Staff Hardware Design Engineer

Celestica International LP•San Jose, CA

About The Position

The Staff Engineer, PCB Technology Expert leads and supports the design, fabrication, and assembly of advanced printed circuit boards. This role requires deep technical expertise in PCB materials, stack-up design, signal integrity, manufacturing processes, and reliability. The expert will work cross-functionally with electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, and supplier teams to ensure robust, high-performance PCB solutions from concept through production.

Requirements

Expert knowledge of:
PCB materials and laminate systems
HDI, microvias, blind/buried vias
Signal & power integrity principles
PCB fabrication and assembly processes
Familiarity with PCB CAD tools (Altium, Cadence Allegro etc.)
Strong understanding of IPC standards (IPC-2221, IPC-6012, IPC-A-600, IPC-A-610)
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
Excellent communication and documentation abilities
Ability to influence technical decisions across teams
Mentorship and leadership mindset
8+ years of hands-on experience in PCB design, fabrication, or advanced electronics manufacturing
Proven experience with complex, high-layer-count or high-speed PCBs
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Materials Science, or related field

Nice To Haves

Experience with high-reliability electronics
Knowledge of advanced packaging or embedded component PCBs
Experience working directly with global PCB manufacturers
Master’s degree preferred

Responsibilities

Serve as the subject-matter expert for PCB technology, materials, fabrication, and assembly processes
Define PCB design standards, best practices, and design-for-manufacturing (DFM/DFA/DFR) guidelines
Review and approve complex PCB designs, stack-ups, and fabrication drawings
Develop and optimize multilayer PCB stack-ups (HDI, rigid, flex, rigid-flex)
Analyze and mitigate signal integrity, power integrity, EMI/EMC, and thermal issues
Select appropriate materials (FR-4, high-speed laminates, polyimide, etc.)
Support high-speed, high-power PCB designs
Collaborate with PCB fabricators and assemblers to ensure manufacturability and yield
Resolve fabrication and assembly issues (via-in-pad, microvias, delamination, warpage, defects)
Evaluate and qualify new PCB technologies, processes, and suppliers
Support cost reduction, yield improvement, and process optimization initiatives
Drive PCB reliability testing (thermal cycling, vibration, humidity, CAF, solder joint reliability)
Ensure compliance with industry standards (IPC, UL, RoHS, REACH)
Perform failure analysis and root cause investigations
Mentor junior engineers and designers
Support product development, NPI, and sustaining engineering teams
Provide technical input during design reviews and program milestones