PCB Design Engineer I

Powerus; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Powerus in the United States is seeking a PCB Design Engineer to support the design, layout, and release of printed circuit boards for autonomous aerial systems. You will handle schematic capture, component placement, routing, and fabrication package generation under senior engineering guidance.

You will collaborate with hardware, firmware, and manufacturing teams, perform design rule checks, maintain libraries, support board bring-up, and document decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or equivalent practical experience.
• Coursework or project experience in PCB design, schematic capture, or electronic circuit design.
• Familiarity with at least one EDA tool (Altium Designer, KiCad, Cadence Allegro, or equivalent).
• Understanding of basic PCB manufacturing processes including etching, drilling, plating, and surface finish.
• Understanding of basic electronic circuit principles including power distribution, signal routing, and grounding.
• U.S. Person status required (ITAR/EAR access).

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain schematic designs in Altium Designer or equivalent EDA tools.
• Perform PCB layout including component placement, trace routing, and copper pours under engineering direction.
• Generate fabrication and assembly packages including Gerber files, drill files, pick-and-place data, and assembly drawings.
• Run design rule checks and resolve violations prior to design review.
• Support bill of materials creation and component selection with procurement and supply chain.
• Participate in design reviews and incorporate feedback from hardware and manufacturing engineers.
• Maintain component libraries, footprint databases, and design templates.
• Support board bring-up and debug activities including rework and test point access.
• Document design decisions, revision history, and known issues.

Skills

PCB design

Schematic capture

Routing & layout

Documentation

Design review participation

Component libraries management

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering

Equivalent practical experience

Tools

Altium Designer

KiCad

Cadence Allegro

Job description

Powerus is building a next-generation American autonomous systems platform designed to move, protect, and sustain critical assets in high-consequence environments. The company combines advanced autonomy, manufacturing capability, operational expertise, and strategic acquisitions to support defense, national security, critical infrastructure, and commercial operations globally.

Mission

Our mission is to deliver resilient autonomous technologies that strengthen national security, improve operational safety, and expand the capabilities of organizations operating in complex environments.

Why Join Powerus

Powerus is scaling production of autonomous aerial systems across defense, national security, and commercial programs. The number of unique board designs in active production and development is growing with each platform variant and payload integration.

This role owns printed circuit board design from schematic capture through production release. The position sits within the engineering organization and works directly with hardware, firmware, and manufacturing engineering.

Position Overview

Powerus is seeking a PCB Design Engineer to support the design, layout, and release of printed circuit boards for autonomous aerial systems. The role involves schematic capture, component placement, routing, design rule verification, and fabrication package generation under the direction of senior engineering staff. Reports to the Head of Engineering.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and maintain schematic designs in Altium Designer or equivalent EDA tools
• Perform PCB layout including component placement, trace routing, and copper pours under engineering direction
• Generate fabrication and assembly packages including Gerber files, drill files, pick-and-place data, and assembly drawings
• Run design rule checks and resolve violations prior to design review
• Support bill of materials creation and component selection with procurement and supply chain
• Participate in design reviews and incorporate feedback from hardware and manufacturing engineers
• Maintain component libraries, footprint databases, and design templates
• Support board bring-up and debug activities including rework and test point access
• Document design decisions, revision history, and known issues

Qualifications

• Must be located in the United States, within commuting distance of Charlotte, NC
• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience
• Coursework or project experience in PCB design, schematic capture, or electronic circuit design
• Familiarity with at least one EDA tool (Altium Designer, KiCad, Cadence Allegro, or equivalent)
• Understanding of basic PCB manufacturing processes including etching, drilling, plating, and surface finish
• Understanding of basic electronic circuit principles including power distribution, signal routing, and grounding
• U.S. Person status required (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)); this role involves access to ITAR- and EAR-controlled technical data

Preferred Qualifications

• Internship or co-op experience in PCB design or electronics manufacturing
• Experience with Altium Designer specifically
• Exposure to surface-mount assembly processes and reflow soldering
• Familiarity with version control systems for design data
• Coursework or project experience in electromagnetic compatibility or signal integrity
• Active or prior U.S. security clearance

What We Look For

The right candidate has a solid foundation in electronics and a demonstrated interest in PCB design - whether through coursework, personal projects, or internship experience. Attention to detail in layout, documentation, and design rule compliance matters more than breadth of experience at this level.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Powerus is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse and mission-driven workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.