Senior Electrical Engineer - PCB Design

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Electrical Engineer - PCB Design based in the United States. Join an engineering team developing advanced electronic systems for demanding aerospace, defense, intelligence, and space applications. In this role, you will lead the design and implementation of complex printed circuit board (PCB) layouts for high-performance, space-borne electronics. You will work extensively with Altium Designer, tackling dense, high-power, high-speed digital, RF, and mixed-signal designs, including DDR4 and DDR5 memory interfaces. Your work will help balance electrical performance, thermal management, signal integrity, compact form factors, and manufacturability. Collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams, you will contribute to rigorous design reviews, controlled documentation processes, and continuous technical improvement. This opportunity is ideal for an experienced PCB design specialist who values precision, technical excellence, and reliable engineering solutions for mission-critical environments.

You will lead the end-to-end PCB layout process, translating electrical and mechanical requirements into reliable, manufacturable designs that meet demanding performance and environmental constraints. Own PCB layout design for digital, analog, RF, mixed-signal, high-speed, and high-power electronic systems using Altium Designer. Translate electrical schematics, mechanical constraints, and system-level requirements into compact, high-density PCB layouts suitable for small-form-factor space applications. Create, maintain, and manage PCB footprints, schematic symbols, and component libraries in Altium Designer, ensuring compliance with IPC standards and internal design practices. Define PCB stack-ups and implement controlled-impedance routing for high-speed differential pairs, RF transmission lines, and DDR4/DDR5 memory interfaces. Develop routing strategies for high-speed serial links, RF signals, and memory buses, incorporating length matching, skew control, via optimization, and crosstalk mitigation. Optimize high-power layouts for thermal performance and current handling through copper distribution, via stitching, thermal relief, and component placement. Collaborate with electrical and mechanical engineers, manufacturing partners, and program teams to balance size, power consumption, signal integrity, RF performance, thermal requirements, and manufacturability. Participate in design reviews and implement feedback to meet signal integrity, power integrity, RF performance, reliability, and applicable regulatory requirements. Generate fabrication and assembly documentation directly from Altium Designer, including Gerber or ODB++ files, drawings, and complete manufacturing packages. Maintain accurate design documentation, revision control, and release records within configuration-controlled engineering environments. Support prototype builds, hardware troubleshooting, and iterative design improvements, including debugging DDR interfaces, high-speed signal issues, and high-power thermal challenges. Promote sound PCB design practices and contribute technical guidance to colleagues where appropriate. Requirements: The ideal candidate has substantial professional PCB design experience, advanced Altium Designer skills, and a strong understanding of complex electrical layouts. You should be comfortable solving demanding design challenges while maintaining rigorous documentation standards and collaborating across engineering disciplines. Hold a bachelor's degree and have at least six years of relevant experience, or a graduate degree with at least four years of relevant experience. Candidates with ten or more years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree. Have professional PCB design experience in a production environment. Demonstrate expert-level proficiency with Altium Designer as your primary PCB CAD tool; experience with other advanced PCB design tools is an advantage. Have experience designing complex multilayer boards that combine high-power circuits, compact layouts, high-speed digital interfaces, and RF or mixed-signal sections. Demonstrate hands-on experience with DDR4 and/or DDR5 memory layout, including routing topologies, length matching, skew control, and reference plane management. Understand controlled-impedance routing, PCB stack-up design, signal integrity, and power integrity principles. Have practical knowledge of design for manufacturability (DFM), design for testability (DFT), PCB fabrication, and assembly constraints. Understand high-current routing, creepage and clearance requirements, and thermal management for high-power designs. Communicate effectively and collaborate with electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing, and program teams. Preferred qualifications: A bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a closely related technical discipline. Experience with signal integrity, power integrity, and RF simulation tools such as HyperLynx, SIwave, ADS, Altium simulation features, or equivalent platforms. Knowledge of electromagnetic interference and electromagnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC) design practices for dense, high-power, high-speed PCB layouts. Familiarity with IPC standards, including IPC-2221 and IPC-7351. Experience with aerospace and defense standards or processes, such as MIL-STD and DO-254. Familiarity with product lifecycle management (PLM) systems and configuration-controlled engineering workflows. Ability to mentor junior PCB designers and promote consistent design standards across teams. Experience in aerospace, defense, space systems, or other regulated engineering environments. Benefits: Salary range: $74,000–$155,000 annually for full-time employment. Actual compensation depends on relevant experience, skills, education, certifications, internal equity, business considerations, and geographic location where applicable. Healthcare: Medical, dental, and vision coverage. Life and disability insurance: Basic life insurance with accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage. Additional insurance options: Voluntary life and AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital, and pet insurance. Spending accounts: Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA). Paid time off: Paid leave and holidays. Retirement savings: 401(k) plan with company matching. Professional development: Tuition reimbursement. Leave options: Parental, maternity, and military leave. Additional compensation: Annual discretionary bonus for eligible roles. Engineering impact: Opportunity to contribute to complex, mission-critical aerospace and space electronics projects.