Electronic Board Design Engineer

GuideTech LLC•Lenexa, KS

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

GuideTech is seeking an Electronic Board Designer to collaborate on updates and upgrades for their BRAIN flight computer, automated test stations, and manufacturing processes. This role also offers the opportunity to lead new board designs, including Electronic Speed Controllers (ESCs), Gimbal controllers, UAV Power Distribution Boards (PDBs), and new AI/computer-vision boards. Over time, the engineer will be responsible for leading these new designs from concept through release and manufacturing. The company, GuideTech, a subsidiary of Palladyne AI, specializes in high-performance avionics and autonomy software for aerospace, space, and defense systems. Their BRAIN flight computer integrates an NVIDIA Jetson Orin with a Zynq-7000 module for critical flight functions and various interfaces. GuideTech handles in-house inspection, bring-up, testing, and final assembly, while outsourcing PCB fabrication and SMT assembly. They also utilize hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) flight simulation to enhance integration and testing.

Requirements

Proven experience designing and releasing complex multilayer PCBAs/CCAs into volume production.
Strong experience with high-speed, mixed-signal, and embedded hardware systems.
Deep understanding of DFM/DFT, manufacturing processes, and production test strategies.
Experience working directly with PCB fabs, contract manufacturers, and fab/assembly documentation.
Familiarity with failure analysis, root-cause investigation, and yield improvement.
Experience with FPGA SoCs (e.g., Zynq), Vivado, hardware integration, simulation, and on-chip debug.
Experience with high-speed interfaces such as SPI, I2C, CAN, USB, MIPI, or DDR.
Strong bring-up, debugging, signal analysis, and lab instrumentation skills.
Familiarity with power design and embedded system integration.

Nice To Haves

RTL/VHDL experience is a plus.
Power electronics, motor control, or camera systems experience.
HIL/test automation experience.
UAV, robotics, aerospace, or avionics experience.
IPC or avionics standards experience.

Responsibilities

Design and develop complex multilayer PCBAs/CCAs for next-generation UAV and AI platforms.
Design and release complex embedded hardware systems, including schematics, constraints, stack-ups, layout guidance, design reviews, DFM/DFT, and controlled releases.
Work with FPGA-based systems (e.g., Zynq/Vivado), including hardware integration, timing constraints, debugging, and system validation.
Support board bring-up, debugging, and signal analysis across high-speed and mixed-signal systems using lab instrumentation and simulation tools.
Collaborate closely across hardware, FPGA, and embedded software teams to develop reliable real-time systems.
Lead end-to-end hardware development from concept through production for ESCs, gimbal controllers, power distribution, and AI/computer-vision boards.
Own transition from prototype to volume production for complex PCBAs/CCAs, including fab/assembly documentation, impedance requirements, and production test strategy.
Apply DFM/DFT best practices to improve manufacturability, yield, reliability, and repeatability.
Work directly with PCB fabs and contract manufacturers to support production, quality, and manufacturability efforts.
Develop and support production test methodologies, including functional test, fixtures, and failure analysis.
Lead yield improvement and root-cause analysis across fab, assembly, and field returns.
Manage ECNs/PCNs and hardware revision control throughout the product lifecycle.