PCB Layout Engineer

Location: Cambridgeshire

Senior PCB Design Engineer
Cambridge area | £45,000-£50,000 base
Hybrid: 3 days on-site
We're partnered with an engineering consultancy working on advanced electronics systems used in the Defence, Space, Security and Industrial sectors. This role sits within the manufacturing and hardware function and carries ownership of PCB layout capability across the business.

What you'll work on

You'll take responsibility for PCB layout delivery and capability, working alongside RF, digital, analogue, power, and mechanical engineers.

Typical work includes:

Converting engineers' schematics into manufacturable PCB designs

High-complexity PCB layout using Altium

Defining and negotiating stack-ups with manufacturers

Designing PCBs for RF, antenna, and mixed-signal systems

Generating manufacturing data packs and BOM automation

Managing PCB libraries, footprints, and scripts

Owning supplier relationships with PCB manufacturers and build houses

Tracking external deliverables and reporting into project managers

Running and contributing to internal and external design reviews
This role goes beyond layout execution. You'll help:

Define metrics to estimate PCB complexity

Improve layout efficiency and throughput

Shape how PCB work is planned and delivered across projects

Background that fits

Essential

HNC/HND or degree in Electronic or Electrical Engineering

5+ years experience in PCB design and electronics hardware delivery

Strong Altium PCB layout experience

Experience setting PCB stack-ups

Design for Manufacture (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA)

Confident working directly with suppliers
Strong advantage

Experience with RF boards, including RF or antenna-related layouts

Product development background

Comfortable co-designing with RF and antenna engineers

Tools & standards

Altium Designer (essential)

Siemens PADS (legacy - beneficial)

IPC standards for high-reliability designs

EMI/EMC best practice

SMT design experience

Team & environment

Multidisciplinary hardware team

Direct reporting line into the Director of Hardware

Opportunity to influence process, efficiency, and capability, not just deliver boards

Mix of commercial, industrial, and defence projects.

Interview process

Initial telephone interview with Hiring Manager

On-site stage including:

Technical discussion

PCB CAD skills demonstration

Conversation with RF or antenna engineers

Location & package

Based just south of Cambridge

£45,000-£50,000 base salary

Hybrid working (3 days on-site)

Career progression across technical and capability leadership paths

Support for professional development

Collaborative working environment with regular team events