Senior PCB Designer

WARNING: This role is only for motivated people with great ideas who thrive in a culture of innovation!

About the job

Who we are:

Circuit Check is the market-leading provider of automated test systems and test fixtures for complex electronic products for the automotive, military/aerospace, medical, industrial, and computer networking industries. At Circuit Check, we believe that innovation is a must, and that a challenging and robust environment where the work is consistently new and cutting edge is the best way to foster creativity. If you are ready to further your career in a fast-paced, technology driven organization where our test designs impact products that are used by millions of people around the world every day, then we invite you to join us at Circuit Check. Our design staff includes electrical, software, mechanical engineers, and project managers. Our systems are supported by staff throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Malaysia, and China.

Position Summary

The Senior PCB Designer is responsible for the circuit and PCB design of boards used in custom functional test systems — from initial requirements through schematic capture, layout, and fabrication release. Working from functional requirements provided by CCI’s test system designers, this person owns the circuit design: selecting topologies and components, capturing schematics, and producing boards that meet the electrical and functional requirements of the system. A strong electronics background is central to the role. Some boards are common platform designs reused across multiple test systems; others are built from scratch for a specific project. Both call for the same design ownership and attention to quality, and the right candidate will be comfortable working in either mode.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Translates functional requirements from test system designers into complete circuit and PCB designs, taking ownership from initial concept through to a board that meets the electrical and functional requirements of the system
• Executes the full PCB design cycle — schematic capture, component selection, library management, layout, DRC/ERC, fabrication drawing generation, and BOM management — for both new designs and revisions to existing boards
• Designs multilayer PCBs across digital, power, mixed-signal, and RF circuit types, with good judgment on partitioning, routing strategy, and stackup for each
• Develops and maintains PCB component libraries including schematic symbols, footprints, and 3D models
• Manages a library of common platform boards used across multiple test systems; handles revision cycles, keeps design documentation current, and works with test system designers when an existing board is being considered for a new application
• Leads design reviews, presents work to the engineering team, and follows through on feedback
• Applies DFM and DFA thinking throughout; works with fabricators and assembly houses directly when questions come up
• Produces complete fabrication packages: stackup and impedance requirements, assembly drawings, Gerbers/ODB++ outputs
• Works closely with electrical engineers to turn system-level requirements into production-ready designs
• Keeps design files and revision history clean and current within CCI’s document control practices
• Function as an active member of the Electrical design team.

What You Bring to the Table

To perform this job successfully, you must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily, and regular attendance is required. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required to perform this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to support individuals with disabilities.

Required

• 8+ years of hands-on PCB design experience, with real breadth across digital, power, and RF circuit types
• Proficient in a modern ECAD tool (Altium Designer, OrCAD, or equivalent) across the full workflow: schematic capture, layout, library management, and fab output generation. CCI uses both Altium Designer and OrCAD across its sites.
• Able to design circuits from functional requirements: choosing topologies, selecting and evaluating components, and owning the electrical performance of the finished board
• Solid multilayer board experience: controlled impedance, differential pair routing, mixed-signal partitioning
• Comfortable working across a range of board types, from simple relay and switching boards to precision analog, high-density multiplexers, and low-leakage measurement circuits, and understands what each demands from a layout and design standpoint
• Comfortable with a soldering iron and able to hand-solder for bring-up, rework, and debug; familiarity with SMT assembly processes (reflow, wave, selective) is a plus for DFA decisions
• Good troubleshooting instincts: able to dig into board-level issues, identify whether the problem is layout, component, or circuit-related, and feed that back into the design
• Working knowledge of IPC-2221 and IPC-6012 and how they apply in practice
• Clear communicator; comfortable presenting work and talking through design decisions with the engineering team.

Preferred

• Altium Designer and/or OrCAD: CCI uses both; experience with either is useful, and knowing both is a real plus
• Background in functional test, ATE, or electronics manufacturing test is a strong asset
• Familiarity with high-speed digital interfaces (USB 3.x, PCIe, Ethernet, LVDS)
• RF PCB experience: transmission line design, impedance matching, component placement and shielding. Experience with RF connectors (SMA, SMP) and microstrip/stripline is a bonus.

What to Expect at Work

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to support individuals with disabilities.

• Heavy use of an office computer for completing work
• Ability to sit for extended lengths of time is required; bend, reach, stoop, and twist, as required
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs
• Ability to travel as necessary and work extended hours as job duties demand.

Working Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those you may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Being present at work is critical to the success of this role.
• Indoor and climate controlled
• Regular exposure to moving mechanical parts and vibration; risk of electrical shock
• Regular exposure to manufacturing areas which may entail exposure to dirt, dust, noise, machine chemicals fumes and other attributes common to this environment.

This job description reflects management’s assignment of key responsibilities; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Pay and Benefits

Compensation includes base salary and performance-based quarterly profit sharing. Benefit offerings include medical, dental, vision, term life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, and retirement programs. Paid leave includes paid time off, sick, and holiday pay.

Circuit Check, Inc is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. No employee nor applicant for employment will be discriminated against because of race, creed, origin, marital status, sexual orientation, age, otherwise qualified disabled or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

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