Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Elementary, Mr. Watson: PCB Education in the Midst of the Storms

I should probably begin with an apology, because this may be a tough pill to swallow and not the small vitamin kind. This is one of those honking, huge pills that could choke a mule. My goal is not to criticize students, dismiss academia, or blame industry. In many ways, I am part of all three conversations.

I teach students trying to find their way. I work in academia and believe deeply in the value of education. I also come from an industry that needs skilled PCB designers more than ever, yet sometimes seems surprised when they do not simply appear out of the mist, holding a completed layout, a clean DRC report, and 10 years of experience.

But after years of standing at the intersection of these worlds, we have to be honest: The pathway into PCB design is no longer as clear, forgiving, or accessible as it once was. The old ways of developing designers are fading. Formal education is being questioned, industry expectations are rising, and students, unfortunately, are caught in the middle. If we do not name the problem directly, we will never build the bridge needed to fix it.

A Perfect Storm
The 2000 movie “The Perfect Storm” is based on the true story of a fishing vessel, Andrea Gail, caught in the North Atlantic by a rare convergence of massive weather systems: Hurricane Grace, a powerful Nor'easter, and a high-pressure cold front from Canada. Each force was dangerous on its own, but when they collided, they produced waves and winds far beyond what anyone expected.

That story is a reminder that the greatest danger does not always come from one problem. Sometimes, the real threat comes when several forces converge.

That is exactly where the PCB industry is today. We could see the storm forming on the horizon, but now we are right in the middle of it. What once felt like distant concerns about education, workforce readiness, and industry change have now converged into a problem that can’t be ignored.

We have been moving toward this moment for years. One major turning point was the 2008 economic downturn. That crisis, fueled by the collapse of the housing and financial markets, forced businesses to pull back. Capital spending slowed, hiring froze, and budgets were cut. Companies became more cautious about training, expansion, and long-term workforce development.

In the PCB industry, the damage was more than financial. Structurally, companies became leaner. I saw reduced departments, no more budget for training, and senior designers retiring without being replaced. Fabrication and assembly also moved further away from design teams. The informal pathways that once helped new people enter the industry—drafting rooms, technician roles, manufacturing exposure, and mentorship from experienced designers—became harder to find. The industry survived, but it did not fully rebuild the pipeline that once created new designers.

We’re still feeling this today. Demand eventually returned, but the old system never did. Technology advanced, but the training structure did not keep up. The real loss was not just jobs or production capacity, but the learning environment that created the next generation of PCB designers.

Diagnosing the Problems
Like the three storms in the movie, the PCB industry now faces its own three-storm collision: student doubt, industry pressure, and rising technical complexity. Any one of these challenges would be difficult enough. Together, they create a much larger problem and show why the pathway into the PCB profession must be rebuilt with urgency, clarity, and purpose.

1. Student doubt.

It’s growing, and I see it clearly in every class. Before students ever place a component, route a trace, or generate fabrication files, many are already asking a deeper question: "Is this path worth it?" 

They are experiencing the rising cost of education first-hand. They hear companies talking about skills-based hiring. They are told degrees matter, yet job postings still ask for experience they do not have. They hear the industry needs PCB designers, but where is the clear first step into the profession?

The major questions I hear all the time are, "Do I need to be an engineer? Will this class lead somewhere? Can I compete without an electronics background? Will industry value what I am learning?”

These are not signs of laziness or a result of it. They are signs of fear. Without a real pathway, many students will never take the first step. From that very first class, I can see their potential, and I don’t want to lose future great designers before they even discover what they could become and how they can contribute to the industry.

2. Industry pressure.

The PCB industry says it needs designers, and the need is real. Companies need people who can take on each challenge in the design process. But the messaging is often confusing. Many entry-level postings ask for years of experience. They say skills matter, yet degrees often remain the first filter. They say the pipeline is weak, yet fewer companies have the structure to train beginners.

You can see the contradictions: We need new designers, but we want them to be already experienced. That very pressure makes students doubt even more. The opportunity may be real, but the doorway feels narrow. When industry needs talent but does not help create it, the second storm grows stronger. 

3. Rising technical complexity.

PCB design is no longer just about connecting pins. Modern boards are faster, denser, smaller, and less forgiving. Designers must consider stackups, return paths, impedance, EMI, power distribution, thermal concerns, fabrication limits, assembly issues, and long-term reliability.

That raises the bar for everyone entering the field. Theory or software skills are not enough. The reality is that a board can be routed and pass DRC checks and still have serious design problems. That is the danger of the third storm: The tools make PCB design look easier, while the technology itself is becoming harder. That’s a big ouch.

Education matters more than ever, but students need practical experience and sufficient engineering awareness to understand why their decisions matter.

Let’s Find a Solution
That leaves us at an obvious crossroads. We can continue discussing the shortage of PCB designers, the weaknesses of the pipeline, and the gap between education and industry. Or we can admit that the old pathway is no longer enough and begin rebuilding it.

In the movie, the storm was not just a warning. It became the final force that the ship could not survive (spoiler alert). That is the lesson for our industry. If we ignore these three forces and continue as if nothing has changed, sinking is not just a dramatic image, but a real possibility. Unlike the boat crew, the PCB industry can change course, strengthen the pathway, and prepare the next generation before the waves overtake us.

Does that mean every new PCB designer must start as an engineer? No, but every new PCB designer needs a structured path forward. They need practical projects, real design reviews, awareness of fabrication and assembly processes, mentorship, and sufficient theory to understand the consequences of their decisions.

The next generation of PCB designers will not appear by accident. They must be developed intentionally. That is the bridge education must now build.

John Watson is a professor at Palomar College, San Marcos, California.