Design Engineer, PCB & DFM

Creation Technologies International Inc; Denver (CO); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Creation Technologies International Inc is seeking a PCB Layout & Design for Manufacturing Engineer to drive high-density multi-layer PCB designs from schematics and requirements while integrating DFM rules and IPC standards.

The role combines hands-on layout work with shaping design standards and best practices across global engineering and manufacturing teams, with a flexible remote option and preference for candidates near Denver or Toronto.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Technology or Data Management or equivalent.
• 10+ years of PCB layout experience in manufacturing or electronics development.
• 5+ years supporting PCB fabrication, PCBA assembly, or DFM activities.
• Experience designing multilayer, high-density PCBs from schematics.
• Proficiency with PCB EDA tools: Altium, Cadence Allegro, OrCAD, PADS.
• Strong knowledge of IPC standards related to PCB design and fabrication.

Responsibilities

• DFM analysis on circuit card assemblies (~75% of time).
• Lead DFM and DFA assessments for PCBAs.
• Use Valor NPI or similar tools for manufacturability analysis.
• Develop and maintain DFM rules aligned with IPC and fabrication capabilities.
• Review Gerber, ODB++, BOM, centroids, drawings for manufacturability.
• Lead DFM review meetings with manufacturing, engineering, QA, and customers.
• Prepare DFM reports and executive summaries.
• Stay informed on new technologies and standards to improve products.

Skills

PCB layout

DFM

Design for Assembly

Design standards

Signal integrity

Thermal management

Altium Designer

Cadence Allegro

OrCAD

PADS

Siemens Valor NPI

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Technology or Data Management

Tools

Altium Designer

Cadence Allegro

OrCAD

PADS

Siemens Valor NPI

Job description

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing! We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business. The PCB Layout & Design for Manufacturing (DFM) Engineer is a highly visible technical role within Creation Technologies, responsible for driving excellence in printed circuit board design, manufacturability, and production readiness across the organization. This position serves as a key subject matter expert for complex PCB layout, Valor DFM, Design for Assembly, and PCB fabrication and assembly processes. Working from electrical schematics and engineering requirements, the engineer will develop and support complex, high density, multilayer PCB designs while ensuring electrical, mechanical, reliability, and manufacturing requirements are incorporated from the earliest stages of development. Beyond individual designs, this role will help shape how Creation approaches PCB design and manufacturing by developing DFM methodologies, integrating manufacturing design rules, establishing PCB design standards, and driving continuous improvement across engineering and manufacturing teams. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced PCB design professional who enjoys both hands on technical work and the opportunity to influence standards, processes, and best practices across a global electronics manufacturing organization. The position offers flexibility to be remote, with a strong preference for candidates located in the Toronto, Ontario or Denver, Colorado areas to support collaboration with key Creation Technologies teams and facilities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• DFM Analysis on Circuit Card Assemblies (~75% of time)
• Lead Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA) assessments for printed circuit board assemblies.
• Utilize Siemens Valor NPI and / or related tools to perform automated manufacturability analysis on customer and internally developed PCB designs.
• Develop, maintain, and continuously improve DFM rule sets aligned with IPC standards, fabrication capabilities, assembly processes, and customer requirements.
• Review Gerber, ODB++, BOM, centroid, assembly drawing, and fabrication data packages for completeness and manufacturability.
• Lead DFM review meetings with manufacturing, process engineering, quality, and customers to resolve design and process concerns.
• Prepare DFM reports, technical presentations, and executive summaries to communicate findings and recommendations.
• Stay informed on emerging technologies, tools, and standards to strengthen product performance and maintain industry leadership.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

PCB Layout & Design (~25% of time)

• Develop complex multilayer PCB layouts from engineer-approved schematics using industry-standard PCB design tools such as Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, or equivalent.
• Create PCB stack-ups, placement strategies, routing topologies, and design constraints that satisfy signal integrity, power integrity, thermal, mechanical, and manufacturing requirements.
• Collaborate with electrical and mechanical engineers to ensure successful implementation of design intent while optimizing manufacturability and cost.
• Generate fabrication and assembly deliverables including Gerber, ODB++, IPC-2581, pick-and-place files, fabrication drawings, assembly drawings, and manufacturing documentation.
• Perform layout reviews and design verification to ensure compliance with company standards, IPC requirements, and customer specifications.
• Maintain PCB footprint libraries, design rules, and layout standards.
• Create and maintain CAD structure for symbol and footprint libraries to ensure design consistency and efficiency.
• Manage CAD tool licenses and support interfaces to maintain tool availability and performance.
• Generate bills of materials (BOMs) from schematic and layout databases to support material planning and documentation accuracy.
• Import schematics or netlists into layout CAD tools to prepare designs for routing and verification.
• Collaborate with responsible engineers and mechanical teams to ensure design intent, compliance, and successful prototype builds.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering Technology or Data Management desired but equivalent technical expertise accepted.
• Experience: 10+ years of PCB layout experience in a manufacturing or electronics development environment.
• Experience: 5+ years of experience supporting PCB fabrication, PCBA assembly, or DFM activities.
• Extensive experience designing multilayer, high-density PCB layouts from completed electrical schematics.
• Experience with PCB EDA tools; mainly Altium but familiarity with Cadence Allegro, OrCAD, or PADS will be a plus.
• Skills Required Expertise in PCB layout and design principles, including signal integrity, thermal management, and component placement.
• Proficiency in Design for Manufacturing (DFM) tools such as Siemens Valor NPI
• Understanding of industry standards including IPC-2221, IPC-7351, IPC-A-610, IPC-6012, and IPC-J-STD-001 preferred
• Familiar PCB fab suppliers and their capabilities
• Strong analytical, communication, and leadership skills
• Advanced Knowledge of PCBA manufacturing processes and production flow
• Advanced knowledge in Electronics Components designs
• Ability to interpret Gerber data, BOMs, and DFM reports
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills
• Effective communication in technical and team settings
• Design for Test (DFT) experience would be an asset but not required

WORKING ENVIRONMENT CONDITIONS

Physical and/or Mental Demands While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel office equipment, objects, tools, or controls. The employee is regularly required to stand, walk; reach with hands and arms; and occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and identification, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential and non-essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions

This may be a hybrid position but can also work from a Creation site. Occasional travel may be required. The working environment is generally clean; however, if visiting a Creation site, this position may be exposed to occasional dust, metals/solder occasional exposure to high noise levels from operating machines or physical hazards from moving equipment and machine parts. The employee must wear designated PPE and/or electrostatic dissipative protection where required. Otherwise, office/business casual attire, consistent with site specific safety guidelines, is appropriate.

In accordance with pay transparency regulations, the anticipated starting salary for this position ranges from $110k-$135k USD and $100k-$120k CAD annually. Full-time employees are also eligible for performance-based bonuses and a range of benefits. Please note that this salary range is not guaranteed, and the final offer may vary based on experience, education, location, and shift. Additionally, the benefits and programs available may differ depending on the hire date, schedule type, and hours worked.

If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!

Equal Opportunity

Creation Technologies is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you require any accommodations to complete the application process or need the job posting in an alternative format, please email [e-mail]. You will be connected with our Talent Acquisition team. If you are contacted regarding the position, please inform our Talent Acquisition team of any accommodations you may need during the recruiting process. All information related to accommodation requests will be handled confidentially.

Canada: Title for the position will be in accordance with applicable national and local laws.

3,000+ Industry all-stars. Entrepreneurial thinkers. Thoughtful collaborators. Bold problem-solvers. Passionate change-makers. Creation fosters a community of commitment, comradery, integrity, and inclusion. At our core, we know it’s our people who make us a leading Global Electronic Manufacturing Services provider. That’s why Creation genuinely invests in our people, instilling family like values and a diverse, dynamic, and rewarding work environment where people learn, work, and grow together. Creation truly cares, inspiring employees to grow, develop and advance their careers. At Creation, we pride ourselves in our people, our culture, and our corporate purpose, it’s rooted in everything that we do.