Senior Technician: PCB Design
Senior Technician: PCB Design
Pretoria, ZA
About the role
We are seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Senior Technician – PCB Designer to join our engineering team. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and optimising printed circuit board (PCB) designs, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and supporting the integration of mechanical and manufacturing processes. This role plays a key part in driving quality, reliability, and innovation across our electronic product designs.
Qualifications and Experience:
- Minimum T3/N6/S4 Diploma in Electronic Engineering.
- Preferably a B-Tech or Advanced Diploma in Electronic Engineering.
- Minimum 7 years, 10 years' preferred experience.
- Experience with multi-layer PCB, Radio Frequency (RF) design, and design-for-manufacture (DFM/DFA) principles.
Key Technical Skills:
- Proficiency in PCB design tools (e.g., Altium Designer or equivalent).
- Strong understanding of Institute for Printed Circuits (IPC) standards and PCB manufacturing processes.
- Knowledge of impedance control, signal integrity, and thermal management.
- Ability to interpret electronic schematics and 3D mechanical drawings.
- Familiarity with fabrication tolerances, materials selection, and assembly guidelines.
- Excellent documentation, revision control, and version management practices.
Key Responsibilities
1. PCB Design and Layout
- Develop PCB designs from initial schematic capture to final layout, ensuring alignment with engineering requirements.
- Interpret electronic schematics and implement effective layouts using PCB design tools.
- Apply IPC and industry standards to ensure quality, reliability, and compliance.
- Design RF and multi-layer boards with consideration for signal integrity and thermal management.
2. Mechanical and Manufacturing Integration
- Interpret 3D mechanical drawings to ensure PCB fit within enclosures.
- Create PCB layouts that integrate seamlessly with mechanical design requirements.
- Collaborate with engineers for DFA/DFM compliance.
- Liaise with production teams to verify manufacturability and assembly compliance.
3. Design Reviews and Documentation
- Arrange and host internal design reviews for PCB layouts.
- Maintain accurate documentation including schematics, Bill of Materials (BOMs), and fabrication drawings.
- Ensure all PCB design data is properly archived and version-controlled.
4. Supplier and Production Liaison
- Liaise with PCB manufacturers to define and communicate fabrication specifications.
- Support procurement by following up on production orders and delivery schedules.
- Provide technical feedback and guidance on fabrication tolerances and finishing processes.
5. Continuous Improvement Support
- Identify opportunities for design optimisation in performance, cost, and manufacturability.
- Stay updated with advancements in PCB design tools, technologies, and standards.
- Mentor and support junior technicians in PCB design practices and tool usage.
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RF, Maintenance, Engineer, Fabrication, Equity, Science, Manufacturing, Engineering, Finance