PCB Design Specialist at Actalent — NeverHard

Job DescriptionJob Description PCB Design Specialist Job Description The PCB Design Specialist will collaborate closely with electrical and mechanical engineers to own the end-to-end design of printed circuit boards. This role focuses on translating schematics into robust PCB layouts, performing predesign analysis, and ensuring that all assemblies meet electrical, mechanical, thermal, and manufacturing requirements. You will contribute to a variety of cutting-edge projects in areas such as space, R&D, and semiconductors, while receiving training and mentorship to grow into an intermediate-level designer. Responsibilities Import electrical schematics into PCB layout tools and ensure the integrity and intent of the original design are fully maintained. Gather and interpret electrical requirements from engineering teams and perform predesign analysis as needed to guide layout decisions. Define component placement, planes, and routing strategies with careful consideration of EMI, signal integrity, and high-speed design constraints. Create appropriate PCB stack-ups for each design, working directly with fabrication shop field application engineers to optimize manufacturability and performance. Apply design for fabrication (DFF) and design for assembly (DFA) rules in accordance with internal standards and industry best practices. Collaborate closely with ECAD, electrical, mechanical, and thermal engineering teams to ensure all functional, mechanical, and thermal specifications are met. Produce detailed fabrication drawings and documentation using AutoCAD to support manufacturing and assembly processes. Communicate regularly with project managers regarding design status, proactively report any delays, and provide clear updates on progress and risks. Present PCB designs in open team reviews and Critical Design Reviews, respond to feedback, and resolve all resulting action items in a timely manner. Ensure the complete design package is prepared, verified, and ready for release into engineering change order (ECO) processes. Communicate with PCB vendors during fabrication, resolve technical queries, and ensure that vendor processes align with design intent and internal standards. Work with vendors through DFF and DFA processes to confirm that designs meet manufacturability and assembly requirements. Design multi-layer PCBs with emphasis on IPC standards, including rigid-flex, multi-layer flex, and HDI configurations. Contribute to designs involving high-speed, low-noise digital and analog circuits, as well as switching power supply layouts. Participate as an active member of a small design team, sharing knowledge, supporting peers, and contributing to continuous improvement of PCB design practices. Essential Skills Minimum of 5 years of PCB layout experience in a similar role, with a strong foundation in printed circuit board design principles. Proficiency in PCB design, including schematic interpretation and layout design from concept through release. Solid understanding of PCB layer structures, including planes, signal layers, and stack-up configuration. Experience defining routing strategies with a focus on EMI control, high-speed digital design, and low-noise performance. Hands-on experience using Siemens PADS VX design tools for PCB layout. Proficiency with Altium Designer for schematic capture and PCB layout. Ability to create detailed fabrication drawings and documentation using AutoCAD. Experience with high-speed and low-noise digital and analog circuit design considerations in PCB layouts. Experience with switching power supply PCB designs, including layout techniques for efficiency and thermal management. Ability to design rigid-flex, multi-layer flex, and HDI (High-Density Interconnect) PCBs. Experience designing multi-layer PCBs with emphasis on IPC standards and industry-compliant practices. Strong understanding of tracing and routing techniques for complex, high-density designs. Ability to work effectively with ECAD, electrical, mechanical, and thermal engineering teams to meet cross-functional requirements. Clear and professional communication skills for interacting with project managers and PCB vendors, including reporting status and resolving technical issues. Additional Skills & Qualifications Technologist diploma and/or Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or an equivalent technical discipline. Certified Interconnect Designer (CID+ or CID++) designation is considered an asset. Familiarity with Siemens, Altium, and Allegro environments and workflows for PCB design is beneficial. Knowledge of design for fabrication (DFF) and design for assembly (DFA) principles and their application to PCB design. Exposure to projects in domains such as space, R&D, and semiconductor applications is an advantage. Strong foundational knowledge in PCB design with a desire to learn, develop skills, and progress to an intermediate-level designer. Ability to present designs in team reviews, accept constructive feedback, and incorporate improvements. Comfort working with vendors and fabrication shop field application engineers to refine stack-ups and manufacturing approaches. Work Environment This is a full-time, on-site role working five days per week, typically from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You will join a small, collaborative team of approximately five people, offering close interaction with peers and leaders and ample opportunity for mentorship and skill development. The environment is project-driven and technically focused, with exposure to diverse applications including space, R&D, and semiconductor-related designs. You will work with modern ECAD tools such as Siemens PADS VX, Altium Designer, and AutoCAD, and collaborate regularly with fabrication shops and vendors. The setting supports professional growth, encourages open design reviews, and values patience and development for candidates with strong foundational knowledge. Dress expectations align with a typical professional engineering and design offic Job Type & Location This is a Contract position based out of Waterloo, ON. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $36.00/hr. Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Waterloo,ON. À propos d'Actalent Actalent est un leader mondial dans les services d’ingénierie et de sciences ainsi que dans les solutions de talents. Nous aidons des entreprises visionnaires à faire progresser leurs initiatives d’ingénierie et de science grâce à l’accès à des experts spécialisés qui favorisent l’échelle, l’innovation et la rapidité de mise sur le marché. Avec un réseau de près de 20 000 consultants et 5 000 clients à travers les États-Unis, le Canada, l’Asie et l’Europe, Actalent dessert de nombreuses entreprises du Fortune 500. Nous sommes fiers d’être l’une des 500 meilleures firmes de conception de l’Engineering News-Record (ENR) pour nos services de conception en ingénierie et un lauréat du prix ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® tant pour le service client que pour les talents. Actalent est un employeur souscrivant au principe de l’égalité des chances et accepte toutes les candidatures sans tenir compte de la race, du sexe, de l’âge, de la couleur, de la religion, des origines nationales, du statut d’ancien combattant, d’un handicap, de l’orientation sexuelle, de l’identité sexuelle, des renseignements génétiques ou de toute autre caractéristique protégée par la loi. Si vous souhaitez faire une demande d’accommodement raisonnable, tel que la modification ou l’ajustement du processus de demande d’emploi ou d’entrevue à cause d’un handicap, veuillez envoyer un courriel à actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com pour connaître d’autres options d’accommodement. Ordonnance sur l’égalité des chances de San Francisco: Conformément à l’Ordonnance sur l’égalité des chances de San Francisco, pour tous les postes situés dans la ville et le comté de San Francisco, nous examinerons les candidatures des personnes qualifiées ayant un casier judiciaire ou des antécédents criminels. Utilisation de l’intelligence artificielle (IA): Nous pouvons utiliser l’intelligence artificielle (IA) pour soutenir certaines étapes de notre processus d’embauche, notamment la recherche, la présélection et l’évaluation des candidatures. L’IA aide à analyser les candidatures et les qualifications, mais les décisions finales sont prises par notre équipe de recrutement. En soumettant votre candidature, vous reconnaissez et acceptez que celle-ci puisse être examinée à l’aide d’outils d’IA. About Actalent Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options. San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.