Principal PCB Designer

FormFactor Inc.; Livermore (CA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401(k) with company match

Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)

Paid time off

Job summary

FormFactor, Inc. in Livermore, CA is seeking a Principal PCB Designer to lead the design, layout, and development of complex PCBs and package substrates for advanced test and measurement solutions.

This senior role requires expertise in high-speed, RF, analog, mixed-signal, and multilayer PCB technologies, with proven leadership to drive design standards, manufacturability, and collaboration across global engineering teams.

Qualifications

• Experience designing complex multilayer PCBs and package substrates in a product development environment.
• Proven experience leading large or technically complex PCB design projects.
• Expert proficiency with Cadence PCB Design tools, Cadence Allegro Package Design, Allegro PCB Designer, and Constraint Manager.
• Strong understanding of transmission line theory, controlled impedance routing, skew control, crosstalk mitigation, signal integrity, and power integrity principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex PCB design efforts from concept through release, ensuring quality, schedule, and performance objectives are achieved.
• Serve as a technical resource and mentor for less experienced designers and engineers.
• Define requirements for design automation tools and participate in tool evaluation, testing, and validation activities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to optimize manufacturability and design for test.
• Coordinate with external fabrication suppliers to improve production yield and reliability.

Skills

Allegro PCB Designer

Autodesk AutoCAD

High Speed PCB Design

Multilayer PCB Design

PCB Layout

Layout Design

Tools

Cadence PCB Design tools

Cadence Allegro Package Design

Allegro PCB Designer

Constraint Manager

AutoCAD

Job description

Forming Our Future together

FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full semiconductor product life cycle — from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design de-bug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon FormFactor’s products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Forming Our Future together

FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full semiconductor product life cycle — from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design de-bug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon FormFactor’s products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Rooted in our core values — Focus on the Customer, Ownership & Accountability, Respectfully & Effectively Communicate, and Motivate & Develop People — we foster an environment where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but celebrated. Everyone can make an impact here. Whether it's improving products, supporting customers, or positively influencing peers and the community, the contributions of our people matter.

Shift

The regular hours for this position are day shift.

Job Description

FormFactor is seeking a highly skilled Principal PCB Designer to provide advanced technical expertise in the design, layout, and development of complex printed circuit boards (PCBs) and package substrates supporting leading-edge semiconductor test and measurement solutions. This role serves as a senior technical contributor, leveraging extensive experience in high-speed, RF, analog, mixed-signal, and multilayer PCB technologies to drive innovative design solutions, improve manufacturability, and accelerate product development. The Principal PCB Designer works collaboratively across engineering disciplines and global teams while helping establish design standards, methodologies, and best practices.

Key Responsibilities

PCB and Package Design

• Perform complex PCB and package substrate layout and routing studies to achieve cost reduction, design optimization, improved manufacturability, and reduced time-to-market.
• Design and route highly complex, high-speed, multilayer PCBs and package substrates, including trace length matching, impedance-controlled routing, grounding and shielding strategies, and design verification.
• Develop PCB and package substrate layouts that align with industry best practices, company standards, and product performance requirements.
• Interpret and incorporate mechanical requirements, including keep-in/keep-out zones, mounting and tooling holes, component height restrictions, and packaging constraints.
• Apply advanced electrical design concepts including high-speed signal design, RF routing, transmission line theory, signal integrity, and power distribution network optimization.

Technical Leadership and Process Improvement

• Collaborate with PCB and package applications engineers to establish design constraints, optimize BGA mapping, and ensure layout compliance with electrical and mechanical requirements.
• Define, develop, and maintain PCB design standards, libraries, and layout guidelines to support consistency and efficiency across projects.
• Develop process documentation, including design workflows, procedures, checklists, standards, and training materials.
• Identify and implement design process improvements that reduce development cycle time, minimize defects, and improve product performance and quality.
• Define requirements for design automation tools and participate in tool evaluation, testing, and validation activities.
• Provide feedback to software and tool development teams to support continuous improvement of internal design tools and methodologies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Electrical, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Applications, and Product Engineering teams throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Work directly with PCB and package substrate fabrication suppliers to improve manufacturability, resolve technical issues, and optimize design solutions.
• Coordinate with globally distributed engineering teams across multiple time zones to meet project milestones and delivery objectives.
• Participate in design reviews and technical discussions, providing recommendations for design improvements and risk mitigation.

Project Leadership

• Lead complex PCB design efforts from concept through release, ensuring quality, schedule, and performance objectives are achieved.
• Serve as a technical resource and mentor for less experienced designers and engineers.
• Manage multiple priorities and independently resolve highly complex technical challenges.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of department standards, best practices, and strategic initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications & Experiences

• Extensive experience designing complex multilayer PCBs and package substrates in a product development environment.
• Proven experience leading large or technically complex PCB design projects.
• Expert proficiency with Cadence PCB Design tools, Cadence Allegro Package Design, Allegro PCB Designer, and Constraint Manager.
• Strong understanding of transmission line theory, controlled impedance routing, skew control, crosstalk mitigation, signal integrity, and power integrity principles.
• Advanced knowledge of PCB and package substrate manufacturing processes and design for manufacturability (DFM) principles.
• Experience working with fabrication houses and external suppliers to improve product manufacturability and production yield.
• Strong understanding of netlisting, schematic interpretation, routing rule development, design constraints, and verification methodologies.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and other engineering documentation tools.
• Strong leadership capabilities with the ability to perform effectively as both an individual contributor and technical project lead.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities with a disciplined approach to troubleshooting complex design challenges.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a demonstrated ability to consistently meet project commitments and deadlines.
• Ability to influence outcomes and collaborate effectively across global, cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement, technical excellence, and knowledge sharing.

Skills

Allegro PCB Designer, Autodesk AutoCAD, High Speed PCB Design, Multilayer PCB Design, PCB Layout, PCB Layout Design

Education & Experience

Minimum of 6+ years of related experience| Required

Pay Range

$46.40 - $60.90

Pay Range Explained

This role in Livermore, California pays between $46.40 and $60.90 per hour, depending on your experience, skills, and background. Pay may vary in other locations. We offer a full benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability coverage, a 401(k) with company match, employee stock purchase plan (ESPP), and paid time off. You’ll also be eligible for quarterly profit-sharing bonuses and flexible spending or savings accounts.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

FormFactor is an equal opportunity employer. FormFactor complies with all national, state, and local laws that seek to promote equal opportunities for any applicant or employee without regard to age, race, color, gender, gender identity/expression, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, disability, marital status, pregnancy or related condition, military service, or any other legally protected characteristics. These protections apply to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, promotions, and compensation.

For roles that are designated as remote-eligible, employees cannot be located in:AL, AK, AR, DE, GA, HI, IL, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MS, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, ND, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, WV, WI, WY. This list is continuously evolving and being updated, please check back with us if the state you live in is on the exclusion list. A role is remote-eligible only when it is listed as "Remote" in the job location.