PCB Layout / ECAD Designer

The role

The PCB Layout / ECAD Designer will develop and release printed circuit boards for advanced defense products. This person will work with electrical, mechanical, and firmware engineers to turn circuit designs into manufacturable PCB assemblies.

What you will do

• Perform PCB layout for digital, analog, mixed-signal, power, and safety-critical electronics.
• Collaborate with electrical engineers to understand schematics and design intent.
• Work with mechanical engineers to define board outlines and packaging constraints.
• Create and maintain PCB footprints, symbols, component libraries, and ECAD documentation.
• Support design-for-manufacturing, design-for-test, and design-for-assembly reviews.
• Generate fabrication and assembly outputs including Gerbers, ODB++, and pick-and-place files.
• Interface with PCB fabrication and assembly vendors.
• Participate in PCB design reviews and contribute to layout standards.
• Support ECOs, revision updates, and configuration-controlled release packages.
• Help improve ECAD workflows, library discipline, and documentation practices.

Required qualifications

• 3+ years of professional PCB layout or ECAD design experience.
• Proficiency with Altium Designer or similar professional PCB design tools.
• Experience laying out multi-layer printed circuit boards.
• Strong understanding of PCB fabrication, assembly processes, component footprints, and manufacturing documentation.
• Ability to interpret schematics and work closely with electrical engineers to implement design intent.
• Understanding of PCB design principles including component placement, routing strategy, grounding, power distribution, and layer stack-up development.
• Understanding of signal integrity concepts including EMI/EMC considerations, coupling and crosstalk mitigation, impedance control, shielding, and isolation.
• Working knowledge of applicable IPC standards and guidelines, and the workmanship requirements associated with IPC Class 1, 2, and 3 electronic assemblies.
• Experience creating fabrication and assembly output packages.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple board designs or revisions concurrently.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional engineering environment.

Nice to have

• Experience with high-density, mixed-signal, high-reliability, or safety-critical PCB designs.
• Experience with rigid-flex PCB design.
• Experience with Altium library management, component lifecycle tracking, or ECAD standards development.
• Familiarity with DFM/DFT practices, bed-of-nails test points, production test access, and panelization.
• Experience with IPC standards related to PCB design, component creation & footprints, fabrication, or assembly.
• Experience working with contract manufacturers, PCB fabricators, and assembly houses.
• Background in defense, aerospace, medical device, robotics, or other high-reliability electronics environments.
• Experience supporting ECOs, configuration management, and production release workflows.

Benefits

• Generous PTO policy
• Comprehensive medical coverage (80% company-paid for employee + dependents)
• Vision & dental (100% company-paid)
• Short and long-term disability coverage (100% company-paid)
• Generous 401(k) retirement plan
• Company-paid life insurance
• Great teammates and well stocked snacks

Before you apply

• We are committed to supporting relocation for the right candidates.

About the company

Kraken Kinetics designs and manufactures advanced kinetic solutions that enable modern warfighting capabilities for the United States Armed Forces and its allies. They specialize in mission-tailored warheads and firing systems for unmanned and autonomous weapon platforms.