Senior PCB Design Layout Engineer

Penguin Solutions•Newark, CA

11d•$150,000 - $170,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Penguin Solutions is seeking a Senior PCB Design Layout Engineer to support the development of high-performance memory and advanced hardware products. The role focuses on complex PCB layout and design execution for high-speed digital, mixed-signal, and power applications, including memory modules, custom memory platforms, and advanced system-level designs. The engineer will use Cadence Allegro and OrCAD Capture and apply high-speed routing, controlled-impedance design, SI/PI principles, HDI technologies, PCB stack-up development, power-delivery considerations, and manufacturability requirements. The position collaborates closely with hardware engineering, SI/PI, mechanical, manufacturing, test, fabrication, assembly, and customer-facing teams to deliver reliable, manufacturable designs from concept through production release. This is a hybrid position located in either Irvine, California, or Newark, California. No travel is anticipated.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics, or a related technical discipline preferred; equivalent experience will be considered.
8+ years of PCB design/layout experience for high-speed digital, mixed-signal, and power designs.
5+ years of hands-on experience with Cadence Allegro and OrCAD Capture.
Strong experience with high-speed digital design practices, controlled-impedance routing, differential-pair routing, length matching, timing/skew management, topology implementation, return paths, and crosstalk considerations.
Experience with complex multilayer PCBs, including preferably 12–24+ layers, HDI, blind/buried vias, microvias, via-in-pad, sequential lamination, fine-pitch BGAs, and advanced fabrication constraints.
Experience with power supply circuits, analog circuits, mixed-signal layout practices, and power delivery considerations.
Ability to read, interpret, and apply component manufacturer data sheets, reference designs, layout guidelines, and fabrication requirements.
Ability to interface with customers and internal stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into manufacturable PCB designs.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, ownership mindset, and excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree.
Working knowledge of JEDEC DDR4 and DDR5 standards.
Experience with DDR3, MRDIMM, CXL, PCIe, or other high-speed memory interfaces.
Experience designing memory modules, server boards, accelerator cards, storage products, or high-speed embedded systems.
Experience with invention disclosure or patent processes.
Ability to identify areas of innovation in memory design.

Responsibilities

Own PCB design layout execution from initial floor planning through release to fabrication and assembly.
Work with hardware engineers, SI/PI engineers, mechanical engineers, PCB designers, manufacturing, and test teams to design new products and modify or sustain existing products.
Create PCB component footprints, when needed, according to applicable IPC standards and manufacturer data sheets.
Create and review multilayer PCB stack-ups for impedance-controlled, high-speed, mixed-signal, power, and HDI designs.
Define board outlines, mechanical constraints, placement keepouts, route keepouts, and other physical design requirements.
Identify signal topologies and implement electrical constraints using Cadence Allegro Constraint Manager.
Perform component placement and PCB routing, including differential pairs, controlled-impedance lines, fine-pitch BGA escape routing, and tight length matching.
Define and implement high-speed PCB design constraints for DDR, PCIe, CXL, and other high-speed interfaces.
Work with SI/PI engineers on signal integrity, power integrity, stack-up definition, impedance control, routing strategies, return-path planning, and crosstalk mitigation.
Support power delivery network design through power-plane planning, decoupling strategy, and PDN-aware placement and routing.
Collaborate with PCB fabricators on stack-up, material selection, impedance targets, HDI construction, DFM, yield, cost, and schedule tradeoffs.
Prepare fabrication and assembly drawings, Gerber files, ODB++/IPC-2581 files as required, and complete PCB release packages.
Lead placement, routing, post-layout, and DFM reviews, and support schematic and manufacturing readiness reviews.
Mentor junior PCB designers and help improve PCB design standards, library practices, constraint methodology, and release processes.
Stay current with industry standards, PCB fabrication technologies, design tools, and best practices, and recommend improvements where appropriate.