PCB Layout Engineer (Senior or Engineer Level)

An experienced PCB Layout Engineer with a good working knowledge of Altium Designer is required to expand the existing PCB Layout Team. The successful candidate should have a track record in the layout of complex mixed signal PCBs (Digital, Analogue, RF) ideally for high reliability environments. The candidate will be part of a dynamic London-based technology company developing innovative, world class products into the aerospace, land mobile and maritime industries. You will be working within a multidisciplinary team alongside Hardware, Mechanical, Manufacturing and Product Engineers across a range of technologies to deliver production quality PCBs for Hanwha-Phasor’s SatCom product range. This is an exciting opportunity to grow as an individual and develop leading edge technical skills across a broad range of technologies.

Look up and lock on to a bigger future, fast

As the original disruptors in solid-state satcom-on-the-move antenna, Hanwha Phasor is rewriting the book on phased arrays. It’s one of the toughest challenges in satcom. And, so far, we are the only team to demo multi-axis capability in real world conditions.

Now we’re closing in our goal: active electronically-steered antennas (AESA) for super-fast, super-reliable connectivity—GEO, of course, but LEO, MEO and HEO too.

Our inventive combination of digital and analogue architectures enables highest performance gain for lowest power and lowest profile, while our modular approach enables configurable apertures for the full range of enterprise customers on the move – in the air, on land or at sea.

Backed by Hanwha Systems, the Korean technology giant with a growing presence in global satcom, we are attracting formidable partners: we have appointed a world-class, global manufacturing partner, and two of the world’s best FABs are working on our chips.

So, what does that mean for you? All the fast-paced opportunity you’d expect from a challenger, plus the systems, processes and investment you’d want from an established industry leader.

Technical responsibilities

• Take ownership of complete PCB CAD designs (Altium) from PCB requirements capture, mechanical definition, layer stackups, symbol and footprint creation including 3D model creation, placement, and routing through to generating FAB/ASSY drawings to ODB/Gerber generation.
• Assist with schematic entry, capturing design rules, through to the design of complex mixed-signal (RF, analogue, digital, RF) PCB layouts, data pack generation to deliver volume production quality, right-first-time PCB Designs.
• Work in collaboration with the other members of the development team, specifically Hardware, Mechanical, ASIC and Systems Engineers, Antenna Designers and Manufacturing Engineers to ensure effective support of the development programmes.
• Ensure the PCBs are designed for EMC, Environmental and other regulatory approvals in line with best practise and meet the requirements for volume manufacturing (DFT/DFM).
• Pro-active approach, self-motivated with the ability to deliver quality products on time whilst ensuring DFX (Design for Excellence – DFT/DFM).

Organisational responsibilities

• Contribute to the company’s long-term goals by delivering right-first-time PCB designs and driving process improvement programs.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver on-time and build good working relationships with cross-functional team members and external department.
• Contribute to hardware design reviews when appropriate to ensure PCB requirements are met.
• Provide time and effort required for layout activities for input into the planning process.

Essential qualifications and skills

• HNC, HND or higher in Electrical/ Electronic Engineering or relevant industry experience.
• Around 3-5 years’ experience in a relevant industry working on leading-edge PCB designs for products in the data communications, aerospace, automotive or defence sectors.
• An in-depth Knowledge of the Altium Designer ECAD Tool is essential (min 2 years), plus Altium Concord Component Vault, Altium Draftsman, Altium SE, Project Releaser and PCB templates.
• A good working knowledge of ECAD/MCAD import/exports, such as IDF’s/DXFs for collaboration with mechanical teams.
• Considerable design experience of PCB layouts involving analogue, digital, power and high-frequency RF board layouts in one or more of the following fields: telecoms, aerospace, wireless, microwave for both commercial and/or defence equipment.
• Experience of multi-layer designs, high-speed layout techniques, routing of controlled impedance traces, mixed signal (Analogue, Digital, RF) and power circuits, power planes including construction of conventional and micro-via technology PCB stackups.
• Familiar with the placement and layout of PCBs involving SMT and through-hole technologies, RFICs, QFNs, QFPs, BGAs, fcCSPs, SOICs, passives to 0201 and technologies such as MCUs, Ethernet Switches/PHY, Memories, high-frequency RF components.
• Good understanding of the layout constraints for point of load power supplies (switch mode and linear), current return paths, grounding techniques and thermal management.
• A solid understanding of the PCB fabrication processes (conventional and sequential lamination), aware of the latest technologies, material selection, stack-ups, buried and blind vias etc.). Liaising with PCB fabricators to help define PCB stackups.
• PCB design for EMC, DFM/DFT for volume manufacture is essential.
• Ability to liaise with and manage PCB fabricators and assembly houses.
• Excellent communication skills and team working. Self-starter. Flexible can-do attitude.

Desirable

• IPC CID/CID+ Certified, and an understanding of IPC standards.
• A good understanding of the PCB development process for high-reliability environments, namely aerospace, marine or automotive products.
• Knowledge of product approvals to meet CE, EN and the relevant product approvals (emissions, susceptibility, environmental) for the Aero (DO-160G) and maritime markets.
• Knowledge of flexi and flexi-rigid PCB designs.
• Experience of Solidworks with respect to the import/export of mechanical information.