Responsibilities
1. PCB Layout & Design
- Design and develop complex multi-layer PCB layouts using Cadence Allegro PCB Designer, transforming schematics into optimized physical designs.
- Perform strategic component placement considering signal flow, thermal management, mechanical constraints, connector locations, and assembly accessibility.
- Execute high-density routing including single-ended signals, differential pairs, high-speed traces, and controlled impedance lines.
- Define and optimize PCB stack-up including layer count, material selection, copper weights, dielectric thickness, and impedance calculations.
- Implement advanced routing techniques for high-speed digital interfaces (DDR, PCIe, USB, HDMI, Ethernet, etc.) and RF/analog circuits.
2. Constraint Management & Design Rules
- Define and maintain comprehensive design constraints using Allegro Constraint Manager, including spacing rules, differential pairs, impedance requirements, and length matching specifications.
- Establish electrical constraint sets covering trace width/spacing, via structures, clearances, and manufacturing design rules.
- Implement timing constraints including matched length groups, propagation delay budgets, and phase matching for critical signals.
- Configure and validate design rule checks (DRC) to ensure compliance throughout the design process.
3. Library Management & Component Creation
- Create, verify, and maintain ECAD libraries including schematic symbols, PCB footprints (land patterns), and pad stack definitions.
- Develop component footprints following IPC-7351 standards with appropriate tolerances for manufacturing and assembly.
- Coordinate with component engineering and supply chain teams to ensure library accuracy and currency.
- Implement library version control and documentation practices.
4. Signal & Power Integrity Collaboration
- Ensure PCB designs meet signal integrity (SI), power integrity (PI), and impedance control requirements through careful design practices.
- Collaborate with SI/PI engineers to implement simulation recommendations including termination schemes, decoupling strategies, and return path optimization.
- Design robust power distribution networks (PDN) with appropriate plane structures, decoupling capacitor placement, and voltage rail isolation.
- Implement controlled impedance routing with specified trace geometries and reference plane assignments.
5. Mechanical Integration & 3D Coordination
- Work with 3D STEP models to ensure proper mechanical fit, component clearances, connector alignment, and enclosure integration.
- Coordinate with mechanical engineers on board outlines, mounting holes, keep-out zones, and height restrictions.
- Perform 3D interference checks and mechanical design rule validation.
- Support thermal management design including heatsink interfaces and thermal via structures.
6. Manufacturing Coordination & Documentation
- Coordinate with PCB fabrication and assembly vendors to support manufacturing processes and resolve technical issues.
- Generate complete manufacturing documentation including Gerber files (RS-274X), ODB++ data, NC drill files, assembly drawings, fabrication drawings, BOMs (Bill of Materials), and fab notes.
- Provide technical support during fabrication, answering vendor questions and reviewing fab drawing approvals.
- Conduct design for manufacturability (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA) reviews to optimize yield and reduce costs.
7. Quality Assurance & Verification
- Perform comprehensive Design Rule Checks (DRC) and troubleshoot layout issues to ensure design quality and manufacturability.
- Execute electrical rule checks (ERC), constraint validation, and cross-probing verification against schematics.
- Review and validate manufacturing outputs before release.
- Ensure designs comply with relevant industry and quality standards including IPC standards, ANSI, ISO, and ITAR compliance where applicable.
Requirements
Must Have:
- Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
- Minimum 2–4 years of hands-on PCB layout experience in professional product development environment.
- Strong experience designing complex, multi-layer PCBs (6+ layers) using Cadence Allegro (mandatory).
- Proficient in Cadence Allegro PCB Designer and Constraint Manager with deep working knowledge of design flows and capabilities.
- Strong understanding of:
- Multi-layer PCB layout and routing methodologies
- High-density PCB design techniques
- Differential pair routing and timing
- Length matching and delay tuning
- Signal Integrity (SI) principles and best practices
- Power Integrity (PI) and PDN design
- Controlled impedance design and calculations
- Experience creating and maintaining ECAD libraries including footprints, symbols, and pad stacks following industry standards.
- Knowledge of DFM (Design for Manufacturability), DFA (Design for Assembly), and DFT (Design for Test) principles.
- Experience working with 3D STEP models for mechanical integration and interference checking.
- Familiarity with manufacturing deliverables including Gerber files, ODB++, drill files, BOMs, assembly drawings, and fabrication documentation.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with systematic debugging approach.
- Excellent attention to detail and commitment to design quality.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills for cross-functional collaboration.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with hardware engineers, mechanical designers, SI/PI specialists, and external vendors.
- Able to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in fast-paced development environment.
Good to Have:
- Familiarity with IPC standards (IPC-2221, IPC-2222, IPC-7351, IPC-6012) for PCB design and manufacturing.
- Experience with ANSI, ISO, and ITAR compliance requirements for regulated industries.
- Exposure to high-speed digital interfaces (DDR3/4/5, PCIe Gen 3/4/5, USB 3.x, HDMI, DisplayPort, 10G/25G Ethernet).
- Knowledge of RF/microwave PCB design techniques.
- Familiarity with rigid-flex and flexible PCB design.
- Experience with blind/buried vias, microvias, and HDI (High-Density Interconnect) technologies.
- Understanding of thermal management and thermal simulation.
- Scripting skills (SKILL, Tcl, or Python) for Allegro automation.
- Knowledge of other EDA tools (Altium, PADS, OrCAD).
