PCB Designer - Level 4
$122,000–$181,000 year
On-sitePasadena, California, United States
Job Summary
Senior PCB Designer/Layout Engineer for Tile avionics hardware; own schematic capture and PCB layout from schematic intake through layout release, fabrication, assembly, and test support. Translate complex analog, power, and high-speed designs into quiet, flight-ready PCBs that survive vibration, vacuum, radiation, and thermal cycling. Apply space-grade layout practices, define and manage PCB stackups and materials, produce fabrication/assembly documentation, and support board bring-up and debug. Participate in SRR/PDR/CDR and test activities (TVAC, vibration, EMC). Requires hands-on Altium and LTSpice skills, expertise in complex analog/power/mixed-signal PCB design, space avionics lifecycle awareness, and experience with fabrication/test documentation.
Required Qualifications
- Hands-on experience in using Altium and LTSpice and other ECAD tools
- Schematic capture and PCB layout expertise for complex analog, power, and mixed-signal avionics boards
- High-reliability PCB layout proficiency, including switching-loop control, return-path management, grounding strategy, Kelvin sensing, creepage/clearance, and thermal via implementation
- PCB stackup and materials knowledge, including copper weights, plane strategy, controlled-impedance routing, and space-compatible laminate selection
- Manufacturability and testability focus, with experience generating fabrication/assembly documentation, defining test points, and supporting board bring-up and debug
- Simulation and analysis support capability, including basic SPICE, signal-integrity, or power-integrity analysis to validate schematic and layout intent
- Space avionics hardware lifecycle experience, including configuration-controlled releases and participation in SRR/PDR/CDR and flight-hardware reviews
- Direct spaceflight avionics experience, including Single board computer, EPS, or payload boards flown or qualified for space
- Exposure to environmental qualification testing, such as TVAC, vibration, and EMC, and ability to interpret layout-related test results
- High-power or high-speed design experience, including dense power distribution, high-current rails, or high-speed interfaces (PCIe, Ethernet) and control bus (CAN, RS485)
- Radiation-aware and derating-driven design familiarity, including layout considerations for long-life space missions
- Testbed development and lab support experience, assisting with hardware test setups, probing strategies, and instrumentation
- Flight-heritage organization experience, such as prior work at NASA JPL, SpaceX, or equivalent aerospace programs
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