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Elementary, Mr. Watson From Classroom to Career—Bridging the Gap in PCB Design Talent

Has anyone else felt we're doing more with less in our industry and we constantly need more and better talent? Although we are in the middle of what I consider the golden age of the PCB industry in terms of innovation, we still don’t have the necessary talent to fill positions. We need to take a serious look at our industry, figure out how we found ourselves in this position, and what we can do to turn the situation around.

Many years ago, while I was working as a Boy Scout leader at a summer camp, we created a simple water slide, laying down straw and a blue tarp, then running water down it. Someone needed to test it, and that task fell to me. I flew down the slide, hit every rock, and badly scratched my back. They sent me to the infirmary, which was operated by a good friend. He cleaned my wounds with iodine, and everything was fine. 

Returning home a couple of days later, I took off my shirt, and my wife shouted, "What is that?" I explained what had happened, and she said, "No. That!" Unbeknownst to me, while cleaning my scratches, my friend had written on my back in iodine, “I LOVE YOU.” 
I share this story for a couple of reasons: First, never trust a "friend" with iodine capsules. Second, you cannot adequately prepare for something you know nothing about. The shortage of skilled PCB designers affects most electronics companies. I believe we can fix this problem, but I also recognize this didn’t occur overnight and we can’t solve it overnight.

Each year, another industry publication surveys its readers about whether any PCB designers intend to retire in the next 12 months. For the past decade, around 60% of designers have responded in the affirmative. Those figures are staggering. When they leave the industry, they also take their know-how and, more importantly, the tribal knowledge that has built their companies and the electronic industry overall. 

We live in a world of cause and effect, and we didn't get here through happenstance. In 2008, the burst housing bubble, risky subprime mortgages, and financial institution failures hit us with the housing market collapse. That led to a credit freeze, a global recession, job losses, and economic turmoil worldwide. Governments intervened with bailouts and stimulus packages, implementing regulatory reforms to prevent future crises. The aftermath saw prolonged economic impacts, altered consumer behavior, reshaped the financial landscape, and spurred significant regulatory changes. 
The economic downturn severely affected many electronics companies, forcing them to restructure to survive. Massive layoffs forced electronics companies to make their engineers take on double duty as both engineers and PCB designers. However, it quickly became clear that electronics engineers, even from prestigious schools, did not have the necessary training in PCB design. It’s a problem that still exists. How do we turn the tide? I believe the answer is one step and one person at a time, much like turning a massive ship in the ocean: One degree at a time. 

Emphasis on Education
Universities and vocational schools must enhance their educational programs, focusing on PCB design to attract more students to the field. Even high schools should teach more about electronics and PCB design. If students learn these skills early, they will be more interested in becoming PCB designers. Focusing on hands-on projects can help them understand how circuits work and how to design them. Teachers and mentors can also provide students with the correct tools and software. 

Industry Collaboration
There should also be a focus on fostering partnerships between academia and the industry—aligning educational curricula with industry needs and ensuring graduates have the relevant skills. Businesses can partner with colleges to offer internships and training programs, helping students learn real-world skills and what it’s like to work in the industry. Companies can also provide schools with the latest tools and software. By working together, students can receive better training, and companies can discover new talent.

Training Initiatives 
Companies should develop specialized training programs or workshops to upskill existing professionals and transition individuals from related fields. Training programs can help people learn PCB design after they finish school through workshops, online courses, and hands-on training. These programs let beginners learn step by step and allow advanced designers to improve. Companies can also train their workers to keep up with new technology. When more people have access to training, they have a better chance of becoming skilled PCB designers. 

By working together, educators, businesses, and industry leaders can build a steady pipeline of skilled PCB designers, ensuring the future of innovation in electronics.

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