PCB Layout Engineer - AI Compute Hardware

MatX; Mountain View (CA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Time off: 4 weeks PTO + 12 holidays +

Up to 3 weeks remote work

Company-subsidized medical

Dental & Vision insurances

$1500 Professional Development Budget

Team meals onsite

Commute reimbursement

AI resources stipend

Employee wellness programs

Job summary

MatX is building next-generation AI compute infrastructure and seeks a PCB Layout Engineer to design high-density boards for AI chip modules, trays, and backplanes.

You will own layout from floorplanning to Gerber release, ensuring signal and power integrity on 20+-layer boards, with emphasis on high-speed interfaces like PCIe Gen5/6 and CXL.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of PCB layout experience on multi-layer boards (20+ layers) for high-performance hardware.
• Strong Cadence Allegro proficiency and high-speed design expertise.
• Experience with fine-pitch BGA placement/routing for AI ASICs or GPUs.
• Background in PDN design, impedance control, and stack-up planning.

Responsibilities

• Own PCB layout from floorplanning to Gerber release for AI accelerator boards and backplanes.
• Design differential pairs, impedance-controlled routing for PCIe Gen5/6, CXL, 112G/224G interfaces.
• Plan stackups and place/route complex BGA packages including AI ASICs.
• Develop and optimize PDN designs, decoupling, and power planes with SI/PI collaboration.
• Coordinate with mechanical engineers on outline, keep-outs, and chassis constraints.
• Lead design reviews and release fabrication packages (Gerbers, drill files, stackup docs).
• Support bring-up, debug, and layout issue resolution.

Skills

High-speed design

Differential pair routing

Impedance control

BGA placement

PDN design

Signal integrity

SI/PI analysis

Tools

Cadence Allegro

Ansys SIwave

Cadence Sigrity

Job description

What MatX Is Building

MatX is building next-generation AI compute infrastructure for large-scale LLM training and inference. We are looking for an experienced PCB Layout Engineer to design and deliver high-speed, high-power, high-density printed circuit boards for our AI chip, compute tray, and rack-scale platform. This is a hands-on role where layout quality directly impacts signal integrity, power integrity, and system performance.

What You'll Do Here

• Own PCB layout from floorplanning through final Gerber release for complex, high-layer-count boards (AI accelerator boards, compute trays, backplanes)

• Design high-speed differential pair and controlled impedance routing for PCIe Gen5/6, CXL, and Ethernet 112G/224G interfaces, including length matching and timing constraints per SI/PI guidelines

• Plan stack-ups (layer assignment, impedance control, via structure, laminate selection) and place/route complex BGA packages, including AI ASICs

• Design power delivery networks (PDN) — VRM placement, decoupling capacitors, and power planes to meet PI requirements, partnering with SI/PI engineers on simulation and pre/post-layout analysis

• Ensure DFM/DFT/DFA compliance (test points, via-in-pad, back-drill, assembly constraints) and coordinate with mechanical engineers on board outline, keep-outs, and chassis constraints

• Lead design, layout, and DFM reviews with JDM/ODM partners, and manage release packages (Gerbers, fabrication notes, stackup docs, footprint libraries)

• Support bring-up, debug, and signal probing to resolve layout-related issues

Who You Are

• 7+ years of PCB layout experience, including complex multi-layer boards (20+ layers) for server, AI compute, networking, or similar high-performance hardware

• Strong proficiency in Cadence Allegro (or equivalent EDA tool), with deep expertise in high-speed design: differential pair routing, impedance control, length matching, reference planes, and via optimization

• Experience with fine-pitch BGA placement/routing for AI ASICs, GPUs, or high-density packages, and hands-on work with high-speed interfaces (PCIe Gen5/6, CXL, DDR5, 112G/224G SerDes)

• Strong understanding of PDN design (VRM placement, decoupling strategy, power planes, current return paths) and stack-up design (layer count, impedance control, material selection, e.g. Megtron 6/8/9, TU-953Q)

• Familiarity with back-drilling, via-in-pad, and other advanced fabrication techniques, plus DFM/DFT requirements (test point coverage, copper balance, solder mask, assembly constraints)

• Ability to interpret SI/PI simulation results and incorporate feedback into layout

• Experience releasing fabrication packages (Gerbers, drill files, stackup specs) and working directly with PCB fabricators and JDM/ODM partners on high-speed, high-layer-count boards

Bonus Points

• Experience with 5nm or 3nm and below AI ASIC board layout, ultra-fine pitch BGA, high-density routing

• Experience with 224G PAM4 high-speed interface routing and material selection

• Knowledge of fiber weave effect mitigation — routing at 45°, spread glass laminates

• Familiarity with OCP Open Rack board form factors and mechanical constraints

• Experience with power integrity simulation tools (Ansys SIwave, Cadence Sigrity)

• Background in EMI/EMC design, stitching vias, ground guard traces, and shielding techniques
  

Compensation

The US base salary for this full-time position is determined based on a variety of factors including role, experience, location, job-related skills, and relevant education and training. Career length is only a guideline for compensation.

• Early Career - $160,000 - $275,000 + equity

• Mid Career - $175,000 - $400,000 + equity

• Senior Career - $250,000 - $600,000 + equity

What We Offer

• Time off: 4 weeks PTO (accrued) + 12 company Holidays + up to 3 weeks remote work

• Health: Company-subsidized Medical (Kaiser or Anthem) for employees & dependents, Guardian Dental and Vision insurances for employee & dependents, and life insurance (employee only), plus HSA and FSA offerings via Lively.

• Financial Wellbeing: Choose from Roth IRA/ 401K (or both) retirement plans with up to 5% company contribution to 401K (even if you don't contribute). Also, 100% company-paid life insurance (up to $300K) and long-term disability insurances.

• Professional Development: $1500 Professional Development Budget (per year)

• Team Meals: MatX provides onsite team lunch & dinner Monday - Friday, with your choice of ordering via WeBox, Specialty’s or via our reimbursement system

• Commute on Us: Commute on our company Uber account, or reimburse your train rides. Either way, we pay 100% for your daily commute.

• MatX E[x]tras: $50/mo to use on the perk you value most

• Cell & Internet Reimbursement: $35/mo for cellular and $40/mo for wifi

• Mental Wellbeing: 100% paid mental health benefit via SpringHealth and Guardian EAP.

• Support to Parents: Up to 12 weeks paid parental leave regardless of path to parenthood, 10 weeks pregnancy disability leave, flexible return-to-work hours, and Benepass reproductive health & parental benefit.

• AI Resources: Up to $20K/month plus a dedicated internal AI Tooling Team to support your productivity

As part of our dedication to the diversity of our team and our focus on creating an inviting and inclusive work experience, MatX is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital/domestic partner status, military and veteran status, genetic information or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

All candidates must be authorized to work in the United States and work from our offices in Mountain View Tuesdays-Thursdays.

This position requires access to information that is subject to U.S. export controls. This offer of employment is contingent upon the applicant's capacity to perform job functions in compliance with U.S. export control laws without obtaining a license from U.S. export control authorities.

MatX does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third-party recruiting agencies in response to job postings. No fee will be paid to third parties who submit unsolicited candidates directly to our hiring managers or People team and any resumes submitted are deemed to be the property of MatX.