PCB Design Specialist

Job Title: PCB Design Specialist

The PCB Design Specialist will collaborate closely with electrical and mechanical engineers to own all aspects of printed circuit board design, from schematic import through fabrication release. This role focuses on high-quality layout, signal integrity, EMI-conscious routing, and compliance with internal standards, while working with cross-functional teams and vendors to ensure that printed circuit assemblies meet all technical and manufacturability requirements. The position offers exposure to diverse projects across domains such as space, research and development, and semiconductors, with strong support for professional growth toward an intermediate-level designer.

Responsibilities

• Import schematics into PCB layout tools and ensure the integrity and intent of the design are maintained throughout the layout process.
• Gather and clarify electrical requirements and perform pre-design analysis as needed to inform layout decisions and design strategy.
• Define component placement, power and ground planes, and overall routing strategy with careful consideration for EMI, high-speed digital performance, and low-noise design.
• Create appropriate PCB stack-ups for each design, working directly with fabrication shop field application engineers to align on manufacturability and performance.
• Apply Design for Fabrication (DFF) and Design for Assembly (DFA) rules in accordance with internal standards and best practices.
• Collaborate closely with ECAD teams, electrical, mechanical, and thermal engineering groups to ensure all specifications and interface requirements are met.
• Produce detailed fabrication drawings using AutoCAD to clearly communicate requirements to PCB manufacturers and internal stakeholders.
• Communicate regularly with project managers regarding design status, timelines, and any potential delays or risks, providing updates and mitigation plans as needed.
• Present PCB designs in open team reviews and Critical Design Reviews, clearly explaining design decisions and resolving action items that arise from feedback.
• Ensure the complete design package, including documentation and drawings, is finalized and ready for release into the engineering change order (ECO) process.
• Communicate with PCB vendors during fabrication, responding to and resolving technical queries to maintain quality and schedule.
• Ensure that printed circuit assemblies meet all electrical, mechanical, thermal, and manufacturability requirements by coordinating with internal teams and vendors throughout the design lifecycle.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 2-3 years of PCB layout experience in a similar role, with proven responsibility for end-to-end board design.
• Strong proficiency in PCB design, including schematic import and layout for complex, multi-layer boards.
• Solid understanding of PCB layer structures, including signal, power, ground, and reference planes, and how they impact performance.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and execute routing strategies for high-speed digital and low-noise analog designs with attention to EMI and signal integrity.
• Hands-on experience with Siemens PADS VX design tools for schematic and layout work.
• Proficiency with Altium Designer for PCB design and documentation.
• Ability to create detailed fabrication drawings using AutoCAD.
• Experience with high-speed and low-noise digital and analog circuit design on printed circuit boards.
• Experience with switching power supply PCB designs, including layout considerations for efficiency, thermal management, and noise.
• Ability to design rigid-flex, multi-layer flex, and HDI (High-Density Interconnect) PCBs.
• Experience designing multi-layer PCBs with emphasis on IPC standards and industry best practices.
• Strong communication skills to collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams, ECAD groups, project managers, and external vendors.
• Ability to apply DFF and DFA rules and internal standards consistently throughout the design process.
• Technologist diploma and/or Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent field.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Certified Interconnect Designer (CID+ or CID++) certification is considered an asset.
• Foundational knowledge of PCB design principles with a desire to develop into an intermediate-level designer.
• Experience working on projects in domains such as space, R&D, and semiconductor applications is beneficial.
• Comfort working with internal standards and vendor-specific requirements through DFA and DFF processes.
• Ability to present technical concepts clearly in design reviews and respond constructively to feedback.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing complete, accurate design packages for ECO release.
• Interest in continuous learning and willingness to expand skills across multiple design tools and technologies.

Work Environment

This is a full-time, on-site role scheduled Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The position is based in an office environment that collaborates closely with a production floor, providing direct exposure to manufacturing and assembly processes. You will work within a small, focused team of approximately five people, enabling close collaboration and mentorship. The culture supports learning and development, offering opportunities to work on a variety of projects in areas such as space, R&D, and semiconductors rather than being confined to a single task. The dress code is business casual, and you will regularly use tools such as Siemens PADS VX, Altium Designer, and AutoCAD in a modern engineering setting.

• If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply to this job posting or reach out to Mathuushon (***email_hidden***)** Job Type & Location This is a Contract position based out of Waterloo, ON.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $36.00/hr.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Waterloo,ON.

À propos d'Actalent

Actalent est un leader mondial dans les services d’ingénierie et de sciences ainsi que dans les solutions de talents. Nous aidons des entreprises visionnaires à faire progresser leurs initiatives d’ingénierie et de science grâce à l’accès à des experts spécialisés qui favorisent l’échelle, l’innovation et la rapidité de mise sur le marché. Avec un réseau de près de 20 000 consultants et 5 000 clients à travers les États-Unis, le Canada, l’Asie et l’Europe, Actalent dessert de nombreuses entreprises du Fortune 500. Nous sommes fiers d’être l’une des 500 meilleures firmes de conception de l’Engineering News-Record (ENR) pour nos services de conception en ingénierie et un lauréat du prix ClearlyRated Best of Staffing tant pour le service client que pour les talents.

Actalent est un employeur souscrivant au principe de l’égalité des chances et accepte toutes les candidatures sans tenir compte de la race, du sexe, de l’âge, de la couleur, de la religion, des origines nationales, du statut d’ancien combattant, d’un handicap, de l’orientation sexuelle, de l’identité sexuelle, des renseignements génétiques ou de toute autre caractéristique protégée par la loi.

Si vous souhaitez faire une demande d’accommodement raisonnable, tel que la modification ou l’ajustement du processus de demande d’emploi ou d’entrevue à cause d’un handicap, veuillez envoyer un courriel à [email protected] pour connaître d’autres options d’accommodement.

Ordonnance sur l’égalité des chances de San Francisco: Conformément à l’Ordonnance sur l’égalité des chances de San Francisco, pour tous les postes situés dans la ville et le comté de San Francisco, nous examinerons les candidatures des personnes qualifiées ayant un casier judiciaire ou des antécédents criminels.

Utilisation de l’intelligence artificielle (IA): Nous pouvons utiliser l’intelligence artificielle (IA) pour soutenir certaines étapes de notre processus d’embauche, notamment la recherche, la présélection et l’évaluation des candidatures. L’IA aide à analyser les candidatures et les qualifications, mais les décisions finales sont prises par notre équipe de recrutement. En soumettant votre candidature, vous reconnaissez et acceptez que celle-ci puisse être examinée à l’aide d’outils d’IA.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.