Principal PCB Design Engineer

SDFM; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Powerus is seeking a Principal PCB Design Engineer to define and execute the company's board design methodology across active programs, including design standards and complex multi-board assemblies. You will mentor engineers and lead design-to-production handoffs, ensuring robust signal integrity and manufacturability.

Applicants should have extensive PCB design experience, expertise in HDI and rigid-flex constructions, and proficiency with Altium Designer or Cadence Allegro.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical/electronics engineering or equivalent practical experience.
• Extensive PCB design experience across multiple production programs.
• Proficiency with HDI, rigid-flex, and high-layer-count constructions.

Responsibilities

• Define PCB design methodology, standards, and practices across all programs.
• Lead design of complex, high-density, multi-board assemblies including rigid-flex and HDI.
• Establish stackup standards, impedance control, and material selection guidelines.
• Direct signal integrity and power integrity analysis.
• Own design-to-production handoff and reduce cycle time.
• Mentor and technically direct PCB design engineers.
• Evaluate and qualify EDA tools, fabrication processes, and assembly technologies.
• Lead cross-functional design reviews with hardware, firmware, mechanical, manufacturing, and test engineering.
• Resolve producibility, reliability, and field failure issues related to board design.

Skills

Altium Designer

Cadence Allegro

Signal integrity

Power integrity

EMC design techniques

HDI, rigid-flex

Mentoring engineers

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or related field

Tools

Altium Designer

Cadence Allegro

Job description

About Powerus

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 production and development grows with each platform variant and payload integration.

This role defines how Powerus designs printed circuit boards and leads the most complex designs personally, working with hardware, firmware, and manufacturing engineering.

Position Overview

Powerus is seeking a Principal PCB Design Engineer to define and execute the company's board design methodology across all active programs, including design standards, mentoring, complex multi-board designs, and design-to-production cycle time.

Key Responsibilities

• Define PCB design methodology, standards, and practices across all programs
• Lead design of complex, high-density, multi-board assemblies, including rigid-flex and HDI constructions
• Establish stackup standards, impedance control requirements, and material selection guidelines
• Direct signal integrity and power integrity analysis
• Own the design-to-production handoff and reduce cycle time
• Mentor and technically direct PCB design engineers
• Evaluate and qualify EDA tools, fabrication processes, and assembly technologies
• Lead cross-functional design reviews with hardware, firmware, mechanical, manufacturing, and test engineering
• Resolve escalated producibility, reliability, and field failure issues related to board design

Qualifications

• Must be located in the United States, within commuting distance of Rock Hill, SC
• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, electronics engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience
• Extensive experience designing printed circuit boards, with multiple production programs delivered
• Expert proficiency in Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, or an equivalent EDA toolchain
• Deep experience with signal integrity, power integrity, and EMC design techniques
• Experience with HDI, rigid-flex, and high-layer-count constructions
• Experience establishing design standards and mentoring engineers
• Familiarity with IPC design and fabrication standards
• Experience in defense, aerospace, or other regulated industries with configuration-controlled design processes
• 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

• Experience designing boards for UAS, autonomous vehicles, or flight-critical systems
• Experience with DO-254 or equivalent hardware design assurance processes
• IPC CID+ certification or equivalent
• Experience with EDA automation and scripted design checks
• Experience with contract manufacturer qualification and process auditing
• Active or prior U.S. security clearance

What We Look For

Candidates should have built the design infrastructure for an engineering team, including standards, libraries, and review processes, and be able to describe which rules mattered in production.

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.