Senior PCB Design Engineer

Ultra Electronics Group; Maidenhead; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Bonus Scheme

Private Medical Cover

25 days’ holiday

Pension Contribution

Life Assurance Cover

Flexible working hours

Security Clearance Allowance

Job summary

Ultra Electronics Group in Maidenhead seeks a PCB Design Engineer to design and layout complex multi-layer printed circuit boards for various industries, including aerospace and security. Applicants should have a relevant degree and extensive experience with PCB design tools.

The role involves collaborating with engineering teams to ensure quality and adherence to design requirements. Benefits include private medical cover, an annual bonus scheme, and flexible working hours.

Qualifications

• Degree in an engineering, mathematical or science‑based subject or equivalent experience.
• Experience of PCB design and layout for complex electronic circuit assemblies.
• Extensive experience using industry-standard toolsets for PCB layout and simulation.

Responsibilities

• Design and layout complex multi-layer printed circuit boards (4–20 layers).
• Coordinate with engineering teams to ensure PCB design meets circuit requirements.
• Liaise with PCB manufacturers to ensure high-quality designs.

Skills

PCB design

High-density electronic routing

Industry-standard PCB toolsets

Signal integrity analysis

DFM and DFT implementation

Education

Degree in engineering or equivalent

Tools

Altium

PADs

Windchill

Job description

Role Summary

Design and layout complex multi‑layer (4–20 layers) printed circuit boards to be used in commercial, security, aerospace and space sectors, within the Cyber Business Unit, delivering multiple concurrent research, development and production programmes ranging from tens of £k to several £m.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and layout complex multi‑layer (4–20 layers) rigid, semi‑rigid or flexi printed circuit boards, that contain through, buried and blind vias.
• Design PCB layouts for analogue, RF, digital, power, high‑speed and highly reliable circuits in accordance with DO‑254 if required.
• Design PCB layouts considering security, EMC and TEMPEST implications and rules.
• Incorporate test points in the layout to make the PCB testable without compromising the performance required by hardware engineers.
• Work with the electronic hardware team to understand circuit requirements such as trace impedances, separations, EMC, TEMPEST considerations and signal integrity rules, to ensure the PCB conforms to them.
• Liaise with bare PCB fabricators and PCB assembly houses, as required, to ensure the design is of high quality and conforms to their stack‑up, DRC, DFM and DFT requirements.
• Work with mechanical engineers to ensure the PCB design is in accordance with their requirements and space envelope.
• Coordinate with procurement and supply chain teams to ensure a seamless transition to manufacture.
• Administer CAD libraries, including symbol, footprint generation and database administration.
• Multi‑task and prioritise workload, and work under pressure to deliver on multiple projects simultaneously.
• Participate in design reviews with electrical and mechanical hardware engineers.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of best practice PCB design processes and tools.
• Estimate time and effort required for PCB design activities and deliver to these estimates to ensure cost and schedule adherence.
• Propose improvements in tools, processes and techniques that support quality and innovation and make PCB design more efficient and effective.
• Actively contribute to and/or lead defined aspects of the project to achieve optimal balance between requirements, schedule and cost.
• Generate and review technical proposals, and provide accurate estimates for associated effort, costs and risks, for bids and proposals, leading to contract awards.
• Explain technically complex concepts clearly to less technical or involved parties.

Required Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• Degree in an engineering, mathematical or science‑based subject or equivalent experience.
• Experience of PCB design, routing and layout of complex, high‑density electronic circuit assemblies, including through‑hole and fine‑pitch SMT components.
• Extensive experience using industry‑standard toolsets for PCB layout and simulation.
• In‑depth knowledge of routing practices, guidelines and IPC standards.
• Experience of implementing DFM and DFT features on PCBs and reviewing processes with suppliers.
• Proven experience using modern design tools with a record of successful PCB designs covering multi‑layer, high‑speed digital, RF, analogue and power distribution PCBs.

Desirable Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• Experience of signal integrity analysis on routed PCBs.
• Understanding of power distribution and thermal aspects of PCB design.
• Experience manipulating Gerber file and ODB++.
• Experience carrying out complex layout using Altium or PADs.
• Experience creating schematics using Altium or PADs.
• Experience using Windchill for version control.

Security Clearance Requirements

Due to the nature of the programs we deliver, candidates may need to obtain the relevant security clearance or handle export‑controlled material as defined by the role’s requirements. Applicants must be able to obtain and maintain the appropriate level of security clearance for the role. Due to the nature of our work, you must be a British citizen who has been resident in the UK for the past 5 years to apply for SC clearance and 10 years for DV.

Benefits

• Participation in an Annual Bonus Scheme
• Private Medical Cover
• 25 days’ holiday (plus Bank Holidays) with the option to buy an extra 5 days
• Pension Contribution
• Life Assurance Cover
• Flexible working hours with opportunity for a 1pm finish on a Friday
• Flexible benefits including cycle to work scheme, will writing and more
• Security Clearance Allowance – where relevant and subject to holding the required security clearance

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement

At Ultra I&C, we are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusivity. Underpinned by our values, behaviours and policies, we want you to feel empowered to be the best version of yourself. We believe that people from different backgrounds and cultures will increase our diversity of thinking, ensuring we successfully deliver to our customers. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability status. We also support requests for flexible working arrangements wherever possible.