How to become a PCB Design Engineer
Turn circuit ideas into manufacturable circuit boards. Learn OrCAD schematic capture, PCB layout and PSpice simulation.
01The role
What does a PCB Design Engineer do?
A PCB design engineer converts a circuit idea into a printed circuit board that a factory can build. They draw the schematic, simulate parts of the circuit, create component footprints, place parts sensibly and route copper tracks while following rules for spacing, current, heat and signal quality. The final output is a set of Gerber files, drill data and a bill of materials that goes to fabrication and assembly.
OrCAD Capture, PCB Editor and PSpice are widely used for schematic, layout and simulation work. Electronics product companies, automotive and industrial suppliers, defence and medical-device makers all need layout engineers, and India's push for electronics manufacturing is adding more roles around Chennai, Sriperumbudur, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. ECE and EEE graduates with neat layout habits and a few real boards in their portfolio stand out.
A typical day
- Draw schematics and create component symbols in OrCAD Capture
- Simulate analog and power circuits in PSpice
- Build footprints and manage component libraries
- Place components and route multi-layer boards in PCB Editor
- Run design rule checks and review signal and power integrity basics
- Generate Gerbers, drill files and BOM and support fabrication queries
Skills you need
- Electronic circuits and components
- Schematic capture in OrCAD
- Circuit simulation in PSpice
- PCB placement and routing
- Footprint and library management
- Design rules, stack-up and grounding basics
- DFM and fabrication outputs (Gerber, BOM)
- Soldering and board bring-up basics
Who can become one
02Learning path
The courses to take, in order
Start with the first course; add the next when you are ready. Each links to its full syllabus.
Basic Electrical (Executive Diploma) Course
A short, practical start in electrical fundamentals – circuits, wiring, earthing, safety and reading electrical drawings. 1 level · 20 h
OrCAD PCB Design Course
Draw schematics in OrCAD Capture, simulate circuits in PSpice and lay out single, double and multilayer PCBs ready for manufacturing. 3 levels · 20–48 h
Microcontroller & Embedded C Course
Program 8051, PIC, AVR and ARM7 microcontrollers in embedded C – interface displays, motors and sensors, and connect over UART, I2C, SPI, CAN and wireless. 2 levels · 64 h
Internet of Things (IoT) Course
Build connected devices with Arduino, NodeMCU, ESP8266 and Raspberry Pi, send sensor data to the cloud and control things from your phone. 2 levels · 48 h
Basic Electrical (Executive Diploma) Course
A short, practical start in electrical fundamentals – circuits, wiring, earthing, safety and reading electrical drawings.
OrCAD PCB Design Course
Draw schematics in OrCAD Capture, simulate circuits in PSpice and lay out single, double and multilayer PCBs ready for manufacturing.
Microcontroller & Embedded C Course
Program 8051, PIC, AVR and ARM7 microcontrollers in embedded C – interface displays, motors and sensors, and connect over UART, I2C, SPI, CAN and wireless.
03Pay
Salary for a PCB Design Engineer
Indicative ranges for 2025–26 only. Actual pay varies by company, city, skills and experience; Tier-2 cities like Vellore usually start at the lower end, metros such as Chennai and Bengaluru at the higher end. Figures in lakh per annum (LPA).
Industries
Companies that employ this role
Examples of well-known companies and sectors in India that use these skills. They are not CareerKraft partners or recruiters.
04Growth
Your career ladder
PCB Layout Trainee
Builds libraries and routes simple boards under review.
PCB Design Engineer
Owns multi-layer board designs from schematic to Gerber.
Senior PCB Designer
Handles high-speed and dense boards and reviews others.
Hardware Lead
Leads hardware design and works across product teams.
Hardware Manager
Manages hardware programmes, vendors and teams.
Start your path to PCB Design Engineer
The counsellor maps the course order, batch timings and fee for you on WhatsApp.
05FAQ
PCB Design Engineer – FAQ
Still have a question? The counsellor at the centre you prefer replies on WhatsApp.
Ask on WhatsAppWhat is the difference between schematic and PCB layout?
The schematic shows how parts are connected. The layout decides where parts sit on the board and how copper tracks connect them.
Why learn PSpice?
PSpice lets you test circuit behaviour, such as filters or power supplies, before building the board, saving time and cost.
Do PCB designers need to know programming?
Not usually for layout. Knowing microcontroller basics helps you design better boards for embedded products.
Can diploma holders become PCB designers?
Yes. Many layout designers start with a diploma and build skill through careful practice and real boards.
What should my PCB portfolio include?
Show a two-layer microcontroller board and a power supply board with schematic, layout screenshots and Gerber previews.
Where can I train to become a PCB Design Engineer near Vellore?
CareerKraft teaches Basic Electrical (Executive Diploma), OrCAD PCB Design, Microcontroller & Embedded C and related courses at its Katpadi, Vellore and Ranipet centres, in classroom, online or hybrid mode. Message your chosen centre on WhatsApp and the counsellor will share the current fee, offers and EMI options.
Start today
Get the Basic Electrical (Executive Diploma) syllabus, fees & batch dates
Fill this in and WhatsApp opens with your details, addressed to the centre you choose. The counsellor replies with the full syllabus, current fee, offers and the next batch.
- Free counselling and demo class
- Real projects and placement support
- Classroom, online or hybrid batches
- Replies Mon–Sat 9:30 AM – 6:30 PM · Sun 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM