Principal PCB Design Engineer

Job Title

Principal PCB Design Engineer

Role Summary

Lead PCB logical and physical design for high-speed digital, RF, analog/mixed-signal and power electronics used in semiconductor test products. Deliver manufacturable, production-ready PCBs and improve design methodologies, tools, and verification practices.

Experience Level

Senior-level. Typical candidates have 5+ years of PCB design experience in high-speed or mixed-signal domains and demonstrated technical leadership in PCB layout and release.

Responsibilities

Design, verify, and release PCB designs; collaborate with vendors and cross-functional teams to ensure manufacturability and product quality.

• Develop PCB logical designs (netlist generation, routing constraints) from schematics and requirements.
• Create complete PCB physical layouts: component placement, routing, trace length matching, and verification.
• Apply electrical engineering principles for high-speed digital, RF, analog/mixed-signal, DDR and power designs.
• Optimize designs for manufacturability (DFM/DFA) in collaboration with fabrication and assembly partners.
• Generate manufacturing and assembly data packages and support product release activities.
• Evaluate and validate PCB design tools; provide feedback and participate in tool improvement.
• Develop and document PCB design methodologies, processes, procedures, and training materials.
• Participate in and present design reviews internally and to customers; investigate and resolve vendor-raised DFM/DFA issues.

Requirements

Must-have technical skills and abilities for immediate contribution; additional items listed as advantages.

• Proficiency with Cadence Allegro PCB Designer and Valor/CAM or similar tools.
• Proven experience with high-speed digital PCB design, DDR memory interfaces, and flash memory designs.
• Experience with analog and mixed-signal PCB design, signal integrity (SI) and power integrity (PI) concepts.
• Schematic interpretation, netlist generation, and development of electrical and routing constraints.
• PCB design verification, trace length matching, and layout optimization for performance and yield.
• Experience working directly with PCB fabrication and assembly suppliers to improve manufacturability and yield.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; effective verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Strong attention to detail, teamwork, and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Nice-to-have / advantage:

• Experience with HDI technologies (blind/buried vias, microvias) and semiconductor test / ATE environments.
• Familiarity with autorouter tools and CAM350.
• Cadence Allegro SKILL programming for tool customization and automation.

Education Requirements

Degree and experience combinations accepted: Bachelor's degree in Electrical or Electronics Engineering preferred; diploma holders with substantial PCB design experience may be considered. Typical combinations cited include Bachelor's + ~5 years related experience, Master's + ~3 years, or PhD (may be accepted without prior experience). Equivalent practical experience is also acceptable.

About the Company

Company: FormFactor

Headquarters: Livermore, California, United States

FormFactor provides test and measurement technologies and services for the semiconductor industry across the product lifecycle - including characterization, modeling, reliability, design debug, qualification and production test. The company serves customers globally through facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America.