PCB Designer Job Kitchener area,Ontario Canada,Engineering

Job Title: PCB Design Specialist

Job Description

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…