"Alerted.org

Req ID: 131053

Region: Americas

Country: USA

State/Province: California

City: San Jose

Summary

The Principal Engineer, PCB Layout is a senior technical leader and Subject Matter Expert driving the physical design of high-complexity, high-speed PCBs for server and storage hardware. This role requires deep expertise in implementing layouts that satisfy stringent signal integrity, power integrity, and DFM requirements. The Principal Engineer leads PCB strategy and owns the end-to-end layout process, providing technical expertise throughout the product lifecycle. Crucially, they serve as the primary cross-functional technical interface, integrating feedback from Manufacturing, SI/PI, and Supply Chain to ensure robust and high-quality product delivery, while also mentoring junior staff and optimizing design methodologies.

Detailed Description

+ Serves as a top-tier technical authority and strategic leader responsible for the end-to-end physical design and architectural integrity of advanced, high-density Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs). This role is centered on design, development, and implementation of complex, multi-domain technical solutions for leading-edge hardware projects, including the development of critical deployment and implementation strategies.

+ Subject Matter Expert (SME), providing decisive technical leadership and direction to a sizeable team of layout and hardware engineers, driving excellence in design standards and execution. A core function involves proactively analyzing highly complex systems, diagnosing architectural gaps, and recommending innovative, scalable solutions that meet stringent performance metrics.

+ Acute business and technical acumen, involving the meticulous review and interpretation of detailed customer requirements and specifications. May function as a technical customer contact, simultaneously managing critical relationships with key technology vendors to influence design roadmaps and material selection.

+ Creating robust design plans for future products, and strategically modifying existing systems to exceed both customer expectations and internal quality standards. Utilizing advanced Computer-aided Design (CAD) software, the engineer will create, modify, and continuously improve complex PCB designs and layout techniques, solving challenging physical implementation problems while strictly adhering to all relevant industry regulations and internal compliance procedures.

+ Contributes to strategic project planning, scheduling, and formal design reviews. They provide critical, comprehensive feedback and high-level support to all engineering and manufacturing functions, ensuring seamless transition from the initial design phase through manufacturing to robust final product realization. They maintain continuous engagement with relevant industry knowledge and global regulations to ensure all designs and processes maintain long-term compliance and competitive advantage.

+ Responsible for mentoring, coaching, and developing junior and senior team members, cultivating specialized expertise within the PCB layout function to ensure continuous organizational knowledge transfer and technical succession.

Knowledge/Skills/Competencies

+ Deep, specialized expertise in high-speed, high-complexity, multi-layer, and high-density interconnect (HDI) PCB design for server and storage hardware.

+ Mastery of layout techniques to meet stringent SI/PI requirements, including controlled impedance routing, managing power distribution networks (PDN), optimizing return paths, and minimizing crosstalk for critical interfaces (e.g., DDR, PCIe).

+ Expert-level knowledge and application of Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), Design for Test (DFT), and Design for Cost/Supply Chain (DFSC) principles to ensure robust, high-volume production.

+ Advanced expertise in industry-leading Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software used for schematic capture and PCB layout.

+ Ability to proactively analyze complex electrical and mechanical systems, diagnose architectural gaps, and recommend innovative, scalable physical design solutions.

+ Up-to-date knowledge of relevant industry standards, regulations, and compliance requirements (e.g., EMC, safety standards).

+ Recognized subject matter expertise (SME) capable of providing decisive technical leadership and setting the strategic direction for PCB layout teams and projects.

+ Skill in defining, executing, and institutionalizing advanced PCB layout strategies, standards, and methodologies across an engineering organization.

+ Ability to develop and implement technical solutions and critical deployment/implementation strategies for complex, multi-domain projects.

+ Exceptional ability to serve as the primary technical interface and collaborator with diverse groups, including Electrical, Mechanical, SI/PI Simulation, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams.

+ Skill in managing critical relationships with both internal project leadership and external customers and key technology vendors.

+ Meticulous ability to review, interpret, and translate detailed customer requirements and technical specifications into actionable layout designs.

+ Proven ability to mentor, coach, and develop junior and senior team members, ensuring organizational knowledge transfer and technical succession.

+ Strong communication skills for presenting technical design decisions, participating actively in formal design reviews, and providing comprehensive feedback to all engineering functions.

+ Proven ability to solve challenging, physical implementation problems and troubleshoot complex layout-related manufacturing and field issues.

+ Active participation and contribution to strategic project planning, scheduling, and ensuring design adherence to project timelines.

+ Commitment to driving process optimization by evaluating and implementing new design tools, automation techniques, and industry best practices.

Physical Demands

+ Duties of this position are performed in a normal office environment.

+ Duties may require extended periods of sitting and sustained visual concentration on a computer monitor or on numbers and other detailed data.

+ Repetitive manual movements (e.g., data entry, using a computer mouse, using a calculator, etc.) are frequently required.

+ Occasional travel may be required.

Typical Experience

+ 10+ Years of Direct PCB Layout Experience with progressive experience in high-complexity PCB layout design, with a significant focus on high-speed digital systems.

+ Proven track record working specifically with server, storage, data center, or high-performance computing (HPC) platforms, where strict requirements for power integrity and signal integrity are mandatory.

+ Direct, continuous experience integrating Design for Excellence (DFX) principles (DFM, DFT) into the design cycle, working closely with manufacturing and supply chain partners to optimize for high-volume production.

+ Proven experience serving as the primary technical liaison between hardware engineering, simulation teams (SI/PI), and often acting as the technical contact for external OEM customers or key component vendors.

Typical Education

+ Bachelor of Science degree in a relevant engineering discipline, such as Electrical Engineering (EE), Electronics Engineering, or Computer Engineering.

+ Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field (preferred)

Notes

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees are held accountable for all duties of the job. Job duties and the % of time identified for any function are subject to change at any time.

Celestica 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, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

This policy applies to hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral and other aspects of employment and also states that retaliation against a person who files a charge of discrimination, participates in a discrimination proceeding, or otherwise opposes an unlawful employment practice will not be tolerated. All information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Celestica is an E-Verify employer.

COMPANY OVERVIEW:

Celestica (NYSE, TSX: CLS) enables the world’s best brands. Through our recognized customer-centric approach, we partner with leading companies in Aerospace and Defense, Communications, Enterprise, HealthTech, Industrial, Capital Equipment and Energy to deliver solutions for their most complex challenges. As a leader in design, manufacturing, hardware platform and supply chain solutions, Celestica brings global expertise and insight at every stage of product development – from drawing board to full-scale production and after-market services for products from advanced medical devices, to highly engineered aviation systems, to next-generation hardware platform solutions for the Cloud. Headquartered in Toronto, with talented teams spanning 40+ locations in 13 countries across the Americas, Europe and Asia, we imagine, develop and deliver a better future with our customers.

Celestica would like to thank all applicants, however, only qualified applicants will be contacted.

Celestica does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruitment agencies or fee based recruitment services.