--- title: 'Principal PCB Design Engineer at Echodyne Corp' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/principal-pcb-design-engineer-echodyne-corp-kirkland-g8t98enzmm8r' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-26' --- # Principal PCB Design Engineer at Echodyne Corp - **Company:** Echodyne Corp - **Location:** Kirkland, WA - **Compensation:** $165k–$247k - **Posted:** 2026-10-21 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-26 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/echodynecorp/jobs/4722896006 ## Job description Radar Reinvented. Echodyne offers the world’s first compact solid-state true beam-steering radar for a wide range of industries and applications. Our high-performance radars work in all weather and are designed for autonomous vehicles, uncrewed aircraft & drones, and security of borders, critical infrastructure, and smart cities. The company combines the patented technology of metamaterials with powerful software to create a radar sensor with unprecedented performance at commercial price points. Echodyne offers its radars to companies working in Automotive, Transportation, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Border Security, Smart Cities, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), and Airspace Management including Urban Air Mobility (UTM). Principal PCB Design Engineer Advanced Technology Development ## ROLE OVERVIEW Echodyne is seeking a Principal PCB Design Engineer to join the Advanced Technology Development team and lead physical design for demanding RF, high-speed digital, mixed-signal, and power electronics used in rapid radar prototypes and future products. You will join a high-performing, cross-disciplinary team where senior engineers have meaningful technical ownership, run fast experiments, and see their work move directly into future radar products. You will work on prototype development, including tiled-aperture electronics, distributed beam control, modular RF and compute hardware, and fast calibration and test infrastructure. The ideal candidate combines deep PCB design expertise with sound technical judgment, close supplier engagement, and the ability to balance electrical performance with reliable, repeatable manufacturing. ## RESPONSIBILITIES - Lead PCB physical design for advanced technology prototypes, advanced test vehicles, and future high-performance radar platforms - Translate RF, antenna, analog, high-speed digital, power, mechanical, and manufacturing requirements into practical stackups, constraints, placement, routing, and interconnect solutions - Create prototype boards, coupons, and test vehicles that prove new materials, structures, fabrication methods, and assembly approaches - Collaborate with RF, electrical, mechanical, systems, manufacturing, suppliers, and key stakeholders to deliver mission-critical hardware within demanding engineering constraints - Apply modern best-practices and establish reusable guidance for design for manufacturing (DFM), design for assembly (DFA), design for test (DFT), reliability, stackups, and known layout limits - Provide Principal-level leadership through design reviews, supplier collaboration, mentoring, hands-on prototype bring-up, and transition of proven PCB solutions into product development ## REQUIRED SKILLS / EXPERIENCE - Strong hands-on experience designing complex multilayer PCBs for RF, high-speed digital, mixed-signal, analog, or power applications - Advanced proficiency with Altium Designer or an equivalent PCB design platform, including constraint management, library use, fabrication outputs, and design review - Strong knowledge of stackups, controlled impedance, return paths, via structures, interconnects, laminates, finishes, tolerances, and PCB fabrication processes - Practical command of signal integrity, power integrity, EMI and EMC, thermal behavior, reliability, design for manufacturing, design for assembly, and design for test - Experience translating schematics, performance budgets, and interface requirements into manufacturable placement and routing decisions - Experience working directly with PCB fabricators, assembly suppliers, materials and process engineers, and prototype build teams - Ability to communicate design decisions, constraints, and risks clearly ## DESIRED SKILLS / EXPERIENCE (Looking for one or more as a complement to the core skills) - Experience developing PCB technologies for radar, phased arrays, aerospace, defense, sensing, or other high-reliability and mission-critical products - Experience in advanced technology development, applied research, rapid prototyping, or early hardware technology maturation - Experience with antenna or RF-aperture PCB implementation, HDI, high-layer-count boards, rigid-flex, flex circuits, PTFE, mixed-material stackups, or metal-backed boards - Experience laying out high-speed data converters, clock and frequency-synthesizer circuits, downconversion chains, FPGA or SoC interfaces, or high-current power distribution - Competence with analysis tools such as Ansys Electronics Desktop, SIwave, High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS), HyperLynx, Sigrity, or equivalent signal, power, and electromagnetic analysis tools - Experience with supplier capability studies, qualification builds, design of experiments, yield analysis, failure analysis, or corrective action - IPC CID, CID+, or another relevant PCB design certification ## QUALIFICATION - BS in Electronics, Electrical Engineering Technology, or a related technical field and at least 12 years of relevant PCB design experience, or equivalent experience - Eligibility to handle export-controlled technical data, including ITAR- and EAR-controlled information Echodyne’s technology is export controlled by the U.S. Government and we must evaluate an applicant’s eligibility to handle export-controlled information or obtain required Government authorizations.  Therefore, we will ask you as part of the application process to identify whether you are a U.S. Citizen or green card holder, or have asylum/refugee status in the U.S. ## WHAT WE OFFER This is an exempt role. The expected annual salary range for this role is $164,594—$246,788 USD If your skills generally align but not perfectly, please apply anyway. There may be another role that’s a great fit for you! We offer competitive compensation and benefits to our full-time, US-based employees, including: - RSU (Restricted Stock Units) - Generous Benefits: - Fully-paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums for you - Choice of PPO or HDHP/HSA - Virtual Care – 98Point6 - Employee Assistance Program - Mental Health coverage through Springhealth & Talkspace (Premera) - Travel Assistance Insurance - Company Paid Life Insurance - Company Paid Short & Long Term Disability - Flexible PTO (exempt) / 15 days per year (non-exempt) - 401(k) match - Pet Insurance - Prepaid Legal Program - Commuter Benefits - Paid Company Holidays All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran or any other characteristic protected by law. ## About Echodyne Corp ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Echodyne designs and manufactures advanced, solid-state metamaterials electronically scanned array (MESA) radar systems for defense, government, critical infrastructure, and UAS/AAM markets. - **Entity Type**: Private (Privately Held) – Venture-backed - **Headquarters**: Kirkland, Washington, United States - **Founded**: 2014 - **Founders**: Eben Frankenberg (CEO & Co-Founder) ## Core Business - **Primary Industries**: Defense, Government, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Autonomous Vehicles - **Target Customers**: B2B and B2G – End users, system integrators, and OEMs in defense, government, and commercial security markets across 40+ countries - **Mission Statement**: To invent, design, deliver, and evolve radar systems that shatter decades of cost-for-performance barriers, materially improving safety and security outcomes. ## Products & Services - **MESA® Radar Platform**: Core patented metamaterials electronically scanned array (MESA) technology that combines algorithmic and data-driven ML classification with cognitive radar functionality. The platform is compact, solid-state, commercially exportable, and delivers high-fidelity accuracy, track stability, and AI-based threat classification via well-defined APIs. - **Key Radar Applications (not explicitly named as separate products but as mission variants)**: - **EchoGuard**: For security and surveillance (Critical Infrastructure, Border Security) - **EchoFlight**: For UAS and Advanced Air Mobility (BVLOS, UAS Traffic Management) - **EchoShield**: For Force Protection and Counter-UAS (C-UAS) - **Custom Radar**: Tailored solutions for integration partner and specific mission needs. ## Market Standing - **Valuation / Market Cap**: Not disclosed (Private company). Last known total funding is **$199.0M** (as per LinkedIn). - **Key Metric – Revenue**: Estimated at **$15.0M** annual revenue (as per LinkedIn – likely a proxy estimate). - **Key Metric – Total Funding**: **$199.0M** across 5 funding rounds (as per LinkedIn). - **Notable Investors**: Bill Gates, **NEA**, **Madrona Venture Group**, **Baillie Gifford**, **Vulcan Capital**, **Vanedge Capital**, **Irongrey**. - **Growth Signals**: - **Headcount Growth**: 186 employees as of mid-2026, representing **+49.7% YoY** (adding 84 people in the past year) [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/echodyne). - **New Manufacturing Facility**: Announced a major expansion in February 2026 – opening a new **86,350 sq. ft**. manufacturing facility in Washington State with capacity to produce **30,000+ radars per year** to meet surging global demand [echodyne.com](https://www.echodyne.com/newsroom/echodyne-manufacturing-facility). - **Geographic Expansion**: Active sales/support in 6 countries (US, UK, Singapore, Switzerland, Spain, Canada) with remote roles in Australia. - **Key Strategic Partnerships**: Recent partnerships with **Trust Automation** (U.S. Air Force Counter-UAS), **Moog** (U.S. Army RIwP integration), and **Axon** (public safety) [echodyne.com](https://www.echodyne.com/newsroom). ## Competitive Advantages - **Proprietary MESA Technology**: Patented metamaterials design simplifies conventional ESA radar, eliminating mechanical parts, reducing maintenance, and lowering cost. This creates a significant moat vs. traditional defense primes. - **Cost-for-Performance Breakthrough**: Delivers military-grade accuracy and reliability at commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) price points, making high-fidelity radar accessible for non-traditional customers (e.g., public safety, UAS operators). - **Exportable & Field-Proven**: Commercially exportable, solid-state, and MIL-STD reliable – deployed in 40+ countries across defense, government, and commercial end-users. - **AI & Software-Defined**: Combines hardware with ML-based classification and cognitive software, providing an integrated software-hardware platform that is upgradeable and API-friendly. ## Strategic Focus - **Scale Manufacturing**: The new factory signals a pivot from R&D to high-volume production, aiming to capture mass demand for counter-UAS, drone-as-first-responder (DFR), and border security. - **Defense & Homeland Security**: Deepening relationships with the U.S. Department of Defense and allied nations (focus on force protection, C-UAS, OTM). - **UAS/AAM Integration**: Targeting the emerging market for BVLOS and drone traffic management (UTM) and autonomous aircraft. - **Talent Acquisition**: Aggressively hiring across engineering, manufacturing, sales, and marketing to support global scale and new product lines. ## Why Work Here - **High-Impact, Mission-Driven**: Work on radar technology that directly contributes to national security, public safety, and next-gen autonomous systems. The company emphasizes that its tech saves lives. - **Culture**: Described as a place where you can “change an industry” and bring revolutionary technology to market. The leadership values curiosity, continuous learning, and a “fun while doing so” environment. - **Work Environment & Perks**: Office-based in Kirkland, WA (with some remote sales roles). The Kirkland HQ is well-stocked with food, fruit, and drinks, with monthly lunches and seasonal celebrations. Strong focus on team bonding. - **Engineering-First**: The team includes PhDs, RF engineers, systems engineers, and software developers. They are solving hard physics and software integration problems at the edge of sensor technology. - **Growth Trajectory**: Currently a ~180-person company growing to 250+ and opening a massive new factory – this is a classic “Series B/C” stage growth company with clear product-market fit, offering significant career advancement opportunities as the company scales. - **Diversity & Openness**: Explicitly encourages applications from individuals who may not meet every single requirement – “If you are interested in a position but your background isn’t a perfect match, we strongly encourage you to apply.” ## Sources 1. [Echodyne Company Website – About Page](https://www.echodyne.com/company) 2. [Echodyne Careers Page](https://www.echodyne.com/careers) 3. [Echodyne Product/Homepage](https://www.echodyne.com/) 4. [Echodyne News – New Manufacturing Facility (Feb 2026)](https://www.echodyne.com/newsroom/echodyne-manufacturing-facility) 5. [Echodyne LinkedIn Company Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/company/echodyne) ## Other roles at Echodyne Corp - [Contract Senior PCB Design Engineer - 3 month FTC](https://feeny.ai/job/contract-senior-pcb-design-engineer-3-month-ftc-echodyne-corp-kirkland-v0m05gvdvr3m) — Kirkland, WA - [Principal Analog and Mixed Signal Electrical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-analog-and-mixed-signal-electrical-engineer-echodyne-corp-kirkland-jx2fxp2gvwn6) — Kirkland, WA - [Manufacturing Project Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/manufacturing-project-manager-echodyne-corp-kirkland-md6bw8p5fz7x) — Kirkland, WA - [Contract Recruiter II](https://feeny.ai/job/contract-recruiter-ii-echodyne-corp-kirkland-e799sx66rbb2) — Kirkland, WA - [Senior Machine Learning Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-machine-learning-engineer-echodyne-corp-kirkland-3njvyxwkptgg) — Kirkland, WA - [Sr Manufacturing Test Development Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-manufacturing-test-development-engineer-echodyne-corp-kirkland-heyf6st1xwqt) — Kirkland, WA - [Senior Software Engineering Manager, Data Platform](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineering-manager-data-platform-echodyne-corp-kirkland-nvxhwj67bk0k) — Kirkland, WA - [Principal Technical Program Manager, Test Equipment](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-technical-program-manager-test-equipment-echodyne-corp-kirkland-rbv75btxy8s8) — Kirkland, WA - [Quality Technician II/III – Final & Receiving Inspection (Weekend Shift)](https://feeny.ai/job/quality-technician-ii-iii-final-receiving-inspection-weekend-shift-echodyne-fqa1mdkrjba1) — Kirkland, WA - [Solutions Engineer - Critical Infrastructure](https://feeny.ai/job/solutions-engineer-critical-infrastructure-echodyne-corp-united-states-y2gp0h6kvr03) — United States