Senior PCB Design Engineer

microTECH Global Limited; Colchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in the UK seeks a Senior PCB Design Engineer to join their manufacturing team. The candidate will generate manufacturable designs, manage PCB libraries, and negotiate with suppliers. Required skills include expertise in Altium, experience with RF and microwave PCBs, and a strong background in electronics hardware design. The position offers an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge technology in commercial and defense sectors.

Qualifications

• Experience in PCB design for RF and microwave applications.
• 5+ years in electronics hardware design and product development.
• Strong understanding of IPC standards.

Responsibilities

• Generate manufacturable designs from schematics.
• Manage schematic and PCB footprint libraries.
• Negotiate with PCB suppliers on timescales and costs.
• Ensure deliverables meet ISO9001 quality standards.
• Conduct design reviews with clients and stakeholders.

Skills

PCB design and layout

Negotiation

Project management

Schematic capture

Communication

Problem-solving

IPC standards knowledge

Communication skills

Education

HNC/HND or degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium

Siemens PADS

Job description

Overview

As an enthusiastic and dynamic Senior PCB Design Engineer, highly skilled in PCB design and layout, you will be joining our manufacturing team helping to bring design engineers’ ideas into reality. You will work with world class RF, digital, power and analogue electronics designers on leading edge technology developments in commercial, industrial and defence sectors.

As part of a multi-disciplinary team, you will be responsible for timely delivery of PCB designs and be accustomed to being highly engaged in the collaborative design process that delivers working designs in an optimum timeframe to meet our commercial commitments.

A well organised and highly motivated individual with good communications skills, you will also be responsible for maintaining our technology edge with regards to PCB manufacturing and design by being actively involved in developing our relationship with suppliers of PCB CAD, PCB manufacturing services and other services associated with PCB technology.

You will have experience of the design delivery process for releasing board information to PCB manufacturers and external PCB build contractors and be used to negotiating with suppliers to achieve the technical quality and timescales required to keep ahead in an increasingly competitive world.

This role is more than a PCB designer – the right candidate will help to lead and develop our capability in this area, with a drive towards excellence, reporting to the Director of Hardware.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Generating Manufacturable designs from engineers’ schematic
• Schematic and PCB footprint library management, scripting for BoM and generating manufacturing data-packs and other automated tasks.
• Maintaining our relationship with suppliers involving auditing suppliers, managing supplier relationships and understanding advances in PCB technology solutions
• Negotiating stack-ups, supplier timescales and costs with PCB and build contractors, taking technical responsibility for the PCB design and manufacture, and being responsible to project managers for tracking of deliverables from external suppliers.
• Ensure deliverables are to the agreed timescale, specification, and quality in accordance with company’s ISO9001 Quality procedures.
• Perform both internal & external customer design reviews with good presentation skills. Maintain high professional standards and drive towards execution efficiency.
• A strong portfolio of successfully completed PCB design projects. Experience of PCBs for RF, microwave and millimetre-wave designs is highly desirable, including experience of working with RF materials.
• High skill level using PCB design tools. experience of Altium for schematic capture and PCB layout essential. Familiarity with Siemens PADS software for legacy designs would be an advantage.
• Strong working knowledge of Surface Mount Technology, Design for Assembly (DFA) and Design for Manufacture (DFM) techniques.
• Good working knowledge of IPC standards for high reliability products and EMI/EMC requirements for best design practice.
• Experience of product design & development and ability to closely integrate with the electronic and mechanical design teams.
• Ability to innovate and help hardware & mechanical engineers resolve challenging design tasks. Confident working under pressure, self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Confident communicator capable of engaging with external suppliers and internal stakeholders to help negotiate best outcomes.

COMPETENCIES

Essential

• Candidates should have an HNC/HND or degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, supported by relevant industry experience and a specialisation in PCB design.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in electronics hardware design and product development.