Senior Electrical Engineer - PCB Design

Position Title: Senior Electrical Engineer, PCB Design
Requisition ID: 1894
Position Location: Remote
Position Reports To: Manager, PCB Design
Supervises Others: No

At Trident Systems, we believe that strong engineering principles are fundamental to driving innovation and solving complex problems. We promote a culture characterized by rigorous engineering practices and a commitment to continuous improvement. This is achieved by leveraging our organization's collective expertise through collaborative development processes, which include thorough design and peer reviews. We can deliver innovative, high-performance solutions that meet our customers' evolving requirements by integrating our specialized knowledge in aerospace electronic systems with appropriately scaled development methodologies.

We are a mission partner supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, and Civil space customers. We develop complex, radiation effects mitigated, designs that balance competing requirements in modern space programs, delivering cutting-edge solutions that enable our customers to achieve more in space. This role is ideal for a PCB Designer who is highly proficient in Altium Designer and enjoys tackling dense, high‑power, high‑speed, and RF PCB layouts, including DDR4/DDR5 memory interfaces, in challenging small‑form‑factor space applications.

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced PCB Designer to lead and execute complex printed circuit board layouts for advanced space-borne electronic systems. The ideal candidate has deep expertise with Altium Designer as the primary PCB CAD tool, and has a strong track record designing high‑power PCBs in compact form factors, with high‑speed digital, RF, and mixed‑signal content, including DDR4 and DDR5 memory interfaces. The candidate thrives in environments where precision, documentation discipline, and cross‑functional collaboration are essential. Experience in aerospace, defense, or other controlled industries is strongly preferred.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Own the end‑to‑end PCB layout process for digital, analog, RF, mixed‑signal, high‑speed, and high‑power designs using Altium Designer.
• Translate electrical schematics, mechanical constraints, and system‑level requirements into compact, high‑density, manufacturable PCB layouts, including high‑power boards in small form factors.
• Create and maintain PCB footprints, symbols, and component libraries within Altium Designer, ensuring consistency with IPC and internal standards.
• Perform stack‑up definition and impedance control for high‑speed differential pairs, RF transmission lines, and DDR4/DDR5 interfaces.
• Develop routing strategies for high‑speed serial links, RF paths, and DDR4/DDR5 buses, including length matching, skew control, via strategies, and crosstalk mitigation.
• Optimize layouts for thermal performance and current handling in high‑power designs, including copper pours, via stitching, thermal relief, and component placement for heat spreading.
• Collaborate closely with electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, manufacturing partners, and program teams to balance size, power, signal integrity, RF performance, and manufacturability.
• Conduct design reviews and incorporate feedback to ensure compliance with signal integrity, power integrity, RF performance, reliability, and regulatory requirements.
• Generate fabrication and assembly documentation, including Gerber/ODB++ files, drawings, and build packages, directly from Altium Designer.
• Work within configuration‑controlled environments and follow established processes for documentation, revision control, and release.
• Support prototype builds, troubleshooting, and iterative design improvements, including debug of high‑speed/DDR interfaces and high‑power thermal or layout issues.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 6+ years of related experience OR 4+ years of related experience with a graduate degree (10+ years of related experience can be considered in lieu of a degree)
• Professional PCB design experience in a production environment.
• Expert‑level proficiency with Altium Designer as the primary PCB CAD tool (experience with other high‑end PCB tools is a plus).
• Demonstrated experience designing complex, multi‑layer boards including high‑power PCBs in small form factors, high‑speed digital interfaces, RF/mixed‑signal sections, and controlled‑impedance routing.
• Hands‑on experience with DDR4 and/or DDR5 memory layout, including routing topologies, length matching, skew control, and reference plane management.
• Working knowledge of DFM/DFT, PCB fabrication processes, and assembly constraints, including high‑current routing, creepage/clearance, and thermal management for high‑power designs.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across engineering disciplines. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or similar 4-year degree in related field.
• Knowledge of signal integrity and power integrity principles for high‑speed digital (including DDR4/DDR5) and RF designs.
• Experience using SI/PI and RF simulation tools (e.g., HyperLynx, SIwave, ADS, Altium simulation features, or equivalent) to guide stack‑up and routing decisions.
• Experience implementing EMI/EMC best practices in dense, high‑power, high‑speed PCB designs.
• Experience with IPC standards (IPC‑2221, IPC‑7351, etc.).
• Familiarity with MIL‑STD, DO‑254, or other aerospace/defense design standards.
• Knowledge of signal integrity, power integrity, and simulation tools.
• Experience with PLM systems and configuration‑controlled workflows.
• Ability to mentor junior designers or guide best practices across teams.

Pay Information

Full-Time Salary Range: $74,000 - $155,000

Please Note: Actual compensation offered will be determined based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant experience, skills, education, certifications, internal equity, business considerations, and geographic location where applicable

Benefits 

Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits including but not limited to:

• Health benefits
  • Medical 
  • Dental 
  • Vision
  • Basic life with AD&D
  • Short-term disability
  • Long term disability
  • Ancillary (Voluntary life with AD&D, accident, critical illness, hospital, and pet)
  • Spending accounts (HSA, FSA, and DCFSA)
• Paid time off
• Holidays
• 401(k) (including company match)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Leaves (Parental, maternity, and military)
• Annual discretionary bonus (for eligible roles)

Trident Systems reserves the right to change or assign other duties to this position. 

Trident Solutions is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [email protected].

Pay Transparency: The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)