PCB Layout Engineer

Job Title: PCB Layout Engineer
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Work Model: Onsite
Experience: 8+ years
Employment Type: Contract
Industry: Data Center Hardware / High-Speed Computing

Job Overview

We are looking for an experienced PCB Layout Engineer with strong hands-on expertise in Cadence Allegro PCB Designer and CAD tools to support the development of complex, high-density PCB designs for data center server boards.

The ideal candidate will have experience designing high-speed digital, mixed-signal, and power PCBs involving advanced processors, SoCs, FPGAs, and high-speed memory interfaces. The candidate must be comfortable working with complex board layouts, HDI technology, constraint-driven design, and close collaboration with electrical and mechanical engineering teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end PCB layout process for complex, high-density server and computing boards.
• Perform high-speed digital layout for interfaces such as DDR4/DDR5, LPDDR5, HBM, PCIe Gen 5/6, and USB 3.2 or higher.
• Develop and maintain controlled-impedance routing, length matching, differential-pair routing, and crosstalk mitigation strategies.
• Create and enforce PCB layout design rules for high-speed digital, analog, mixed-signal, and power domains.
• Review schematics and provide layout-related feedback on component placement, power distribution, and signal routing.
• Collaborate with electrical and mechanical engineers to resolve board-outline, connector-placement, thermal, and stack-up constraints.
• Support PCB stack-up definition, HDI design, and blind/buried microvia implementation.
• Perform design reviews and ensure layouts meet signal-integrity, manufacturability, and reliability requirements.
• Work with PCB fabricators and contract manufacturers on DFM, DFA, and DFT requirements.
• Maintain and improve PCB footprints, component libraries, layer stack-up libraries, and PCB design standards.
• Provide net tracing, layout documentation, revision analysis, and prototype-to-production support.
• Ensure PCB layouts comply with applicable design rules and manufacturing requirements.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional PCB layout and CAD experience.
• Advanced hands-on experience with Cadence Allegro PCB Designer.
• Cadence Allegro Layout version 23.1 or above is mandatory.
• Strong experience with high-density, high-speed PCB design.
• Hands-on experience with HDI technology, including blind and buried microvias.
• Experience with complex SoC, microprocessor, FPGA, or Intel-based board designs.
• Experience designing boards with DDR5/LPDDR5, PCIe Gen 5/6, high-speed memory, and complex power-delivery networks.
• Strong knowledge of Cadence Constraint Editor (CES) and constraint-driven PCB design.
• Knowledge of controlled impedance, signal integrity, differential pairs, timing constraints, and high-speed routing.
• Strong understanding of DFM, DFA, and DFT principles.
• Experience with 2D/3D CAD tools and mechanical design constraints.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and technical presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience designing complex data center server, networking, or high-performance computing boards.
• Experience with Intel or other advanced SoC/microprocessor-based platforms.
• Experience supporting PCB designs from initial layout through prototype and production.
• Familiarity with PCB fabrication, assembly processes, and manufacturing yield improvement.