How to hire a printed circuit designer

How to hire a printed circuit designer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step printed circuit designer hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a printed circuit designer job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new printed circuit designer
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a printed circuit designer, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect printed circuit designer also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of printed circuit designer salaries for various roles:

   Type of Printed Circuit Designer	Description	Hourly rate
   Printed Circuit Designer	Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings. Most workers specialize in architectural, civil, electrical, or mechanical drafting and use technical drawings to help design everything from microchips to skyscrapers.	$32-67
   Designer	A designer is someone who creates a master plan of the look or workings of something before it will be made. It could be tangible or intangible objects, products, procedures, laws, events, games, graphics, services, and even experiences... Show more	$21-46

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • PCB
   • IPC
   • RF
   • Analog
   • Mentor Graphics
   • Aerospace
   • Altium
   • Design Standards
   • Cadence Allegro
   • Assembly Drawings
   • OrCAD
   • DFM
   • Signal Integrity
   • Autocad

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Control and manage the testing documentation of magnetics and mechanical documents using custom small scale PDM system base on windows files.
   • Design dies using Siemens NX software and at times would use Catia.
   • Design and documentation of RF and analog print circuit assemblies for use in microwave communication equipment.
   • Operate all standard manual and CNC tool room equipment.
   • Test and repair digital and analog audio and high definition video switching / processing circuit boards after assembly.
   • Create new and re-engineer existing designs for both transfer and progressive dies, using Unigraphics NX3 and NX5.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your printed circuit designer job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A printed circuit designer salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, printed circuit designers' average salary in hawaii is 46% less than in nevada.
   • Seniority. Entry-level printed circuit designers earn 51% less than senior-level printed circuit designers.
   • Certifications. A printed circuit designer with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a printed circuit designer's salary.

   Average printed circuit designer salary

   $98,151yearly

   $47.19 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level printed circuit designer salary

   $68,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

4. Writing a printed circuit designer job description

   A good printed circuit designer job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a printed circuit designer job description:

   Printed circuit designer job description example

   We are currently searching for a Senior Printed Circuit Designer to join our team in Cedar Rapids, IA. This individual will have an understanding of Printed Circuit Board Fabrication and Circuit Card Assembly processing and manufacturing for use in high reliability environments, and will be responsible for preparing complex printed wiring board layouts per written and verbal engineering instruction.
   The ideal candidate will have:
   
   + Broad technical background designing high reliability Printed Circuit Boards per engineering requirements
   
   + Strong understanding of Electronic Hardware design, schematics, and PCB design documentation using Mentor Graphics 2.8, Blue Print 6.6 specifically.
   
   + Strong Customer Service orientation, to work with Design Engineering Customers
   
   + Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
   
   + Strong problem solving skills
   
   + Demonstrated ability to multitask and manage their work
   
   + Strong knowledge of Rockwell Collins Workmanship Standards and Modification Standards or IPC-A610
   
   + Be willing and able to mentor and coach junior level designers
   
   Job Responsibilities
   
   + Prepare complex PCB Design layouts, revisions or CAD library symbols per verbal instructions, electrical inputs, and existing hardware or engineering lab models, received from mechanical and electrical engineering and/or other technical support personnel to create highly complex circuit card assemblies incorporating Rockwell Collins best practice for fabrication, assembly and test
   
   + Interface and troubleshoot printed circuit designs, revisions and CAD library symbols with Manufacturing, Engineering and PCB fabrication vendors
   
   + Proficiently use Mentor Xpedition 2.8 schematic capture tool and Blue Print 6.6 as well as knowledge of design assembly and fabrication rules to prepare PCB designs
   
   + Prepare designs compliant to Rockwell Collins Workmanship Standards and Rockwell Collins Modification Standards
   
   + Follow through with work assignments and support management's policies and procedures
   
   + Support overtime as requested/required
   
   Qualifications
   
   + Associate's degree in Engineering/Technology, and nine years of related experience, or, in the absence of an associate's degree, four years of related experience.
   
   + Functional knowledge of IPC standards for Design and Acceptance Criteria of Printed Circuit and/or Circuit Card Assemblies.
   
   + Technical problem solving aptitude.
   
   + Must have a passion for accuracy and customer service.
   
   + Must be detail oriented with strong organizational skills and the ability to problem solve independently.
   
   + Must be able to obtain a DoD Clearance. U.S. citizenship required.
   
   Mission Systems:
   
   Do you want to be a part of something bigger? A team whose impact stretches across the world, and even beyond? At Collins Aerospace, our Mission Systems team helps civilian, military and government customers complete their most complex missions - whatever and wherever they may be. Our customers depend on us for intelligent and secure communications, missionized systems for specialized aircraft and spacecraft and collaborative space solutions. By joining our team, you'll have your own critical part to play in ensuring our customer succeeds today while anticipating their needs for tomorrow. Are you up for the challenge? Join our mission today.
   
   Diversity drives innovation; inclusion drives success. We believe a multitude of approaches and ideas enable us to deliver the best results for our workforce, workplace, and customers. We are committed to fostering a culture where all employees can share their passions and ideas so we can tackle the toughest challenges in our industry and pave new paths to limitless possibility.
   
   WE ARE REDEFINING AEROSPACE.
   
   Remote: Employees who are working in Remote roles will work primarily offsite (from home). An employee may be expected to travel to the site location as needed.
   
   Regardless of your role type, collaboration and innovation are critical to our business and all employees will have access to digital tools so they can work with colleagues around the world - and access to Collins sites when their work requires in-person meetings.
   
   Some of our competitive benefits package includes:
   
   •Medical, dental, and vision insurance
   
   •Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees
   
   •Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option
   
   •Tuition reimbursement program
   
   •Student Loan Repayment Program
   
   •Life insurance and disability coverage
   
   •Optional coverages you can buy: pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection
   
   •Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits
   
   •Ovia Health, fertility, and family planning
   
   •Adoption Assistance
   
   •Autism Benefit
   
   •Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions
   
   •Healthy You Incentives, wellness rewards program
   
   •Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits
   
   •Bright Horizons, child and elder care services
   
   •Teladoc Medical Experts, second opinion program
   
   • And more!
   
   Nothing matters more to Collins Aerospace than our strong ethical and safety commitments. As such, all U.S. positions require a background check, which may include a drug screen.
   
   Note:
   
   •Background check and drug screen required (every external new hire in the U.S.)
   
   Drug Screen only performed on re-hires who have been gone for more than 1 year
   
   Raytheon Technologies is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.
   
   Raytheon Technologies is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age or any other federally protected class.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right printed circuit designer for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with printed circuit designers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit printed circuit designers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your printed circuit designer job on Zippia to find and recruit printed circuit designer candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting printed circuit designers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new printed circuit designer

   Once you've selected the best printed circuit designer candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new printed circuit designer. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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