Graduate - CAD Engineer

Microchip Technology Inc. (China); Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Microchip Technology Inc. in Belfast is seeking a Graduate CAD Engineer to join the GaN MMIC development team.

You will design mechanical evaluation assemblies, PCB layouts, and RF modules, working with RF, Mechanical, and Manufacturing engineers to deliver robust electronic solutions. Ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s in Mechanical or Electronic Engineering, strong design thinking, and proficiency with CAD tools.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Product Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related.
• Interest in electronic product development, PCB design, mechanical design, or semiconductor packaging.
• Understanding of engineering design principles and technical drawing practices.
• Knowledge of electronic circuits, schematics, and PCB technologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.
• Structured and methodical approach.

Responsibilities

• Design evaluation assemblies, test fixtures and production tooling, PCB layouts, semiconductor packaging and RF modules, and mechanical components using CAD software.
• Support the development of new products from concept through to prototype, qualification, and production release.
• Ensure designs comply with internal manufacturing standards and external fabrication requirements.
• Apply innovative design approaches to improve performance, reliability, manufacturability, and miniaturisation.
• Generate and maintain manufacturing documentation and design outputs for prototype and production builds.
• Collaborate with RF, Mechanical, Process, Manufacturing, Quality, and Product Engineers within multidisciplinary teams.
• Support product development activities using APQP methodologies.
• Contribute to DfM, DfA, and value engineering initiatives.
• Participate in design reviews and continuous improvement activities.
• Identify opportunities to optimise designs and reduce cost.

Skills

Mechanical design

Electronic engineering interest

Analytical thinking

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline

Tools

CAD software

Job description

Are you looking for a unique opportunity to be a part of something great? Want to join a 17,000-member team that works on the technology that powers the world around us? Looking for an atmosphere of trust, empowerment, respect, diversity, and communication? How about an opportunity to own a piece of a multi-billion dollar (with a B!) global organization? We offer all that and more at Microchip Technology Inc.

People come to work at Microchip because we help design the technology that runs the world. They stay because our culture supports their growth and stability. They are challenged and driven by an incredible array of products and solutions with unlimited career potential. Microchip's nationally-recognized Leadership Passage Programs support career growth where we proudly enroll over a thousand people annually. We take pride in our commitment to employee development, values-based decision making, and strong sense of community, driven by our Vision, Mission, and 11 Guiding Values ; we affectionately refer to it as the Aggregate System and it's won us countless awards for diversity and workplace excellence.

Our company is built by dedicated team players who love to challenge the status quo; we did not achieve record revenue and over 30 years of quarterly profitability without a great team dedicated to empowering innovation. People like you.

Visit our careers page to see what exciting opportunities and company perks await!

Job Description:

Microchip is a leading designer and manufacturer of advanced semiconductors supplying innovative solutions to customers across defence, aerospace, telecommunications, industrial, and next-generation communications markets worldwide.

Our products enable some of the world's most demanding applications, from advanced radar systems and satellite communications to next-generation wireless infrastructure. Through continuous investment in technology, engineering excellence, and talent development, we are committed to shaping the future of high-performance electronics.

As we continue to expand our Gallium Nitride (GaN) product portfolio, we are seeking a talented and motivated Graduate CAD Engineer to join our Belfast-based engineering team.

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity for a recent graduate or early-career engineer to develop specialist expertise in the design of advanced RF and microwave electronic products. Working alongside experienced engineers within our GaN MMIC development team, you will gain hands-on experience using industry-leading CAD tools to create innovative designs that support cutting-edge semiconductor and electronic solutions.

You will contribute to the development of mechanical evaluation assemblies, test fixtures and production tooling, printed circuit board (PCB) layouts, semiconductor packaging and RF modules where electrical performance, thermal management, manufacturability, and reliability are critical to success.

This role offers an excellent platform for technical development, providing exposure to advanced product development processes, cross-functional engineering teams, and world-class manufacturing environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Design evaluation assemblies, test fixtures and production tooling, printed circuit board (PCB) layouts, semiconductor packaging and RF modules, and mechanical components using industry-standard CAD software.
• Support the development of new products from concept through to prototype, qualification, and production release.
• Ensure designs comply with internal manufacturing standards, external fabrication requirements, and industry best practices.
• Apply innovative design approaches to improve performance, reliability, manufacturability, and miniaturisation.
• Generate and maintain manufacturing documentation and design outputs required for prototype and production builds.
• Collaborate closely with RF, Mechanical, Process, Manufacturing, Quality, and Product Engineers within multidisciplinary project teams.
• Support product development activities using Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) methodologies.
• Contribute to Design for Manufacture (DfM), Design for Assembly (DfA), and value engineering initiatives.
• Participate in design reviews, continuous improvement activities, and problem-solving exercises.
• Help identify opportunities to optimise designs, reduce cost, improve yield, and enhance product performance.

Requirements/Qualifications:

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Mechanical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Product Design Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline.
• Strong interest in electronic product development, PCB design, mechanical design, or semiconductor packaging.
• Understanding of engineering design principles and technical drawing practices.
• Knowledge of electronic circuits, schematics, and PCB technologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.
• A structured and methodica