PCB Design Engineer

Acara Solutions, Inc.; Los Osos (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Acara Solutions in California is seeking a PCB design engineer to translate concept sketches into schematics and board layouts, ensuring manufacturability and IPC compliance. You will produce data files, Gerber, ODB++, and fabrication drawings to order boards and stencils.

The role requires 5+ years in PCB/PWB design, strong CAD skills (Altium Designer, MicroStation, Expedition PCB), and teamwork in a fast-paced, manufacturing environment. Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering preferred.

Qualifications

• PCB/PWB design experience and schematic layout creation.
• 5+ years of PCB design for electronic products.
• Familiarity with IPC and IEEE PWB standards.
• Experience creating manufacturing drawings and data packages.

Responsibilities

• Support design for manufacturability.
• Prepare fabrication drawings, Gerber, and data for procurement.
• Manage libraries of schematic symbols and footprints for accuracy.
• Develop internal standards for library maintenance.
• Produce Quad files, assembly drawings, and BOMs.
• Support design reviews and manufacturing work groups as needed.

Skills

PCB design

Schematic layouts

Surface-mount technology

IPC/IEEE standards

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Altium Designer

MicroStation

Expedition PCB

Design Capture Release

Mentor Graphics

Job description

• Work from original engineering concept and preliminary sketches to produce schematics and design board layouts for PWBs.
• Perform design activities and produce data files, Gerber, ODB++, and fabrication drawings necessary to order boards and stencils from suppliers and produce assemblies in our manufacturing operation.

Why You'll Love Working Here:

• Supportive, team-driven culture that values collaboration, transparency, and accountability.
• Opportunity to grow your career with a global workforce solutions leader serving multiple industries.
• People-first environment that encourages employees to bring their authentic selves to work.
• Strong focus on partnership, innovation, and delivering meaningful results for clients and candidates.

Why This Opportunity is Exciting:

This role offers the opportunity to join a company that prioritizes both people and performance-where your contributions directly impact client success while providing you with room to grow and develop professionally.

About AcaraSolutions

Acara is a premier recruiting and workforce solutions provider- we help companies compete for talent. With experience across industries worldwide, we partner with clients, listen to their needs, and design talent solutions that deliver the business outcomes they want. We draw on decades of experience to provide contingent staffing, direct placement, executive search, and workforce services worldwide.

Sound like a good fit?

What You'll Do:

• Support goals of designing for manufacturability.
• Apply knowledge of Quad data processes to support surface-mount technology (SMT) manufacturing.
• Maintain familiarity with current manufacturing methods and industry design trends.
• Ensure that drawing standards and notes for PWBs have a common interpretation between PWB vendor and client.
• Work with design team to support manufacturability.
• Manage electronic libraries of schematic symbols and component/pad footprints and component models for the design group to ensure accuracy and consistency of design in accordance with IPC standards.
• Develop internal standards for compiling and maintaining the library.
• Stencils and circuit boards.
• Prepare fabrication drawings, manufacturing data and Gerber data necessary for procurement of stencils and circuit boards from suppliers.
• Produce Quad files, assembly drawings, parts lists, and bills of materials.
• Maintain integrity of design process and configuration control by incorporating design changes through an established ECN process.
• Incorporate changes into engineering and manufacturing documentation as appropriate.
• Support design activities of manufacturing and test for test fixtures, ATE systems, mounting boards, based on engineering and manufacturing input.
• Support product realization - participate in design reviews, scheduling meetings and other engineering and manufacturing work groups as requested to provide design input as needed.

Job Requirements

What You'll Bring:

• High School Diploma or GED
• 5+years of experiencein designing printed circuit boards (PCB/PWB) and creating schematic layouts for electronic products.

What Sets You Apart:

• Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering
• 5 years general background in printed circuit board design/layout, surface-mount technology and
• power supply experience
• Familiarity with industry standards such as IPC and IEEE relating to PWB design.
• Computer skills in CAD and PWB layout programs including, Altium Designer, Microstation from
• Bentley Systems, Expedition PCB and Design Capture Release from Mentor Graphics Corp.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the theory and applications of components and PWBs.
• Thorough knowledge of PWB fabrication, material choices and processing.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Excellent investigative and problem-solving skills for addressing design issues and challenges.

Additional Information:

• Upon offer of employment, the individual will be subject to a background check
• In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the necessary employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
• Frequently lifting and handling items less than 10 lbs with occasional lifting up to 40 lbs.
• Occasionally ascending or descending, stairs, and the like to meetings and to access various facility locations.

Aleron companies (Acara Solutions, Aleron Shared Resources, Broadleaf Results, Lume Strategies, TalentRise, Viaduct) are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Race/Color/Gender/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Veteran.

Applicants for this position must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position does not meet the employment requirements for individuals with F-1 OPT STEM work authorization status.