A University Model for Training the Next Generation of PCB Designers

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Veteran PCB designer and educator John Watson has building one of the nation's most comprehensive university-based PCB design certificate programs in the country. He’s working with Palomar College, UC San Diego, UC Santa Cruz, and UMass Lowell to teach the complete design-to-manufacturing process while connecting students with internships and career opportunities. I spoke with John about the industry's workforce challenges, building meaningful educational pathways, and why the next generation of PCB designers may come from places few would expect.

Marcy LaRont John Watson, in our industry, there is a lot of continuous chatter about workforce and training. You are at the forefront of this, working now in four different colleges and universities around PCB design curriculum and certification. What are you seeing?

John Watson: I see a tremendous gap between the PCB design workforce and the influx of new designers. In one of my recent columns, I discuss what I see as a perfect storm among industry, students, and technology innovation hitting us at record speeds. In our industry, we talk about opening opportunities for our students, but there is also such a desperate, immediate need for qualified designers. I see postings like, "We need somebody with 10 years’ experience, and a degree,” and the companies are not able to find those candidates. The pool of candidates that hits all of those benchmarks is very shallow.

My focus has been to provide the resources we need in the workforce to students, and get them into opportunities with real experience. We need to get them started much better and sooner than we have been doing.

LaRont: Tell me about the different schools you're working with.

Watson: I have long worked as an instructor at Palomar College. It has a close partnership with UC San Diego, which is the next school adopting this program. UC San Diego led to adoption by UC Santa Cruz; the fourth school is UMass of Lowell on the East Coast where I have a personal connection and received a specific request to bring the program there. Right now, I am conducting six classes across those institutions.

LaRont: Getting PCB design curriculum into the more formal university setting is a big deal. How has this development transpired?

Watson: It all started with the program at Palomar. Much has transpired by word of mouth from those who see the program and its value. Now we are in development mode, with four total courses that make up a professional certification. It’s not finalized, but we expect to have final approval by the end of the year.

LaRont: What is the specific course certification structure?

Watson: We start with PCB design, of course. We have an introductory and advanced design class, followed by one on PCB fabrication. The fourth class is still under discussion, but it may be from a slate of courses they can choose as an elective.

It’s a great partnership between Palomar College and UC San Diego, which is now part of their extension program, which is a fantastic program across the UC system.

I want to emphasize this is a whole program for individuals who want to make a change in their careers and take the full course. It is not designed for individuals who come in and out of continuing education or just need a refresher course.

LaRont: What’s the format of the courses, and are there similar courses elsewhere?

Watson: The courses are all online, which allows for students from around the world to take them. I know about a couple other certificate programs: Wayne State University in Michigan, and Indiana Tech. We are really excited to be part of the kickoff certificate program here in California.

To my knowledge, the course about PCB fabrication technology is a first of its kind. This came about after I was talking to fabrication houses about where their own people received training and they consistently told me they do the training in-house because there’s nothing else. Based on what the fabs said they needed, we detailed an entire design and fabrication process and brought it into the classroom. It is in an 11-week program that incorporates all the chemistry, math, and other details.

LaRont: What has surprised you along the way as you’ve developed these courses?

Watson: It has been surprising that I'm getting interest from existing designers who want to learn the fabrication process. More designers are seeing its importance, something that was really not a consideration several years back. They just worked on their design and threw it over the wall to fabrication. Until now, the industry has done a terrible job offering up real opportunities for designers to learn more about fabrication. Today, the criticality of DFM is widely acknowledged, and that it is vital for both sides.

I love teaching the PCB fab course because it goes deep into math and chemistry, and covers the history of PCB fab, technologically-speaking.

LaRont: Are you working to incorporate facility site visits into your curriculum?

Watson: We will absolutely visit facilities. We want to provide real opportunities through internships to potential jobs.

LaRont: John, your passion and enthusiasm is infectious.

Watson: I’m not only passionate about teaching, but providing others with tangible opportunities to do the work. We are working with companies in both Santa Cruz and San Diego to create internships and summer programs that will open up jobs to these individuals. We are giving students opportunities to learn about what this industry and design work are really all about. It’s something they have not been exposed to previously.

The hidden gem is the opportunity for the student to realize the industry is more than what they thought it was, and that they can a shift or change their career path. It also helps the industry fill those crucial hiring gaps.

LaRont: John, since you are still developing the formal certification program, how are you handling student enrollments in classes right now?

Watson: Any student who takes any of the courses from here on will get credit toward the certification program as soon as it is formalized.

LaRont: How many courses are you running right now?

Watson: I've got one at both Palomar and UMass Lowell, three at UC San Diego, and one at UC Santa Cruz. All these classes have slightly different approaches. The only live lecture is at UC Santa Cruz. If you want more of an asynchronous class, you can do a self-paced class in a weekly module format.

LaRont: Is it feasible that a student could be studying for their bachelor’s degree, for example, and still take the certificate program as a supplement to their degree?

Watson: Absolutely. The program is geared toward the brand-new PCB designer or engineer with an approach that lets anyone step in wherever they are.

LaRont: What keeps you most excited about teaching and passing on this knowledge and expertise to new designers?

Watson: I have worked as an instructor at Palomar College for a while now, and I have many great stories from those classes. It is fantastic. I have had people without any electronics knowledge at all, from construction workers to deli workers, who have stepped into these classes. All they had was a dream to change their life and careers for the better.

For brand-new students, I ask, “Why are you taking this class?” I have them write down their answers because I want them to understand that pursuing this path has a deeper meaning. Their answers are just phenomenal: "I want to change for my family. I want a better life for myself and my family." And 32 weeks later, after two semesters, they step into a new job. Those are the wins. That keeps me very excited about teaching and what I believe this program will offer.

LaRont: How do you address the issue of design tools in your teaching?  I'm assuming that certain CAD tool providers offer their suite to the university?

Watson: Altium has provided its tools to the college, but the course is structured so that we don't lean on any particular tool, per se, since using the tool is really based on the theory of PCB design. Of course, we have a level of learning for the tool itself. But I frequently point out to students that after going through the course and landing that first job, they may be using a different tool. We want them to learn how to use tools, in general. In a real sense, most ECAD software programs are basically the same in the design of a printed circuit board.

LaRont: As an active educator, what is your take on AI and auto routing in the world, and how do you bring that to new designers?

Watson: There have been intuitive auto routing tools in the industry for a long time and whenever I get the chance, I will ask my audience, “Who is using those tools?” I had that opportunity recently at the Technological University in Manila. About three people out of 1,000 raised their hands, which is a pretty consistent response.

LaRont: In the past, auto routing meant, “Now I have to go back and fix a bunch of routes that are not good.” Until that changes, I can’t imagine utilization will change much. Yet AI and these tools will become more customizable and helpful.

Watson: Yes, but the issue goes deeper than whether a tool is being used. It speaks to the core of why people get into design work. Why do we do what we do? I love solving the puzzle and being part of the creative process, taking a blank PCB and creating a masterpiece. That's my art. Maybe a larger reason those tools haven't caught on is that they pull the designer out of the creative process.

LaRont: With so many exciting developments, what are you most looking forward to?

Watson: I am looking forward to seeing those students’ faces on that very first day of all my classes. Because they’re all nervous, I try to put them at ease. I always say, "Take a deep breath. It's okay. What you are starting here today will change the world."

That’s not hype or being overdramatic. They are the builder of dreams, the ones who will change the world in the next 10 years. As I ride into the sunset, they will be the ones to enable the innovations of tomorrow. It feels good to see them there. I know we’re in good hands.