Nolan’s Notes: Moving Forward With Confidence
The Knowledge Base: Beyond the Badge—Why Membership Matters More Than Ever
Smart Automation: AI—Revolutionizing Inspection in Electronics Manufacturing
EDA Tools and the Designer of the Future
January 28, 2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineEstimated reading time: 1 minute
We’re seeing new, young technologists moving into the PCB design and design engineering segment, and it’s just in time; many veteran designers are headed to retirement.
At the same time, there have been various recent advances in EDA tools. What will the PCB designer’s job—and the designer’s software tools—look like in the next five years?
Bob Potock, vice president of marketing for Zuken USA, weighs in on the PCB designers of tomorrow, and the EDA tools that will take them into an evermore complex future.
Andy Shaughnessy: I imagine Zuken has a “profile” of its typical user. How do you see this their job and its requirements evolving over the next few years?
Bob Potock: At Zuken, we believe that the PCB design and layout market is evolving. Today’s tools are mature, powerful, and easy to use. However, what's changing in the design process is how the tools are used and by whom. The standard hand-off from the design engineer to the PCB layout designer is becoming a thing of the past. A board with average complexity is more commonly designed, placed, and routed by the same individual: the hardware engineer. The modern hardware engineer will be an electrical engineer who can learn how to do PCB layout on the job. Moderately complex board designs now and in the future will see the traditional PCB layout function moving to the hardware engineer.
The high-complexity PCB market is different. The tools are more powerful, and the designs have more critical requirements. IC packaging may become part of the PCB layout activity at this complexity level. The traditional design engineer hand-off to the PCB layout designer may still exist. However, this modern PCB layout designer is an electrical engineer with training in power integrity, signal integrity, manufacturing, and IC packaging.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the January 2025 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
New Companion Guide to ‘DFM Essentials’ Delivers Deeper, Practical PCB Design Insights
06/05/2025 | I-Connect007The Companion Guide to DFM Essentials: Tips for Designing for Manufacturing is now available for free download. Building on the popular Printed Circuit Designer’s Guide to... DFM Essentials, this new resource from American Standard Circuits and ASC Sunstone Circuits offers advanced, real-world guidance to help PCB designers streamline production and avoid costly pitfalls.
Technica Expands into Emerging Printed Electronics and Advanced Coatings Markets
06/04/2025 | Technica USATechnica is expanding its product portfolio with Agfa’s advanced line of Orgacon conductive coatings. The Orgacon products are a natural complement to Technica’s existing solutions and will allow the company to deliver greater value to customers in these markets.
MKS’ Atotech, ESI Showcase Next-gen PCB and Advanced Packaging Solutions at JPCA 2025
06/04/2025 | MKS’ AtotechMKS, through its leading surface finishing brand Atotech® and laser system brand ESI®, proudly announces its participation at the 2025 JPCA Show in Tokyo, Japan, from June 4–6. At booth 6D-01, the company will highlight the combined power of its strategic brands Atotech® and ESI®, showcasing the latest innovations in advanced packaging, package substrate, and printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing.
NCAB Closes Acquisition of B&B Leiterplattenservice GmbH in Germany
06/04/2025 | NCABAs was communicated on April 23 NCAB has signed an agreement to acquire 100 percent of B&B Leiterplattenservice GmbH (B&B) headquartered in Mittweida, Germany. Today, the 3 of June the acquisition is closed, and the company now is part of the NCAB Group.
Tariffs: Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst
06/04/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamPaul Krugman received the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2008 for his work in economic geography and identifying international trade patterns. In April, he told the Goldman Sachs Exchanges podcast1, “The secret sauce of the Trump tariffs is that they are extremely uncertain. Nobody knows what they will be. Nobody knows what comes next. Now, if you’re a business trying to make plans, would you want to invest under those conditions?”