PCB Design Engineer

There was a time when all of America believed that the future of the physical world could be radically different. The engineers of the mid-1900s put a man on the moon in eight years, designed and built planes and submarines from scratch in under three, and conceived of building things we wouldn’t even be able to dream up today.

Today, the last of the engineers who imagined and built these systems are retiring. As they go, we lose not only the engineering knowledge gained from their decades of imagination and trial-and-error, but also the spirit that made that imagination possible.

Amca is working day-in and day-out to restore America’s ability to engineer anything that our critical systems depend on, and reinvigorate the cycle of creation that allows imagination to shape physical reality. We rapidly develop and manufacture new critical components and subsystems required to build and sustain the planes, military vehicles, and core infrastructure America needs. By restoring the capability of our antiquated supply chains, we increase the country’s capacity to imagine and realize new systems, and make a physical world that looks very different from today.

As a PCB Designer on the Amca Electrical Team you'll perform printed circuit board layouts from designed circuit schematics as part of a larger interdisciplinary team. You'll work directly with electrical engineers to review and update schematics at each design review, and with mechanical engineer counterparts to determine fastener and EEE component placement so your designs can survive the harsh environments experienced by a spacecraft (thermal, shock, vibe, EMI, etc). You'll also own the standardization and integrity of our PCB component libraries, enabling the broader engineering team to deliver flight-ready boards on aggressive schedules. This is a high-impact, high-ownership role for engineers who are passionate about circuit board design, thrive on technical challenges.

Responsibilities

Review and update schematics for compilation requirements, and assist engineers in capturing hierarchical designs

Determine layer stackup, component package selection, placement, routing feasibility studies, and signal routing across digital, analog, RF, and power conversion PCBs

Work with Electrical Design Engineers to properly layout and route PCBs for a range of end applications that will be exposed to harsh environments

Interface with manufacturing to produce designs that meet DFM guidelines

Own the creation, maintenance, and standardization of PCB component libraries (symbols, footprints, 3D models, and metadata), ensuring they're accurate, manufacturable, and compliant with IPC Class 3 and Amca's internal standards

Review new component requests and validate footprints, 3D models, and pin assignments

Maintain and version-control library data, ensuring documentation and traceability for production release

Interface with vendors to confirm part specifications, availability, and manufacturability

Create and release documentation for the fabrication of PCBs

Collaborate with internal teams and PCB vendors to continually improve design rules, constraints, and design-for-test/manufacture guidelines

Enable rapid iteration cycles by providing verified, production-ready library components for design re-spins

Utilize, maintain, and evaluate PCB design tools, and mentor teammates on tool use, library best practices, IPC standards, and DFM considerations

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or computer engineering

2+ years of experience in electronics hardware design (academic projects, internships, and professional experience qualify)

2+ years of experience with electrical test equipment (multimeters, signal generators, oscilloscopes) to verify hardware functionality

Experience managing or contributing to component libraries, including symbols, footprints, 3D models, and metadata

Experience with schematic capture and PCB layout software (KiCad, Altium, Eagle, Xpedition), with strong Altium proficiency a plus

Preferred Skills and Experience

Experience with electrical simulation software (LTspice, SIMetrix, or similar) and signal/power integrity tools (SiWave, HFSS, ADS, CST)

Ability to design analog, digital, and mixed-signal circuits

Knowledge of digital communications interfaces including SPI, I2C, CAN, Ethernet, and RS-422

Familiarity with best layout practices for low-noise design and EMI/EMC minimization

Solid understanding of high-density, multi-layer PCB design practices

Demonstrated understanding of design for manufacturability, assembly, and test

Experience with IPC Standards, including support for IPC Class 3 designs

Experience in aerospace, missile systems, spaceflight, defense, or other high-reliability environments

Knowledge of industry standards (IPC, JEDEC, etc)

Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere with extreme ownership from start to finish

Self-motivated with strong multi-tasking, organizational, communication, and documentation skills

Creative problem solver capable of working within a multidisciplinary team, with the ability to mentor others on library and design quality

Additional Requirements

Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission-critical deadlines

Annual Salary Range

$130,000 — $200,000 USD

This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must be U.S. persons within the meaning of ITAR. ITAR defines a US person as: any individual who is granted U.S. citizenship; or. any individual who is granted U.S. permanent residence ("Green Card" holder); or. any individual who is granted status as a "protected person" under 8 U.S.C 1324b(a)(3).

The Advanced Manufacturing Company of America prohibits discrimination or harassment based on the following categories: race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.