Senior PCB Designer

Thales Avionics, Inc. (IFE); Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 108,000 - 179,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

Retirement plan with company match

Job summary

Thales Avionics, Inc. (IFE) in Irvine, CA is seeking a Senior Printed Circuit Board Designer to develop and release PCB/PCBA designs and documentation through design reviews, qualification tests, and manufacturing builds.

The role emphasizes reliable, manufacturable layouts using CAD/CAM/CAE tools in a cross‑functional team. You will generate layouts, review designs for accuracy and manufacturability, and lead design reviews with engineering and manufacturing partners.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of PCB layout and routing experience for high-volume manufacturing.
• Proficiency with PCB CAD tools (Allegro, OrCAD, Valor DFM) and AutoCAD 2D.
• Experience with PDM/configuration management (Teamcenter) and MS Office applications.

Responsibilities

• Generate PCB CAD layout designs and related data per requirements.
• Review PCB layouts for accuracy, manufacturability, and compliance.
• Conduct design reviews with engineering and manufacturing partners to ensure cost, quality, and manufacturability.
• Plan and execute PCB design activities aligned with schedules and milestones.
• Participate in PCB/PCBA failure evaluations and root-cause analyses.
• Release and manage BOMs and PCB data in Teamcenter with QA compliance.

Skills

PCB layout

Routing

Mixed-signal design

High-speed digital

HDI

Flex PCBs

Rigid-flex

Team collaboration

Documentation

Education

AS degree in Electrical Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Allegro

OrCAD

Valor (DFM)

AutoCAD (2D)

Teamcenter

MS Office (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint)

Job description

Senior Printed Circuit Board Designer

Irvine, CA (Fully Onsite)

Position Summary

Thales is looking for a Senior PCB Designer, whose role involves developing and releasing technical documentation for PCB/PCBA designs and components through design reviews, qualification testing, initial manufacturing builds, and mass production.

In this position, you will apply your expertise in CAD, CAM, and CAE tools to develop reliable, robust, and manufacturable PCB/PCBA designs while collaborating with multidisciplinary engineering teams, Operations, Product Management, Purchasing, suppliers, development partners, and contract manufacturers. You will conduct engineering and peer reviews in accordance with Thales development processes, identify and document technical issues, and drive corrective actions to support product quality, manufacturability, serviceability, and reliable performance.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Generate PCB CAD layout designs and associated design data in accordance with product and engineering requirements.
• Review completed PCB layouts and drawings for accuracy, completeness, compliance with applicable standards and specifications, and manufacturability.
• Conduct comprehensive design reviews with engineering teams and manufacturing partners to ensure engineering, cost, quality, and manufacturability requirements are met.
• Plan and execute PCB design activities in alignment with project and program schedules, milestones, and deliverables.
• Participate in PCB/PCBA failure evaluations and root-cause analyses, providing recommendations to improve testability, reliability, robustness, and address component and material obsolescence.
• Release and maintain Bills of Material (BOMs), technical drawings, and PCB CAD design data within the Thales configuration management system (Teamcenter), ensuring Quality Assurance compliance and production configuration control.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate of Science (AS) degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years of PCB layout and routing experience with mixed-signal, high-speed digital, analog, low-power, and high-current designs for high-volume manufacturing, including HDI, double-sided, multilayer, flex, and rigid-flex PCBs.
• Proficiency with PCB and design tools including Allegro, OrCAD, Valor (DFM), and AutoCAD (2D), with experience creating PCB components, maintaining libraries, and linking schematic capture files to PCB layouts.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD for developing fabrication and assembly drawings in accordance with applicable IPC and ASME standards, with working knowledge of IPC-600, IPC-610, IPC-6012, IPC-6013, and IPC-7351.
• Experience with Product Data Management (PDM) and configuration management tools such as Teamcenter or similar systems, along with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across global, cross-functional teams; present and influence key stakeholders; prioritize competing demands; navigate ambiguity and evolving requirements; and drive accountability, results, and continuous improvement.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer at the time of hire. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship or for assuming sponsorship of an employment visa now or in the future.

Special Position Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• Experience within the aerospace and/or computer industries.
• Certification in IPC-600 and/or IPC-610 industry standards.
• This position may require access to specialized work areas, including an office/cubicle or open-office environment, R&D laboratory, and manufacturing/production areas. Some work may be performed remotely.

Thales champions inclusion and we believe diversity strengthens the fabric of our culture. Thales is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans.

The reference Total Target Compensation (TTC) market range for this position, inclusive of annual base salary and the variable compensation target, is between Total Target Cash (TTC) 107,637.75 - 179,396.25 USD Annual.

This reflects how companies in a similar industry and geographic region generally pay for similar jobs. This range helps the Company make pay decisions as one data point among many. Where a position falls within this range is also dependent on other factors including – but not limited to – the employee’s career path history, competencies, skills and performance, as well as the company’s annual salary budget, the customer’s program requirements, and the company’s internal equity. Thales may offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s status protected by local, state, or federal law.

(For Internal candidate, if you need more information, please raise HR request through MyThales)

Thales provides an extensive benefits program for all full-time employees working 30 or more hours per week and their eligible dependents, including the following:

• Elective Health, Dental, Vision, FSA/HSA, Voluntary Life and AD&D, Whole Group Life w/LTC, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Legal Plan, Identity Theft, and Pet Insurance
• Retirement Savings Plan after 30 days of employment with a company contribution and a match, and with no vesting period
• Company paid holidays and Paid Time Off
• Company provided Life Insurance, AD&D, Disability, Employee Assistance Plan, and Well‑being Program