Senior PCB Layout Engineer

Job Title

Senior PCB Layout Engineer

Role Summary

Join the RF User Terminal Design team to develop complex multi-layer PCBs for a high-throughput satellite user terminal. The role focuses on mmWave/RF/mixed-signal board layout, stackup and routability studies, manufacturability (OK2FAB) checks, and supporting board bring-up and debugging.

Experience Level

Senior - requires 5+ years of PCB design experience as indicated in the minimum qualifications.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include PCB layout, manufacturability verification, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver production-ready boards for space-grade and high-performance RF systems.

• Design multi-layer PCBs for mmWave/microwave RF, complex digital, mixed-signal, and high-power systems (FPGAs, microcontrollers).
• Develop PCB layouts with controlled impedance and EMI/EMC best practices for Digital/Analog/RF circuits.
• Perform signal integrity analysis for high-speed interfaces (PCIe, DDR, Ethernet).
• Conduct PCB stackup feasibility and trace routability studies to inform architecture trades.
• Lead OK2FAB process: run DRCs, prepare fabrication and assembly drawings, and release designs.
• Work with PCB fabricators and contract manufacturers to ensure manufacturability and resolve fabrication issues.
• Support board bring-up, debug hardware issues related to PCB design, and iterate layouts as needed.
• Design for space-environment constraints including thermal management, radiation tolerance, and mechanical stress.

Requirements

Must-have skills and experience. Preferred items are listed separately.

• Minimum 5+ years of hands-on PCB design experience.
• Proficiency with PCB CAD tools (Altium Designer preferred, Cadence Allegro, or similar).
• Strong signal integrity knowledge for high-speed digital design (transmission lines, termination, crosstalk).
• Experience with higher layer-count HDI boards, dense fanout, and complex routing.
• Controlled-impedance design and PCB stackup optimization experience.
• High-voltage layout experience, including creepage/clearance and thermal considerations.
• Familiarity with EMI/EMC practices and IPC standards (IPC-2221, IPC-6012, IPC-A-610).
• Experience with PCB layouts for FPGAs, high-speed ADCs/DACs, or mixed-signal systems.
• Ability to collaborate with electrical engineers on component selection, schematic review, and design optimization.
• Ability to pass company background checks where required.
• Export-control eligibility: applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Nice-to-have:

• RF/microwave PCB design experience with high-frequency laminates (Rogers, Taconic).
• Familiarity with power-integrity and thermal-analysis tools (HyperLynx, Ansys SIwave, Cadence Sigrity).
• Experience designing for space environments, DFM/DFT, conformal coating, potting, and aerospace standards (MIL-STD/NASA).

Education Requirements

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field is listed as the degree requirement.

About the Company

Company: Blue Origin

Headquarters: Kent, Washington, United States

Blue Origin is an American aerospace company developing technologies for spaceflight, including reusable launch vehicles, orbital and suborbital systems, and space infrastructure for commercial and government customers.