PCB Design Engineer

As a PCB Design Engineer at Destinus, your key responsibilities will include owning the PCB design flow within the radar team, creating RF and mixed-signal PCB designs from schematic to layout level, and collaborating closely with mechanical, electrical, system, and test engineers. You'll also lead the design review process and be responsible for communicating with suppliers, producing fabrication documentation, and assisting in the lab when PCBAs are brought up.

To excel as a PCB Design Engineer at Destinus, candidates must demonstrate proficiency with Altium Designer and have considerable experience in the layout of multilayer and HDI PCBs. Understanding high-speed interfaces such as LVDS and USB3.0 is essential, along with a solid grasp of manufacturing processes and design rules. While experience in post-layout simulation like signal integrity or thermal analysis is appealing, a genuine passion for PCB design and innovation is crucial.

At Destinus, a PCB Design Engineer will have ample opportunities for growth, including the potential to expand into RF simulation and design work. You'll be encouraged to enhance your skills and knowledge further as you work on cutting-edge projects that redefine aerospace technology, allowing you to take on more significant responsibilities within the team.

Destinus prides itself on fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where innovation thrives. As a PCB Design Engineer, you will collaborate with top engineers from around the globe in a fast-paced, high-growth environment that values your ideas and contributions. The company embraces equal opportunity, ensuring that all team members are respected and valued regardless of their background.

The work of a PCB Design Engineer directly influences the success of defense projects at Destinus by ensuring that electronic modules operate efficiently and reliably. High-quality PCB designs are integral to developing advanced unmanned aerial vehicles, impacting their performance in mission-critical operations. Your innovative PCB solutions will help achieve the technological precision needed in modern defense scenarios.

In your response, outline the steps you take when designing a PCB, emphasizing your systematic approach. Highlight how you ensure design accuracy, collaborate with other engineers, and where you incorporate testing and feedback. Stress the importance of documentation throughout the process.

When asked this, provide specific details about your past projects involving RF PCB design or mixed-signal layouts. Include the types of challenges you faced and how you overcame them, showcasing your relevant skill sets and technical prowess.

Share your strategy for implementing design iterations, focusing on how you gather feedback from team members and performance data. Demonstrate your commitment to continuous improvement by discussing examples where your insights led to successful enhancements.

Outline the specifics of your expertise with simulation tools, such as signal integrity (SI) or power integrity (PI) simulations. Discuss how you apply these analyses to improve PCB design and ensure product reliability, emphasizing any software you're proficient in.

In your response, mention any industry conferences, webinars, or publications you follow. Highlight your commitment to continuous learning and curiosity about emerging technologies in PCB design, and explain how you apply these trends in your work.

Provide an example of a specific PCB project where you encountered significant difficulties. Discuss your problem-solving approach, teamwork, and any innovative solutions you implemented that led to a successful outcome.

Emphasize the importance of collaboration in PCB design, explaining how working closely with cross-functional teams enhances design quality. Share experiences that demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively and how input from colleagues can refine designs.

Discuss your proficiency with Altium Designer, mentioning specific features you utilize, such as schematic capture, layout tools, or design rule checking. Provide examples of projects where you effectively leveraged the software's functionalities to streamline your design process.

Discuss your knowledge of relevant safety and compliance standards (e.g., IPC standards) that apply to PCB design. Explain how you incorporate these standards into your work to ensure that designs are compliant and safe for end-users.

Your answer should reflect a systematic approach to component selection, discussing factors like reliability, availability, cost, and performance requirements. Provide examples of how careful component selection has positively impacted previous projects.