Principal PCB Design Engineer

Forming Our Future together

FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full semiconductor product life cycle - from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design de-bug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon FormFactor’s products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Rooted in our core values - Focus on the Customer, Ownership & Accountability, Respectfully & Effectively Communicate, and Motivate & Develop People - we foster an environment where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but celebrated. Everyone can make an impact here. Whether it's improving products, supporting customers, or positively influencing peers and the community, the contributions of our people matter.

Job Description:

Key Responsibilities

• Develop PCB logical designs, including netlist generation and routing constraints, based on customer requirements, schematics, and design documentation.
• Perform complete PCB physical layout activities, including component placement, routing, trace length matching, and design verification.
• Apply PCB electrical engineering principles for high-speed digital, RF, analog, mixed-signal, and power designs to meet product requirements.
• Optimize designs for manufacturability (DFM) by collaborating with PCB fabrication and assembly partners, implementing industry best practices to improve yield and reduce cost.
• Evaluate and validate new internal PCB design tools, providing feedback to development teams.
• Develop and enhance PCB design methodologies, processes, and best practices to improve efficiency, reduce design cycle time, and achieve quality objectives.
• Create and maintain design documentation, procedures, and training materials.
• Generate manufacturing and assembly data packages and support product release activities.
• Participate in and present design reviews to internal teams and customers.
• Investigate and resolve DFM and DFA issues raised by PCB fabrication and assembly vendors.

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor's Degree in Electrical or Electronics Engineering with a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience. Diploma holders with at least 5 years of PCB design experience will also be considered.
• Proficient in Cadence Allegro PCB Designer and Valor/CAM tools.
• Extensive experience in PCB design involving:
  • High-speed digital circuits
  • DDR memory interfaces
  • Flash memory designs
  • Analog and mixed-signal systems
  • PCB manufacturability optimization
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Schematic interpretation and netlist generation
  • Electrical and routing constraint development
  • Signal Integrity (SI) and Power Integrity (PI) concepts
  • PCB design verification and optimization
• Experience with HDI technologies, including blind vias, buried vias, and microvias, is an advantage.
• Experience in semiconductor test environments and Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) applications is a plus.
• Experience working directly with PCB fabrication and assembly suppliers to improve manufacturability, yield, and product quality.
• Knowledge of auto-router tools is advantageous.
• Hands-on experience with Cadence Allegro SKILL programming for tool customization and PCB design automation is a strong advantage.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Strong attention to detail, excellent teamwork skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting project deadlines.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills in English.

Skills:

Education & Experience: