MacroFab

Hardware Engineer – PCB Manufacturing & DFM

Posted Yesterday

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Hiring Remotely in Guadalajara, Jalisco, MEX

Remote

Entry level

Hardware • Internet of Things

The Role

Reviews PCB fabrication data from initial file review through production release. Evaluates Gerber files, drill files, stack-ups, panelization, impedance requirements, and manufacturability constraints. Identifies fabrication issues, recommends solutions, communicates with customers and suppliers, approves manufacturing files, and supports root-cause investigations. Requires strong PCB manufacturing and design knowledge, analytical skills, attention to detail, communication abilities, and advanced English proficiency.

Summary Generated by Built In

Hardware Engineer – PCB Manufacturing & DFM
MacroFab is the first digital marketplace and intelligent manufacturing platform focused on the $500B market in contract electronics manufacturing. Our technology and services allow customers to rapidly bring new products to market and consume manufacturing as a virtualized resource by offering instant price quotes, rapid prototyping services, and production at scale through a network of factories in North America. Our partners gain a source of low overhead manufacturing jobs, allowing them to fully subscribe their factory capacity and eliminate idle time.
Come join a rapidly growing team where you can take ownership of your role and build your career at MacroFab.
macrofab.com
Role Specifics
In this role, you will be responsible for reviewing PCB fabrication data and supporting the manufacturing engineering process from initial file review through production release. You will primarily work with Gerber files, NC drill files, stack-ups, fabrication drawings, panelization, and other manufacturing data to ensure PCB designs are manufacturable and meet customer requirements and supplier capabilities.
You will work closely with PCB fabrication suppliers, customers, and internal teams to identify and resolve manufacturing issues, evaluate fabrication options, and provide practical technical solutions while maintaining the customer's design intent.
The ideal candidate is comfortable working independently, managing multiple engineering requests, making technical recommendations, and taking ownership of issues through resolution.
In this role, you’ll get:

Review Gerber data and PCB fabrication files to verify design intent, manufacturability, and compliance with supplier capabilities.
Review and analyze PCB fabrication data, including Gerber files, NC drill files, fabrication drawings, stack-up information, and panel files.
Identify potential manufacturing issues such as minimum trace/space violations, drill limitations, annular ring issues, copper clearances, solder mask concerns, board edge requirements, layer stack-up issues, and other PCB fabrication constraints.
Review impedance control requirements and perform or evaluate impedance calculations.
Evaluate PCB manufacturing exceptions and determine appropriate fabrication solutions while preserving the customer's design intent.
Provide clear technical recommendations and alternative solutions when a design does not meet a supplier's manufacturing capabilities.
Communicate directly with PCB fabrication suppliers to clarify capabilities, resolve technical questions, and negotiate practical manufacturing solutions.
Communicate with customers and internal teams to clarify requirements, explain manufacturing limitations, and recommend solutions.
Review and approve working files prior to releasing designs for fabrication.
Review engineering tickets to determine tasks, priorities, and appropriate escalation levels.
Investigate PCB manufacturing issues and support root-cause analysis when problems occur during or after production.

Must-have skills

Solid understanding of how printed circuit boards (PCBs) are manufactured, from fabrication data preparation through the finished PCB.
Strong understanding of Gerber files and PCB fabrication data, with the ability to review them for manufacturability.
Understanding basic PCB manufacturing processes, including imaging, etching, drilling, plating, solder mask, surface finish, routing, and electrical testing.
Strong understanding of PCB design fundamentals, including layers, traces, pads, vias, copper pours, clearances, solder mask, silkscreen, board outlines, and drill files.
Basic-to-intermediate understanding of electronic and electrical engineering concepts.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with customers, PCB fabrication suppliers, and internal teams.
Advanced English proficiency (written and spoken). The candidate must be able to communicate effectively in English with customers and PCB fabrication suppliers, discuss technical issues, participate in meetings, and write clear technical documentation and emails.

What separates the best from the rest?
Added bonuses you have...

Professional experience in PCB manufacturing, PCB fabrication engineering, DFM, or hardware engineering.
Experience reviewing Gerber files and PCB fabrication data in a production environment.
Experience reviewing and approving panelization and manufacturing working files.
Experience evaluating manufacturing exceptions and developing alternative fabrication approaches.
Understanding of IPC standards, particularly IPC-A-600, IPC-A-610, and IPC-A-6011 series standards.
PCB design experience using tools such as Altium Designer, KiCad, Fusion, or similar ECAD tools.
Experience using Gerber viewers, CAM, DFM, or other PCB manufacturing software to inspect fabrication data.
Experience with impedance-controlled PCB designs and stack-up development.
Experience with root-cause analysis, RMA investigations, or PCB manufacturing quality issues.

Skills Required

Solid understanding of PCB manufacturing from fabrication data preparation through finished PCB
Strong understanding of Gerber files and PCB fabrication data, including manufacturability review
Understanding of PCB manufacturing processes including imaging, etching, drilling, plating, solder mask, surface finish, routing, and electrical testing
Strong understanding of PCB design fundamentals, including layers, traces, pads, vias, copper pours, clearances, solder mask, silkscreen, board outlines, and drill files
Basic-to-intermediate understanding of electronic and electrical engineering concepts
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail
Strong communication skills and ability to work with customers, PCB fabrication suppliers, and internal teams
Advanced written and spoken English proficiency
Professional experience in PCB manufacturing, PCB fabrication engineering, DFM, or hardware engineering
Experience reviewing Gerber files and PCB fabrication data in a production environment
Experience reviewing and approving panelization and manufacturing working files
Experience evaluating manufacturing exceptions and developing alternative fabrication approaches
Understanding of IPC-A-600, IPC-A-610, and IPC-A-6011 standards
PCB design experience using Altium Designer, KiCad, Fusion, or similar ECAD tools
Experience using Gerber viewers, CAM, DFM, or PCB manufacturing software
Experience with impedance-controlled PCB designs and stack-up development
Experience with root-cause analysis, RMA investigations, or PCB manufacturing quality issues