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Current IssueCreating the Ideal Data Package
Why is it so difficult to create the ideal data package? Many of these simple errors can be alleviated by paying attention to detail—and knowing what issues to look out for. So, this month, our experts weigh in on the best practices for creating the ideal design data package for your design.
Designing Through the Noise
Our experts discuss the constantly evolving world of RF design, including the many tradeoffs, material considerations, and design tips and techniques that designers and design engineers need to know to succeed in this high-frequency realm.
Learning to Speak ‘Fab’
Our expert contributors clear up many of the miscommunication problems between PCB designers and their fab and assembly stakeholders. As you will see, a little extra planning early in the design cycle can go a long way toward maintaining open lines of communication with the fab and assembly folks.
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How to Discover and Equip the Next Generation of Talent
February 18, 2025 | Stephen V. Chavez, Siemens EDAEstimated reading time: 1 minute

The demand for skilled PCB designers is at an all-time high, with one-third of engineering jobs in the United States going unfilled. Addressing this talent gap involves solving two interconnected challenges: discovering where to find the next generation of PCB designers and equipping them with the necessary skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving field. These two efforts are fundamentally linked and require a strategic approach that bridges education, mentorship, and innovation.
Where Will We Find the PCB Designers of the Future?
· High school outreach and engagement: One promising avenue is early exposure. High schools can be fertile ground for identifying and cultivating young talent, especially if we make PCB design accessible and relatable. Framing design as a creative, problem-solving discipline that is not unlike the strategies and skills used in video games can capture students’ imaginations. Interactive workshops, hackathons, and design competitions tailored to younger generations could demystify the field and demonstrate its relevance to everyday life and its potential as a very fruitful career choice. A good example of fostering the new generations is the national program such as FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a global nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18 (grades preK-12).
· Apprenticeships and internships: Apprenticeships provide a hands-on approach to learning that complements theoretical education. By partnering with local businesses, trade schools, and colleges, companies can offer real-world experience to young people. This model not only fills immediate staffing needs but also nurtures long-term talent pipelines.
To continue reading this article, which originally appeared in the February 2025 Design007 Magazine, click here.
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Accurate Circuit Engineering: Be Nimble, Quick, and Open to Change
05/12/2025 | Marcy LaRont, PCB007 MagazineJames Hofer, general manager of Accurate Circuit Engineering (ACE) in Southern California, shares his insights about his specialty, quick-turn company, the market, and the interesting times in which we find ourselves. James remains optimistic about bringing manufacturing back to the United States and takes great pride in the work that ACE does to support military, defense, and aerospace. As James looks toward a prosperous 2025, he reflects on his 40 years in the business and learning that the secret to success is not trying to be everything to everyone.
The Shaughnessy Report: Solving the Data Package Puzzle
05/12/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy -- Column: The Shaughnessy ReportIf you ask fabricators about their biggest challenges, they’ll often point at PCB designers—the readers of this magazine. Yes, you! Why is it so difficult to create the ideal data package? It’s a fairly straightforward task. But this part of the design process keeps tripping up designers, even those who started in the industry before Pink Floyd split up.
ASC Acquires Cutting-Edge High Vacuum Plugging Machine CF 200 to Expand Via Fill Capabilities
05/12/2025 | American Standard CircuitsAnaya Vardya, President and CEO of American Standard Circuits and ASC Sunstone Circuits, has announced that the company has acquired and installed a state-of-the-art ITC Intercircuit CF 200 high vacuum plugging machine at its West Chicago manufacturing facility. This latest investment further strengthens ASC’s ongoing commitment to advanced manufacturing, precision engineering, and industry-leading process automation.
New Issue of Design007 Magazine: Are Your Data Packages Less Than Ideal?
05/09/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamWhy is it so difficult to create the ideal data package? Many of these simple errors can be alleviated by paying attention to detail—and knowing what issues to look out for. So, this month, our experts weigh in on the best practices for creating the ideal data package for your design.
RF PCB Design Tips and Tricks
05/08/2025 | Cherie Litson, EPTAC MIT CID/CID+There are many great books, videos, and information online about designing PCBs for RF circuits. A few of my favorite RF sources are Hans Rosenberg, Stephen Chavez, and Rick Hartley, but there are many more. These PCB design engineers have a very good perspective on what it takes to take an RF design from schematic concept to PCB layout.