PCB Design Engineer

Plextek; Great Chesterford; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Plextek is seeking a proactive Junior PCB Design Engineer with 1–2 years’ experience to join a multidisciplinary team near Cambridge. You will contribute to PCB layout, maintenance of libraries and documentation, and work with engineers to turn schematics into manufacturable boards.

You will learn RF, digital and analogue PCB design through supervised projects and collaborate with mechanical engineers on board integration. A hybrid work setup is offered.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years' experience in PCB design or electronics design support.
• Genuine enthusiasm for electronics and PCB layout.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to check work thoroughly.
• Basic understanding of component placement, routing and manufacturing outputs.
• Able to work under guidance and learn quickly.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to PCB design from library creation to layout, documentation and release.
• Turn schematics into well-structured PCB layouts with increasing complexity.
• Follow PCB design processes, ISO9001 procedures and review practices.
• Prepare material for design reviews and capture actions.

Skills

PCB design

Electronics design support

Altium

Education

HNC/HND or degree in electronics

Tools

Altium

Job description

Hybrid - 3 days a week in office 20 minutes south of Cambridge

COMPANY VISION

Plextek is a leading choice for employees and customers for exceptional engineering and strategic innovation to create better, safer, and more sustainable products and technologies.

OUR VALUES AND BELIEFS

Being a responsible business, we work with integrity and honesty. We share success with staff and with our communities. We embrace diversity in outlook and work as a team with colleagues, customers, and suppliers to provide the best technical solution and professional service experience. We empower each other, we are adaptable, show initiative and deliver on our commitments together.

The role & responsibilities

We are looking for a proactive Junior PCB Design Engineer with 1–2 years’ experience, enthusiasm for PCB layout and a desire to build a career in high-quality board design. This role would suit someone who enjoys layout, wants to move beyond routine design work and is ready to learn from experienced engineers on varied RF, digital, analogue and mixed-signal technology designs from DC to mmWave frequencies.

Reporting to our Head of CAD, and working with the Senior PCB Design Engineer and wider multidisciplinary team, responsibilities will include:

• Contribute to PCB design from component library creation and maintenance through to layout, documentation and release.
• Work with design engineers to turn schematics into well-structured PCB layouts, building confidence with increasingly complex boards.
• Apply careful checking and attention to detail to ensure designs, documentation and release packs are complete and accurate.
• Learn and follow company PCB design processes, ISO9001 procedures and agreed review practices.
• Support design reviews by preparing material, capturing actions and incorporating feedback.
• Develop practical understanding of RF, digital, analogue and power PCB design through supervised project work.
• Work with mechanical engineers on board integration, packaging constraints and practical design trade-offs.
• As experience develops, support delivery tracking, efficiency improvements, supplier discussions and awareness of PCB technology trends.
• Bring energy, curiosity and ownership to assigned work, asking good questions and following tasks through with no loose ends.

Skills and experience

• 1–2 years’ experience in PCB design, electronics design support or a closely related role.
• Genuine enthusiasm for electronics, PCB layout and turning design intent into clean, manufacturable boards.
• Strong attention to detail, with the discipline to check work thoroughly and spot inconsistencies.
• Some experience of PCB design tools; Altium experience would be an advantage.
• Basic understanding of component placement, routing, design rules and manufacturing outputs.
• Able to work carefully under guidance, take feedback positively and improve quickly.
• Self-motivated, organised and reliable, with a practical approach to problem solving.
• Comfortable communicating with colleagues across a multidisciplinary engineering team.

Qualifications

• HNC/HND, degree, apprenticeship or equivalent practical background in electronics, PCB design or a related discipline.
• Above all, curiosity, enthusiasm and the desire to form a career through interesting real-world challenges.

THE REWARDS

In return, we offer training, mentoring and access to advanced RF and mixed-technology designs that can provide a strong foundation for a long-term PCB design career. For someone who enjoys layout and wants more interesting work than routine design tasks, this is a chance to shape a serious career while learning good engineering process from an experienced team.

We are based just south of Cambridge with easy road and rail routes to the vibrant city centre. We operate a hybrid working arrangement with a minimum 3 days on site to encourage collaboration and provide flexibility. We provide a friendly and supportive working environment including regular on-site and off-site social events.