Senior PCB Layout Engineer

Fractile; West of England; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Fractile is building silicon, systems and software to redefine AI performance and efficiency. We are seeking an experienced PCB Layout Engineer to deliver complex, high-speed and high-power PCB designs while owning library creation, validation, and governance.

The role entails collaborating with hardware teams to optimize electrical and thermal performance, drive SI/PI best practices, and ensure manufacturability across multiple products and production stages.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional PCB layout experience.
• Proven experience with high-speed digital and high-power PCB designs.
• Hands-on experience creating and maintaining PCB libraries for production hardware.

Responsibilities

• Create PCB layouts for complex, multi-layer boards supporting high-speed digital and high-power circuits.
• Own placement, routing, and constraint implementation from concept through manufacturing release.
• Collaborate with hardware designers to resolve layout-driven electrical and mechanical tradeoffs.
• Route high-speed interfaces (DDR, PCIe, Ethernet, USB, SerDes) with controlled impedance and length matching.
• Layout high-current power paths, including VRMs and power planes, with proper copper distribution.
• Generate manufacturing deliverables (Gerbers, IPC drawings, pick-and-place data) and support board bring-up.

Skills

High-speed routing

Power integrity

Library management

Cross-functional collaboration

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree or Diploma in Electronics/Electrical Engineering

Tools

Siemens Xpedition

Altium Designer

Cadence Allegro

Job description

Fractile is building silicon, systems and software which will redefine the frontier of AI: running the world’s most advanced models at radically higher speed and lower cost. We have an exceptional team across hardware and software capable of bringing about this change, and we are growing fast to meet demand and deliver our product at scale.

We are seeking an experienced PCB Layout Engineer to deliver complex, high-speed and high-power PCB designs while also owning PCB library creation, validation, and ongoing management. This role plays a critical part in ensuring electrical performance, manufacturability, and long-term design quality across multiple products. The ideal candidate combines deep layout expertise with a strong understanding of component footprints, land patterns, and library governance best practices.

Key Responsibilities

PCB Layout & Design Execution

• Create PCB layouts for complex, multi-layer boards supporting high-speed digital and high-power circuits
• Own component placement, routing, and constraint implementation from concept through manufacturing release
• Collaborate closely with hardware designers to resolve layout-driven electrical and mechanical tradeoffs

High-Speed Signal Integrity

• Route high-speed interfaces such as DDR, PCIe, Ethernet, USB, and SerDes-based links
• Apply controlled impedance routing, differential pair tuning, length matching, and return-path management
• Implement SI-aware stack-ups and routing strategies to minimise crosstalk and signal loss

High-Power & Power Integrity

• Layout high-current power paths, including VRMs, DC-DC converters, and power planes
• Optimise copper distribution, plane structures, and via arrays for current handling and low impedance
• Support thermal performance through copper pours, stitching vias, and heatsink interface planning

PCB Library Creation & Management

• Create, validate, and maintain schematic symbols, PCB footprints, and 3D models
• Ensure land patterns meet IPC standards and supplier recommendations
• Own library quality, version control, naming conventions, and release processes
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain to ensure component accuracy and lifecycle readiness
• Drive continuous improvement of library standards and documentation

Collaboration & Reviews

• Participate in schematic reviews, layout design reviews, and SI/PI discussions
• Work with SI/PI engineers to implement simulation-driven layout constraints
• Support DFM/DFA reviews and interface directly with PCB fabricators and assemblers

Manufacturing & Debug Support

• Generate manufacturing deliverables (Gerbers, ODB++, IPC drawings, pick-and-place data)
• Support board bring-up and debug by implementing layout ECOs
• Resolve layout- and footprint-related manufacturing or assembly issues

Qualifications & Experience

• Diploma, Bachelor's degree, or equivalent experience in Electronics, Electrical Engineering, or related field
• 7+ years of professional PCB layout experience
• Proven experience with high-speed digital and high-power PCB designs
• Hands-on experience creating and maintaining PCB libraries for production hardware

Technical Skills

PCB layout tools such as Siemens Xpedition, Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, or equivalent

• Library creation and management workflows
• High-speed routing (DDR, PCIe, Ethernet, USB, SerDes)
• High-current and power integrity layout techniques
• Multi-layer PCB stack-ups (10+ layers preferred)

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional attention to detail and design discipline
• Strong ownership mindset for design quality and library integrity
• Effective communicator across hardware, mechanical, and manufacturing teams
• Comfortable managing multiple designs and revisions in parallel

Preferred Experience (Nice to Have)

• Experience with SI/PI simulation-informed layouts
• Familiarity with EMI/EMC-aware layout practices
• Experience with HDI, fine-pitch BGAs, and advanced PCB technologies
• Experience with AI accelerator or HPC hardware

How we work

• Ownership and execution: you will have full agency to drive your work forward
• Rapid iteration: we all work directly with top leadership to move from idea to hardware on ambitious timelines
• Full-stack engagement: hardware, software, silicon, and modelling teams all work closely together to create a product with generational impact
• Optimistic and pragmatic: we possess the will to win, and to do the hard work to get us there
• Team player mentality: the mission is bigger than any of us, and we have the curiosity and technical focus to see the best idea shipped, no matter who’s it is

About us

• Founded in 2022, team of 70+ which is expanding rapidly
• Modern, open offices in London and Bristol
• Collaborative, problem-solving culture built on deep curiosity, entrepreneurial initiative and technical fluency

Export control and security clearance

Certain roles may involve working on technologies subject to export restrictions. Applicants may be required to undergo additional eligibility checks to ensure compliance with applicable law.