately 10 pounds.
• Visual ability to review detailed PCB layouts, schematics, drawings, and technical documentation.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and through virtual collaboration tools.
• Ability to enter laboratory and manufacturing areas, including SMT production environments, when supporting builds, testing, or troubleshooting.