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Senior PCB Designer Seen this week

Northwood Space · Torrance, CA · Electronics · first seen 2026-07-16
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About the Role

Northwood is looking for a Senior PCB Designer to establish the PCB layout discipline from the ground up. You will define the standards, tools, and workflows for physical design while driving layout of next-generation digital compute and power electronics. These boards enable high-rate processing for antennas deployed globally.

As founding PCB Designer, you will partner closely with Electrical, RF, and Antenna engineers from concept to production, setting the technical bar for layout expertise and building the foundation for a scaling team.

Responsibilities

  • Own physical layout of complex, high-density, high-layer-count PCBs featuring high-speed, high-frequency digital, RF, mixed-signal, and power distribution systems.
  • Determine optimum layer stackups, perform component placement, routing feasibility studies, and manage strict high-speed and high-frequency constraint rules.
  • Create, manage, and maintain ECAD libraries for active, passive, and high-pin-count components.
  • Collaborate across hardware and production teams to ensure strict adherence to Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Test (DFT) guidelines.
  • Generate and release comprehensive documentation packages for fabrication and assembly (Gerbers, ODB++, IPC-2581, drill charts, fabrication drawings).
  • Work with external PCB fabrication and assembly vendors to resolve technical queries and continuously improve internal design rules.
  • Evaluate, select, and champion advanced PCB design tools and automation scripts to establish groundwork for scaling as the team grows.
  • Serve as internal authority on high-speed and high-frequency layout practices, mentoring engineers across disciplines on layout-aware design.

Basic Qualifications

  • 7+ years of professional experience in complex, high-density PCB layout with demonstrated ownership of high-speed and high-frequency designs end-to-end (or Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field with 6+ years of relevant experience).
  • Deep, hands-on expertise in high-speed and high-frequency layout techniques: impedance control, differential pairs, length matching, crosstalk mitigation, and RF-aware routing.
  • Proven experience with advanced packaging technologies including fine-pitch BGAs, high-pin-density components, and micro-vias (HDI).
  • Strong command of PCB materials, dielectric properties, and developing multi-layer board stack-ups for high-frequency performance.
  • Demonstrated experience applying EMI/EMC mitigation techniques and designing robust power delivery networks (PDN) at the board level.
  • Track record of operating with significant autonomy, able to set direction and make final layout calls with minimal oversight.

Preferred Qualifications

  • 8+ years of experience designing high-speed, high-frequency, mixed-signal PCBs for FPGA, processor, RF/antenna, or high-performance networking systems.
  • Deep expertise in routing high-speed interfaces such as multi-gigabit SerDes, DDR memory, JESD204B/C, and 10/100G Ethernet.
  • Advanced proficiency in industry-standard ECAD tools: Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, or Siemens Xpedition.
  • Strong understanding of IPC standards (IPC-2221, IPC-7351) and commercial manufacturing tolerances.
  • Experience with ECAD/MCAD co-design and integration workflows (SolidWorks, STEP files) for tight mechanical constraints.
  • Experience with scripting or automation (Python, Skill, or Altium scripts) to optimize layout workflows.
  • Prior experience building or scaling a PCB layout function, standards library, or design process from scratch.
  • Excellent communication skills and proven ability to make sound layout tradeoffs in a fast-paced, collaborative hardware environment.

Requirements

  • Must obtain and maintain a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment.
  • Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
  • Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State (ITAR compliance).

Compensation

Compensation is based on role, level, location, and market alignment:

  • PCB Designer/Level 3: $100,000-$125,000
  • PCB Designer/Level 4: $144,000-$180,000
  • PCB Designer/Level 5: $176,000-$220,000

Base salary is one part of total rewards. Additional compensation includes stock options and discretionary performance bonuses. Benefits include equity, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, flexible spending accounts, flexible time off, 10 or more paid holidays per year, retirement savings plans, and professional development opportunities.