ECAD Designer (PADS & Altium Designer)

Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced ECAD Designer to support the development of new electronic products and sustain existing designs. The ideal candidate will be responsible for schematic capture, PCB layout, ECAD library management, and manufacturing documentation while working closely with electrical, mechanical, manufacturing, and test engineers.
This position requires proficiency with OrCAD Capture, PADS, and Altium Designer. The successful candidate will support legacy products while helping migrate future designs to Altium.

Essential Responsibilities
Create electronic schematics using OrCAD Capture and Altium Designer.
Perform schematic symbol verification and maintain schematic design standards.
Design complex multilayer PCBs for analog, digital, mixed-signal, and power electronics.
Convert legacy designs from PADS and OrCAD into Altium Designer when required.
Collaborate with electrical engineers during component selection, schematic development, and PCB layout.
Develop PCB stackups considering:
Signal integrity
Power integrity
EMC/EMI
Thermal performance
Manufacturability
Reliability
Create and maintain ECAD component libraries, including:
Schematic symbols
PCB footprints
3D models
Parameter databases
Generate complete manufacturing documentation, including:
Gerber/ODB++ files
Fabrication drawings
Assembly drawings
Drill files
Pick-and-place files
Bill of Materials (BOM)
Assembly outputs
Perform electrical rule checks (ERC) and design rule checks (DRC).
Coordinate design reviews with cross-functional engineering teams.
Work closely with mechanical engineers to ensure enclosure compatibility and connector alignment.
Support prototype assembly, engineering validation, debugging, and production release.
Interface with PCB fabrication and assembly vendors to resolve manufacturing issues.
Participate in Engineering Change Orders (ECO/ECN) and continuous product improvement activities.

Required Qualifications
Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Technology, or equivalent experience.
5+ years of ECAD design experience.
Strong experience with:
OrCAD Capture
PADS Professional / PADS Layout
Altium Designer
Experience with both schematic capture and PCB layout.
Experience designing:
4–20 layer PCBs
Mixed-signal circuits
Precision analog circuits
Digital embedded systems
High-current and power electronics
Strong understanding of:
PCB fabrication processes
PCB assembly processes
IPC standards
Design for Manufacturability (DFM)
Design for Assembly (DFA)
Design for Test (DFT)
Ability to create complete manufacturing release packages.

Preferred Qualifications
Experience converting legacy OrCAD/PADS/KiCad designs and libraries into Altium Designer.
Experience supporting high-voltage and industrial instrumentation products.
Knowledge of EMC/EMI design techniques.
Experience with controlled impedance routing and high-speed digital layouts.
Familiarity with:
IPC-2221
IPC-7351
IPC-A-610
Experience with SAP, PLM, or product lifecycle management systems.
Experience collaborating with contract manufacturers and PCB fabricators.

Technical Skills
Preferred experience with:
OrCAD Capture
Altium Designer
PADS Professional
PADS Layout
Altium Draftsman
KiCad Layout
CAM software
SolidWorks ECAD/MCAD collaboration
Microsoft Office
Knowledge of:
Schematic capture best practices
Component library creation and maintenance
Differential pair routing
Controlled impedance design
High-speed PCB layout
Ethernet
USB
CAN
SPI
I²C
DDR memory layout
Power distribution networks
Thermal management
Gap and creepage requirements
Grounding and shielding techniques

Soft Skills
Strong attention to detail.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Strong analytical and troubleshooting abilities.
Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and within cross-functional teams.
Commitment to producing accurate, high-quality engineering documentation.

Desired Experience
Candidates with experience in the following areas are highly desirable:
Industrial test and measurement equipment
Embedded systems
Precision analog measurement circuits
Power electronics
High-current designs
Protective relay test equipment
Regulatory compliance (EMC, safety)
Legacy-to-modern ECAD tool migration

Success Metrics
The successful candidate will:
Produce accurate schematics and PCB layouts that require minimal redesign.
Deliver complete manufacturing documentation on schedule.
Support smooth transitions from prototype to production.
Maintain high-quality ECAD libraries and design standards.
Contribute to successful migration of legacy designs from OrCAD and PADS to Altium Designer.
Minimize PCB layout iterations through proactive collaboration with engineering, manufacturing, and suppliers.
This version reflects a senior ECAD role that owns the complete electronic design flow—from schematic capture through PCB layout and manufacturing release—using OrCAD Capture, PADS, and Altium Designer. It also emphasizes migration of legacy designs, which is a common requirement in organizations transitioning to Altium.

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