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