PCB Layout Engineer - Avionics

E-Space; Saratoga (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Health and wellness care options

Competitive salaries

Job summary

E-Space in Saratoga, CA is hiring a PCB Layout Engineer to design flight-ready layouts for a 19-board constellation program. You will collaborate with electrical design, SI/PI teams, and manufacturing to meet strict space-grade requirements.

The role demands 5+ years in multi-layer PCB layout, strong Altium skills, impedance-controlled routing, and a solid grasp of stack-ups for digital, power, and RF areas. Space qualifications preferred; US work authorization required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent.
• 5+ years of PCB layout experience for complex multi-layer boards (12+ layers).
• Proficiency with Altium Designer (preferred) or similar PCB CAD tools.
• Experience with impedance-controlled routing and high-speed signal layout.
• Strong understanding of stack-up design for digital, power, and mixed-signal apps.
• Experience creating fabrication packages (Gerbers, ODB++, drill files).
• Knowledge of IPC standards and design-for-manufacture best practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop PCB stack-ups for complex mixed-signal, power, and RF designs with impedance control.
• Place components for signal integrity, thermal management, and manufacturability.
• Route high-speed interfaces (SERDES, DDR, LVDS) with controlled impedance.
• Design power distribution with attention to density and decoupling.
• Apply mixed-signal layout techniques with proper isolation and partitioning.
• Create and maintain footprint libraries and serve as Altium librarian.

Skills

PCB layout

Altium Designer

Impedance-controlled routing

Stack-up design

Fabrication packages

IPC standards

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium Designer

Zuken CR-8000

HyperLynx

ODB++

Job description

Ready to make connectivity from space universally accessible, secure and actionable? Then you’ve come to the right place!

E-Space is bridging Earth and space to enable hyper-scaled deployments of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and services. We are building a highly-advanced low Earth orbit (LEO) space system that will fundamentally change the design, economics, manufacturing and service deliveryassociated with traditional satellite and terrestrial IoT systems.

We’re intentional, we’re unapologetically curious and we’re 100% committed to innovate space-based communications and deliver actionable intelligence that will expand global economies, protect space and our planet and enhance our overall quality of life.

We are hiring PCB Layout Engineers to design and deliver board layouts for a satellite constellation program involving 19 avionics boards across 6 subsystems. You will work closely with electrical design engineers, signal integrity analysts, and manufacturing teams to produce high-quality, flight-ready PCB layouts meeting stringent space-grade requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop PCB stack-ups for complex mixed-signal, power, and RF designs with appropriate impedance control.
• Perform component placement optimized for signal integrity, thermal management, and manufacturability.
• Route high-speed digital interfaces (SERDES, DDR, LVDS) with impedance-controlled transmission lines.
• Implement power distribution plane design with attention to current density, loop area, and decoupling strategy.
• Apply mixed-signal layout techniques with proper analog, digital, and RF isolation and partitioning.
• Create and maintain footprint libraries and serve as Altium librarian for the program.
• Manage design-rule and constraint creation including clearances, lengths, impedance targets, vias, and creepage/clearance requirements.
• Produce layout documentation including fabrication drawings, assembly drawings, layer stack tables, and manufacturing notes.
• Address RF parasitic effects through ground fencing, stitching vias, partitioning, and shielding techniques.
• Coordinate with fabrication and assembly vendors for DFM reviews and manufacturing handoff.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of PCB layout experience for complex multi-layer boards (12+ layers).
• Proficiency with Altium Designer (strongly preferred) or equivalent PCB CAD tools (Allegro, Zuken).
• Demonstrated experience with impedance-controlled routing and high-speed signal layout.
• Strong understanding of stack-up design for digital, power, and mixed-signal applications.
• Experience creating fabrication packages (Gerbers, ODB++, drill files, assembly drawings).
• Knowledge of IPC standards and design-for-manufacture best practices.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with aerospace or space-grade PCB layouts and qualification requirements.
• Background in RF/microwave PCB layout including matching networks and transmission-line structures.
• Familiarity with signal integrity and power integrity simulation tools (HyperLynx, Sigrity).
• Experience with Zuken CR-8000 or other enterprise PCB CAD tools.
• Knowledge of high-speed signal attenuation, dispersion, and copper-loss mechanisms.
• Experience with flex and rigid-flex PCB design.

Tools & Technologies:

• Altium Designer (primary layout tool)
• Zuken CR-8000
• HyperLynx (SI/PI review support)
• ODB++ and CAM output tools

$150,000 - $250,000 a year

This is a full time, exempt position, based out of our Saratoga office. The total compensation packaged will be determined by various factors such as your relevant job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

We are redefining how satellites are designed, manufactured and used—so we’re looking for candidates with passion, deep knowledge and direct experience on LEO satellite component development, design and in-orbit activities. If that’s your experience – then we’ll be immediately wow-ed.

E-Space is not currently able to provide employment sponsorship for candidates who do not hold work authorization for the location of this role.

Why E-Space is right for you:

As a member of our team, you will play a crucial role in driving our success. Our team members have a strong sense of dedication and responsibility; this includes a strong commitment to our mission to create an entirely new suite of global capabilities to improve lives, business efficiencies and build a smarter planet. This means that there will be times when extra hours, including nights and weekends, may be needed to meet critical deadlines and mission goals. In return, we offer a dynamic work environment with opportunities for professional growth and development and the chance to make a meaningful impact in a high-growth industry.

We want you to make the most of your journey at E-Space. That’s why we support and invest in the physical, emotional and financial well-being of our team members and their families. Some of what you can expect when working at E-Space:

• An opportunity to really make a difference
• Sustainability at our core
• Fair and honest workplace
• Innovative thinking is encouraged
• Competitive salaries
• Continuous learning and development
• Health and wellness care options
• Financial solutions for the future
• Optional legal services (US only)
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off

Paid time off