Avionics PCB Librarian / DesignerHouston, Texas, United States
Position Overview:We are seeking a talented and experienced PCB Designer to join our Avionics team as a Librarian/Designer. This role will work in collaboration with Avionics Leadership and Engineering to develop and maintain out component database. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in PCB Design and experience working in a fast paced Avionics environment.
Responsibilities- Create, maintain, and update the central ECAD component database across the Avionics organization.
- Design accurate schematic symbols and physical PCB footprints using IPC standards, and requirements from Avionics leadership.
- Work with mechanical engineers to create and integrate 3D STEP models into footprints for precise mechanical clearance checks.
- Aid engineering team in monitoring component lifecycles, marking parts as active, or obsolete.
- Own PCB layout execution for avionics boards, translating system and power requirements into electrically correct, flight-ready schematics and physical implementations.
- Collaborate on circuit-level analysis and simulation, supporting signal-integrity, power-integrity, and basic SPICE-based validation to ensure schematic intent is preserved through layout.
- Apply space-grade layout practices, including return-path control, grounding strategy, creepage/clearance, and thermal conduction.
- Define and manage PCB stackups and materials, including copper weights, plane strategy, controlled impedance, and compatibility with space avionics fabrication and assembly standards.
- Ensure manufacturability and testability, producing fabrication and assembly documentation, defining test points and probing strategy, and supporting board bring-up and debug.
- Support the full space avionics hardware lifecycle and testbeds, including configuration-managed releases, SRR/PDR/CDR participation as layout authority.
Required Skills- IPC CID Certification.
- Hands-on experiences in using Altium and other ECAD tools.
- Schematic capture and PCB layout expertise for complex analog, power, and mixed-signal avionics boards, with ownership from schematic release through layout and fabrication.
- High-reliability PCB layout proficiency, including switching-loop control, return-path management, grounding strategy, Kelvin sensing, creepage/clearance, and thermal via implementation.
- PCB stackup and materials knowledge, including copper weights, plane strategy, controlled-impedance routing, and space-compatible laminate selection.
- Manufacturability and testability focus, with experience generating fabrication/assembly documentation, defining test points, and supporting board bring-up and debug.
- Simulation and analysis support capability, including basic SPICE, signal-integrity, or power-integrity analysis to validate schematic and layout intent.
- Space avionics hardware lifecycle experience, including configuration-controlled releases and participation in SRR/PDR/CDR and flight-hardware reviews.
Desired Skills- 5-8 years of direct spaceflight avionics layout experience, including Single board computer, EPS, or payload boards flown or qualified for space.
- IPC CID+ Certification.
- Familiar with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and basic drawing dimension practices.
- Experience maintaining Component Library.
- Experience developing design plans and reports as needed.
- Experience in documenting, implementing, and improving processes involving PCB Layout and Component Libraries.
- High-power or high-speed design experience, including dense power distribution, high-current rails, or high-speed interfaces (e.g., PCIe, Ethernet) and control bus (CAN, RS485).
- Radiation-aware and derating-driven design familiarity, including layout considerations for long-life space missions.
