PCB Layout Engineer

PCB Layout Engineer – Menlo Park, CA

Job Title: PCB Layout Engineer
Location: Menlo Park, CA
Work Model: 100% Onsite – 5 Days/Week
Job Type: Contract
Client: Cognizant / Meta

Job Overview

We are seeking an experiencedPCB Layout Engineer to support hardware development and PCB design activities for a leading technology environment. The ideal candidate will have strong hands-on experience with PCB layout, high-speed/high-density board design, component placement, routing, and design-rule compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain complexPCB layouts for hardware products.
• Perform component placement, routing, and board-level layout optimization.
• Work closely withElectrical Engineers, Hardware Engineers, SI/PI Engineers, and Mechanical Engineers.
• Support high-speed and high-density PCB designs, including critical signal routing.
• Interpret schematics and translate electrical designs into production-ready PCB layouts.
• PerformDesign Rule Checks (DRC) and ensure layout compliance with design requirements.
• Support PCB stack-up development, layer planning, impedance-controlled routing, and power/ground distribution.
• Review layouts for manufacturability, signal integrity, thermal, and mechanical requirements.
• Generate and maintain PCB fabrication and assembly documentation.
• Participate in design reviews and troubleshoot layout-related issues.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams through prototype, validation, and production stages.

Required Skills

• Strong hands-on experience inPCB Layout / PCB Design.
• Experience with PCB design tools such asCadence Allegro, Altium Designer, or similar.
• Strong understanding ofschematics, PCB stack-ups, component placement, routing, and DRC.
• Experience withhigh-speed digital and/or mixed-signal PCB layouts.
• Knowledge ofsignal integrity (SI), power integrity (PI), impedance control, and differential pair routing.
• Understanding of PCB fabrication and assembly processes.
• Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and engineering drawings.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working onconsumer electronics, networking, computing, AR/VR, or other advanced hardware products.
• Experience withhigh-density multilayer PCBs.
• Knowledge of DDR, PCIe, USB, MIPI, Ethernet, or other high-speed interfaces.
• Experience with rigid-flex or flex PCB designs.
• Familiarity with PCB manufacturing constraints and DFM/DFA practices.
• Experience supporting prototype bring-up and engineering validation.