PCB Designer
Northwood is seeking a PCB Designer to lead the physical layout and development of next-generation digital compute and power electronics. This role involves owning complex PCB layouts, managing high-speed constraint rules, and collaborating with engineering and production teams.
About the job
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own the physical layout of complex, high-density, and high-layer-count PCBs featuring high-speed digital, RF, mixed-signal, and power distribution systems.
- Determine optimum layer stackups, perform component placement, routing feasibility studies, and manage strict high-speed constraint rules.
- Perform ECAD library creation, management, and maintenance for a wide array of active, passive, and high-pin-count components.
- Collaborate across hardware and production teams to ensure strict adherence to Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Test (DFT) guidelines.
- Generate and release comprehensive documentation packages for fabrication and assembly (Gerbers, ODB++, IPC-2581, drill charts, fabrication drawings).
- Work closely with external PCB fabrication and assembly vendors to resolve technical queries (EQs) and continuously improve internal design rules.
- Utilize and evaluate advanced PCB design tools, maintaining internal design standards and automation scripts.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- 3–5+ years of professional experience in complex, high-density PCB layout (or a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering/related field with 2+ years of experience).
- Proficient in high-speed layout techniques (impedance control, differential pairs, length matching, and crosstalk mitigation).
- Experience with advanced packaging technologies, including fine-pitch BGAs, high-pin-density components, and microvias (HDI).
- Knowledge of PCB materials, dielectric properties, and developing multi-layer board stackups.
- Familiarity with layout considerations for EMI/EMC mitigation and robust power delivery networks (PDN).
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- 5+ years of experience designing high-speed, mixed-signal PCBs for FPGA, processor, or high-performance networking systems.
- Deep expertise in routing high-speed interfaces such as multi-gigabit SerDes, DDR memory, JESD204B/C, and 10/100G Ethernet.
- Advanced proficiency in industry-standard ECAD tools (Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, or Siemens Xpedition).
- Strong understanding of IPC standards (e.g., IPC-2221, IPC-7351) and commercial manufacturing tolerances.
- Experience with ECAD/MCAD co-design and integration workflows (e.g., SolidWorks, STEP files) for tight mechanical constraints.
- Experience with scripting or automation (e.g., Python, Skill, or Altium scripts) to optimize layout workflows.
- Excellent communication skills and a proven ability to make sound layout tradeoffs in a fast-paced, collaborative hardware environment.
Skills
Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, Siemens Xpedition, Solidworks, Python, Skill, Fpga, Ddr, Ethernet, Serdes
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