PCB Layout Engineer - Avionics
| Verified Pay check_circle | Provided by the employer$150000 - $250000 per year |
|---|---|
| Hours | Full-time |
| Location | Saratoga, California |
About this job
Job Description
We are hiring PCB Layout Engineers to design and deliver board layouts for a satellite constellation program involving 19 avionics boards across 6 subsystems. You will work closely with electrical design engineers, signal integrity analysts, and manufacturing teams to produce high-quality, flight-ready PCB layouts meeting stringent space-grade requirements.
Key Responsibilities:- Develop PCB stack-ups for complex mixed-signal, power, and RF designs with appropriate impedance control.
- Perform component placement optimized for signal integrity, thermal management, and manufacturability.
- Route high-speed digital interfaces (SERDES, DDR, LVDS) with impedance-controlled transmission lines.
- Implement power distribution plane design with attention to current density, loop area, and decoupling strategy.
- Apply mixed-signal layout techniques with proper analog, digital, and RF isolation and partitioning.
- Create and maintain footprint libraries and serve as Altium librarian for the program.
- Manage design-rule and constraint creation including clearances, lengths, impedance targets, vias, and creepage/clearance requirements.
- Produce layout documentation including fabrication drawings, assembly drawings, layer stack tables, and manufacturing notes.
- Address RF parasitic effects through ground fencing, stitching vias, partitioning, and shielding techniques.
- Coordinate with fabrication and assembly vendors for DFM reviews and manufacturing handoff.
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of PCB layout experience for complex multi-layer boards (12+ layers).
- Proficiency with Altium Designer (strongly preferred) or equivalent PCB CAD tools (Allegro, Zuken).
- Demonstrated experience with impedance-controlled routing and high-speed signal layout.
- Strong understanding of stack-up design for digital, power, and mixed-signal applications.
- Experience creating fabrication packages (Gerbers, ODB++, drill files, assembly drawings).
- Knowledge of IPC standards and design-for-manufacture best practices.
- Experience with aerospace or space-grade PCB layouts and qualification requirements.
- Background in RF/microwave PCB layout including matching networks and transmission-line structures.
- Familiarity with signal integrity and power integrity simulation tools (HyperLynx, Sigrity).
- Experience with Zuken CR-8000 or other enterprise PCB CAD tools.
- Knowledge of high-speed signal attenuation, dispersion, and copper-loss mechanisms.
- Experience with flex and rigid-flex PCB design.
- Altium Designer (primary layout tool)
- Zuken CR-8000
- HyperLynx (SI/PI review support)
- ODB++ and CAM output tools
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.