Principal PCB Engineer – Datacenter / High-Speed Systems

Qualcomm; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 201,600 - 302,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Competitive salary

Job summary

Qualcomm is looking for a highly experienced PCB Engineer to enhance datacenter and HPC platforms. The role emphasizes advanced PCB technologies, manufacturability optimization, and supplier engagement.

Responsibilities include driving design guidelines, engaging with PCB manufacturers, and overseeing NPI builds. Candidates should have a strong educational background in engineering along with extensive PCB engineering experience, particularly in high-speed systems. Competitive salary and robust benefits are offered.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in System/Package Design/Technology Engineering.
• 15+ years of PCB/substrate engineering experience preferred.
• Proven track record in NPI builds and manufacturing issue resolution.

Responsibilities

• Drive next-generation Datacenter and HPC platforms.
• Optimize PCB manufacturability and hardening processes.
• Lead supplier engagement for PCB manufacturing capabilities.

Skills

PCB design guidelines

Supplier engagement

Data-driven decision making

Education

Bachelor's degree in relevant engineering field

Master's degree in relevant engineering field

PhD in relevant engineering field

Tools

CAD tools

DFM libraries

Job description

Company

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.

Job Area

Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Packaging Engineering

General Summary

We are seeking a highly experienced PCB Engineer to drive next‑generation Datacenter and High-performance computing (HPC) platforms. This role will focus on advanced PCB technologies, manufacturability optimization, and supplier engagement, supporting both NPI and volume production while shaping Qualcomm’s future hardware roadmap.

Key Responsibilities

1. PCB Design & Manufacturing Readiness
   • Hands on experience with PCB process including defining and driving PCB design guidelines / stack‑up / routing strategy for high‑speed, high‑layer count datacenter PCB boards
   • Develop and maintain DFM (Design for Manufacturability) libraries to ensure design compliance with supplier capability
   • Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (SI/PI, mechanical, thermal, system architecture) to optimize board performance and manufacturability
2. Supplier Engagement & Capability Validation
   • Engage with PCB manufacturers (fabricators & assemblers) to:
     • Understand design rule capability (trace/space, via structures, stack‑up complexity, materials)
     • Evaluate BOM capability including advanced laminates, low‑loss materials, and new technologies
     • Collect and analyze supplier data to validate manufacturing capability vs design requirements
     • Drive multi‑source strategy and supplier qualification for high‑volume production
3. NPI & Manufacturing Support
   • Support critical NPI builds for datacenter platforms (AI/Compute PCB boards, high‑power systems)
   • Troubleshoot PCB fabrication / assembly issues:
     • Yield excursions
     • Reliability failures
     • Process limitations
   • Lead root cause analysis and implement corrective & preventive actions (CAPA)
4. Technology Roadmap Development
   • Drive PCB technology roadmap in collaboration with suppliers:
     • Advanced via structures (HDI, mSAP, via‑in‑pad, stacked vias, etc.)
     • New materials (low‑loss, high‑Tg, ultra‑thin core, glass core evolution)
     • High layer count / ultra‑high density interconnect solutions
   • Pioneer and implement new structures, technologies, and BOM solutions to advance Qualcomm’s platform capability
5. Industry & Competitive Intelligence
   • Monitor industry trends (Datacenter, AI infrastructure, high‑speed PCB technology)
   • Perform competitive benchmarking (Hyperscalers, ODM ecosystem, etc.)
   • Identify emerging strategies to ensure Qualcomm remains aligned with leading‑edge technology directions

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field and 8+ years of System/Package Design/Technology Engineering or related work experience.
• Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field and 7+ years of System/Package Design/Technology Engineering or related work experience.
• PhD in Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field and 6+ year of System/Package Design/Technology Engineering or related work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related field
• 15+ years of PCB / substrate engineering experience (Datacenter / server / high‑speed system preferred)

Strong Understanding Of

• High‑speed design fundamentals (SI/PI, loss, impedance control)
• Advanced PCB fabrication processes (MLB, HDI, mSAP, build‑up, lamination cycles)
• PCB materials (low‑loss laminates/Core & PPG, Cu foil, Plating chemistry, SR, Surface Finish, etc.)
• Experience working directly with PCB suppliers (fab + assembly/CM)
• Proven track record in NPI builds and manufacturing issue resolution
• Experience with AI accelerators / server motherboards / high‑power boards (100kW+ rack architecture familiarity preferred)
• Familiarity with advanced packaging interaction (SiP, substrate, bridge‑based systems)
• Experience driving technology co‑development with suppliers
• Ability to influence cross‑functional and executive stakeholders

Key Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
• Data‑driven decision making
• Ability to communicate clearly with suppliers, internal teams, and executive leadership
• Experience managing ambiguity in fast‑paced NPI environments

Impact

• Qualcomm’s datacenter and AI hardware competitiveness
• Supplier ecosystem maturity and scalability
• Adoption of next‑generation PCB technologies and materials

Pay Range and Other Compensation & Benefits

$201,600.00 – $302,400.00

EEO Statement

Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.