Department: Engineering / Quality Assurance
Reports To: Lead Hardware Test Manager / VP of Engineering
Position Summary
The PCB Test Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and executing comprehensive test strategies for printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA) through all stages of the product lifecycle. This role ensures complex hardware designs meet rigorous performance, reliability, and manufacturing standards prior to mass deployment.
Key Responsibilities
Test Strategy & Design: Develop In-Circuit Testing (ICT), Flying Probe, and Design for Testability (DFT) guidelines for high-density, multi-layer rigid/flexible PCBAs.
Functional Test Fixtures: Design and assemble automated functional test equipment (ATE), custom test fixtures, bed-of-nails hardware, and adapter boards.
Test Automation & Scripting: Write, optimize, and maintain test automation scripts using Python, C/C++, or LabVIEW to interface with instruments (oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers).
Failure Analysis & Debug: Perform component-level troubleshooting, root-cause analysis (RCA), and signal integrity/power integrity debugging on failed boards using schematics and layout viewers.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with hardware design engineers to implement DFT improvements during schematic capture and layout reviews. Work with contract manufacturers (CMs) to deploy test systems.
Compliance & Validation: Lead Environmental Stress Screening (ESS), thermal cycling, HALT/HASS, and EMI/EMC pre-compliance validation.
Documentation & Data Analysis: Document test protocols, maintain engineering change orders (ECOs), analyze yield metrics, and present statistical pass/fail data.
Qualifications & Requirements
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical discipline.
Experience: 3–5+ years of hands-on experience in PCB testing, test fixture development, and board bring-up.
Hardware/EDA Proficiency: Experience reviewing schematics and layouts in EDA software (Altium Designer, Cadence Allegro, Siemens Xpedition, or Zuken CR-8000).
Equipment Knowledge: Mastery of benchtop diagnostic equipment (DMMs, high-speed oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, protocol analyzers).
Software/Scripting: Proficiency in Python, C/C++, LabVIEW, or SCPI commands for instrument control.
Protocols: Direct working knowledge of communications protocols (SPI, I2C, UART, PCIe, Ethernet, USB).
Preferred Qualifications
Experience with boundary scan testing (JTAG / IEEE 1149.1 standard).
Familiarity with IPC-A-610 standards and ISO 9001/13485 manufacturing environments.
Experience with RF circuit testing and high-speed digital validation.