Fresh PCB Concepts: Key Considerations for Reliability, Performance, and Compliance in PCBs
Elementary Mr. Watson: Navigating RF—A Glide Path Approach to Design Success
Designers Notebook: Layer Stackup Planning for RF Circuit Boards
What You Need to Know: The High-tech Job Market
January 27, 2020 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 1 minute
I met with Taylor Rousse, an engineering recruiter for Aerotek, a high-tech staffing company, at PCB Carolina to discuss the demands she sees in different industry segments and how it varies region to region. Taylor also offers advice for designers or electrical engineers in the job market, including tips on writing that perfect résumé and the return of the counter-offer.
Andy Shaughnessy: Tell us a little bit about the company and why you’re here.
Taylor Rousse: I’m an engineering recruiter, and I specialize in hardware, software, electrical, and test. Aerotek is the largest privately-held staffing company in the U.S. and in the world. There are a lot of different divisions, including customer service on the non-technical side; on the technical side, we also have engineering, clinical, and sciences. I specialize in the engineering division, so I only recruit people with engineering skill sets.
Shaughnessy: What are some of the trends you see in the industry right now?
Rousse: From an aerospace and defense standpoint, that is where I see the most business and recruits coming out of nationally. There aren’t enough people to fill the jobs that they have within the aerospace and defense space. People who have security clearance are in extremely high demand, and not even from a compensation standpoint, but from a benefits standpoint too; they can demand what they want in a role. From an embedded system perspective, a lot of students coming out of school with a computer science degree are interested in the cloud and application software, and there is more demand than ever for embedded, C, and C++. FPGAs are absolutely off the chart.
I’m looking for an entry-level FPGA designer right now, and the company is very flexible with what they’d offer for the right person. Embedded, C, and C++ are a necessary skill set that’s going to be around, especially when it comes to people who are coming out of school, because the company gets a chance to bring them up with training in the ways they would like them to work. With FPGA design, you can get into the aerospace and defense space 100% and go for it. If a company gives you the chance to come on without a clearance, take that job.
To read this entire interview, which appeared in the December 2019 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
'Chill Out' with TopLine’s President Martin Hart to Discuss Cold Electronics at SPWG 2025
05/02/2025 | TopLineBraided Solder Columns can withstand the rigors of deep space cold and cryogenic environments, and represent a robust new solution to challenges facing next generation large packages in electronics assembly.
Kitron: Q1 2025 - Strong Start to the Year
04/25/2025 | KitronKitron reported first-quarter results characterised by continued momentum in the Defence & Aerospace market sector and a growing order backlog.
RTX's Collins Aerospace Enhances Capabilities to Speed Marine Corps Decision-making in Battle
04/22/2025 | RTXCollins Aerospace, an RTX business, successfully demonstrated new technology that helps the military gather and use information from a wider range of sources at Project Convergence Capstone 5, a large-scale military exercise.
AdvancedPCB Appoints Gary Stoffer as Chief Commercial Officer
04/18/2025 | PRNewswireAdvancedPCB is proud to announce the appointment of Gary Stoffer as its new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). In this role, Stoffer will lead all sales, marketing, and commercial strategy initiatives as the company continues its mission to deliver cutting-edge PCB solutions to industries worldwide.
Real Time with... IPC APEX EXPO 2025: GreenSource's Growth and Future Developments
04/15/2025 | Real Time with...IPC APEX EXPOThings are looking bright for GreenSource. Michael Gleason shares an update on GreenSource's recent growth and upcoming changes. A recipient of a Defense Production Act Investment Program award, GreenSource is planning for new substrate capabilities. Current investments continue to enhance equipment and sustainability initiatives such as water quality. And their unique collaboration with the University of New Hampshire continues to aid their workforce development, despite recruitment challenges.