PCB Layout Designer

Fidus Systems; Ottawa, Kitchener; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

GRSP matching

Profit-sharing bonus

Job summary

Fidus Systems, a global high-tech design firm headquartered in Ottawa, seeks a seasoned PCB layout engineer to deliver dense, high-speed multi‑layer boards across industries. You’ll collaborate across hardware, embedded software, and SI/PI teams to ensure manufacturability and performance from concept to high-volume production.

The role emphasizes Allegro/Altium/OrCAD tooling, impedance matching, and DFA/DFM reviews, with travel possible for customer engagements.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience laying out dense, high-speed, digital and analog boards.
• Extensive experience applying advanced electrical constraint sets.
• IPC certification will be considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Layout of complex, multi-layer, high speed PCBs using Cadence Allegro PCB Design, Mentor Expedition/PADS or Altium.
• PCB layout design on different core material substrate, component placement, impedance matching and routing analysis
• Work closely with the mechanical and the signal integrity team during product development phases
• Generate fabrication drawings, assembly drawings and drill files
• Work closely with board houses to ensure DFA/DFM and lead DFM reviews to ready for high volume manufacturing
• Interface with board houses to resolve technical issues
• Embrace AI as part of a modern engineering toolkit

Skills

PCB Layout

High‑Speed PCB

Electrical constraints

Digital/Analog boards

Customer communication

Education

College diploma

Tools

Cadence Allegro

Mentor Expedition/PADS

Altium

OrCAD

Job description

Position Overview/Mandate:

Fidus is a global high-tech design firm headquartered in Ottawa, with additional design centres in Kitchener-Waterloo and San Jose. We specialize in leading-edge electronic product development, with hardware, embedded software, FPGA/ASIC, and signal integrity teams working together to design and deliver next-generation products for clients in emerging technology markets.

Make an Impact with US:

At Fidus, you'll work on high-speed, high-complexity electronic systems, often using emerging technologies before they reach the broader market. You'll collaborate across FPGA/DSP, hardware, embedded software, verification, SI/PI, PCB layout, and mechanical/thermal design as part of cross-functional teams delivering real products for our clients.

In practice, that means contributing to projects across Communications, Aerospace & Defence, Life Sciences & Medical Devices, Space & Satellite, Industrial Automation, Automotive, and Semiconductor engagements. You won't be limited to a single product or industry—your work will follow the technology, not just one roadmap.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Layout of complex, multi-layer, high speed PCBs using Cadence Allegro PCB Design, Mentor Expedition/PADS or Altium.
• PCB layout design on different core material substrate, component placement, impedance matching and routing analysis
• Work closely with the mechanical and the signal integrity team during product development phases
• Generate fabrication drawings, assembly drawings and drill files
• Work closely with board houses to ensure compliance with DFA and DFM practices and lead DFM reviews, until closure to ensure the design is ready for high volume manufacturing
• Interface with board houses to resolve technical issues
• Research and implement new techniques and technologies to grow the PCB design skill‑set, reduce PCB cost, and stay current on industry PCB design practices.

Who You are:

• Minimum 5 years of experience laying out dense, high-speed, digital and analog boards for various industries and products. You must have a proven track record for delivering high-quality designs.
• Extensive experience applying advanced electrical constraint sets using the Allegro Constraint Manager, or equivalent
• College technician diploma or equivalent
• IPC certification will be considered an asset
• Be detail driven and have a good understanding of how to produce zero-defect layouts
• Understand the fundamentals of high-speed circuit card design and routing
• Exhibit strong communication skills
• Interact well with customers and other employees
• Ramp-up quickly on new technologies and processesContribute to a dynamic and friendly working environment.
• Layout of complex, multi-layer, high speed PCBs using Cadence Allegro PCB Design, Mentor Expedition/PADS or Altium.
• PCB layout design on different core material substrate, component placement, impedance matching and routing analysis
• Work closely with the mechanical and the signal integrity team during product development phases
• Generate fabrication drawings, assembly drawings and drill files
• Work closely with board houses to ensure compliance with DFA and DFM practices and lead DFM reviews, until closure to ensure the design is ready for high volume manufacturing
• Interface with board houses to resolve technical issues
• Embraces AI as part of a modern engineering toolkit
• Research and implement new techniques and technologies to grow the PCB design skill‑set, reduce PCB cost, and stay current on industry PCB design practices.

Additional skills considered an Asset:

• Protel, Altium,Pcad; OrCAD Layout; Cadstar; Orcad CIS, Concept or DxDesigner (schematic capture tools; Autocad, Solidworks, Inventor (mechanical design tools)

Location and travel:

Position is based in Canada. Travel may be required domestically and internationally to support customer engagements and project delivery.

This position may require access to export-controlled information. Candidates will be required to complete background checks and security screening under Canada's Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and may also be required to obtain a security clearance under the Contract Security Program (CSP) administered by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC, formerly PWGSC).

This role is an evergreen position.

Annual base salary ranges from $90,000 to $125,000. The final offer within this rangetakes into accountthe variations in knowledge, skills, experience, and market conditions, and with consideration to internal equity.

Our competitive compensation package also includes a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, matching GRSP contributions, annual profit-sharing bonus, along with other supplementary benefits.

We also recognize that candidates show interest throughout different career stages and welcome all applications. When there is a great fit, the level of the role may be shifted as applicable.

About Fidus & Why Work Here

Since 2001, Fidus has completed over 4,000 projects for more than 400 customers across industries including Telecom/Datacom, Aerospace & Defence, Consumer, Semiconductors, Industrial/Automotive Controls, and Medical. As a Premier Adaptive Computing Partner for AMD North America, we combine deep technical expertise with industry-leading tools to solve complex design challenges.

Fidus designs high-speed, high-complexity electronic systems using emerging technologies, often well before they reach the broader market. Our teams work across FPGA/DSP, hardware, embedded software, verification, SI/PI, PCB layout, and mechanical/thermal design to deliver real products for our customers.

At Fidus, collaboration is at the core of how we work. We value openness, trust, and shared ownership, and we create an environment where people are encouraged to contribute ideas, learn from one another, and have a meaningful impact through the work they do.

If all of this excites you, has your attention, and you can’t wait to join our amazing team and work environment, then we want to hear from you!

Fidus has a commitment to ensure a fair and transparent recruitment process. Automated tools (including AI) support our initial screening of applicants against our job posting to identify candidates whose qualifications, experience, and skills align most closely with the position requirements. All further candidate assessments and final selection are conducted by our human recruitment team. AI does not make any final hiring decisions.

Thank you for your interest in Fidus. We welcome and encourage diverse candidates to apply. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Fidus is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.