What are the responsibilities and job description for the SR PCB Design Project Lead position at Blue Signal Search?
SR PCB Design Project Lead
Location: On‑Site in Melbourne, FL
Type: Full‑time, Direct Hire
Domain: Advanced Electronics & Embedded Systems (Defense / Aerospace Adjacent)
About the Role
You’ll serve as the foundational electrical engineering lead for an advanced hardware program in a mission‑critical domain. As SR PCB Design Project Lead, you’ll architect and drive the development of complex multi‑layer, rigid‑flex, and backplane PCBs that operate reliably in demanding environments. You’ll work cross-functionally with mechanical, embedded systems, firmware, and test teams to bring prototypes to field‑ready systems - and you’ll guide future team growth. This is a rare chance to shape the hardware roadmap from day one.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead architecture, schematic, and PCB layout (multi‑layer, rigid‑flex, backplane) from concept through production.
- Derive electrical designs that satisfy system requirements, signal integrity, thermal, and manufacturability constraints.
- Integrate power management (switching, protection), analog, digital, and mixed‑signal circuit modules.
- Collaborate with mechanical, firmware, RF, and test engineering to ensure system coherence.
- Oversee PCB assembly, bring-up, debug, and validation activities.
- Enforce EMI/EMC best practices, shielding, and grounding strategies.
- Mentor junior engineers and establish design standards, processes, and review practices.
- Serve as a technical authority and interface with suppliers and manufacturers.
Required Qualifications
- Strong experience designing multi‑layer, rigid‑flex, or backplane PCBs using tools like Altium, KiCad, or equivalent.
- Proficiency in schematic capture, layout, and DFx (design for test, manufacturability).
- Hands-on experience in PCB bring-up, debugging, and field validation.
- Deep understanding of signal integrity, power integrity, noise coupling, EMI mitigation.
- Experience integrating analog, power, and digital domains.
- Excellent cross-disciplinary collaboration, communication, and leadership in small teams.
Preferred / Differentiators
- Experience with RF, wireless modules, or sensitive mixed‑signal systems.
- Prior work in ruggedized, aerospace, defense, or harsh environment hardware.
- Familiarity with IPC class standards, advanced fabrication techniques, or rigid‑flex stack-ups.
- Experience managing suppliers, contract manufacturers, or PCB houses.
What Makes It Compelling
- Ground-up hardware leadership in a high-stakes, mission-driven program.
- Direct impact on system performance, reliability, and field success.
- Opportunity for growth into senior technical or managerial roles.
- Close collaboration with a multi-disciplinary, high-performance engineering team.
- Exposure to challenging environments and cutting-edge designs.
About Blue Signal:
Blue Signal is an award-winning, executive search firm specializing in various specialties. Our recruiters have a proven track record of placing top-tier talent across industry verticals, with deep expertise in numerous professional services. Learn more at bit.ly/46Gs4yS
