Advanced PCB Design

Master High-Speed, Rigid-Flex, and System-Level PCB Design

The Advanced PCB Design Course is a comprehensive, application-driven training program designed for engineers, PCB designers, and electronics professionals who want to move beyond fundamental PCB design and develop advanced product development skills.

This hands-on course explores the engineering, manufacturing, and system-level decisions that drive today's sophisticated electronic products. You will gain practical experience with advanced PCB technologies, including high-speed PCB design, rigid-flex PCB development, signal integrity optimization, EMI/EMC mitigation, PCB fabrication, assembly processes, and multi-board system design.

Unlike introductory PCB design courses, Advanced PCB Design focuses on the complete design-to-production workflow. You will learn how to transform complex electronic concepts into reliable, manufacturable products while applying industry best practices and professional design methodologies. The curriculum is structured around four key areas of modern PCB development:

• Fabrication & Assembly
• Rigid-Flex PCB Design
• High-Speed and Advanced PCB Design Techniques
• System Design & Integration

By the end of the course, you will have the knowledge and confidence to tackle complex PCB projects using industry-standard tools such as Altium Designer, while collaborating effectively with manufacturing and mechanical engineering teams.

Course Topics

This Advanced PCB Design Course covers the complete design-to-production workflow for modern electronic products, including:
 

• PCB fabrication processes, materials, stackups, and via technologies
• Manufacturing documentation, including Gerber, ODB++, and NC Drill files
• Design for Manufacturing (DFM), panelization, and depanelization techniques
• PCB assembly processes, inspection methods, and quality control
• Rigid-flex PCB design principles, materials, and fabrication requirements
• Flexible circuit design, board region definition, and documentation preparation
• High-speed PCB design concepts, including transmission lines and controlled impedance
• Signal integrity analysis, differential pair routing, and length matching
• EMI/EMC mitigation techniques, including shielding, grounding, guard rings, and via stitching
• Advanced routing strategies for high-performance and complex PCB designs
• Multi-board system design, schematic capture, and system-level integration
• ECAD-MCAD collaboration and mechanical design integration workflows
• Wiring harness design and manufacturing documentation for complete electronic systems
• Industry best practices for developing reliable, manufacturable, and production-ready electronic products using Altium Designer and professional PCB design methodologies.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
 

• Understand PCB materials, stackups, and via technologies used in modern PCB fabrication.
• Generate and interpret manufacturing outputs including Gerber, ODB++, and NC Drill files.
• Apply panelization and depanelization techniques to improve manufacturing efficiency.
• Understand PCB assembly processes including solder paste application, pick-and-place operations, and inspection procedures.
• Design rigid-flex PCBs using industry-standard design methodologies and manufacturing best practices.
• Define rigid and flexible regions while producing complete fabrication documentation for flexible circuit designs.
• Apply high-speed PCB design principles including transmission lines, controlled impedance, and signal integrity analysis.
• Identify and mitigate EMI/EMC challenges using shielding, grounding, guard rings, and via stitching techniques.
• Perform length tuning, differential pair routing, and impedance matching for critical signal paths.
• Design and manage complex multi-board electronic systems.
• Collaborate effectively with mechanical engineering teams through ECAD-MCAD integration workflows.
• Create wiring harness designs and manufacturing documentation for complete electronic products.
• Develop advanced PCB designs using professional industry tools such as Altium Designer.

Who Should Take This Course?

This course is ideal for:
 

• Electrical Engineers seeking advanced PCB design skills for modern electronic product development.
• PCB Designers who want to expand their expertise in high-speed, rigid-flex, and complex PCB systems.
• Electronics Engineering Students looking to build industry-ready PCB design skills and gain practical experience.
• Manufacturing, Assembly, and Quality Professionals who need a deeper understanding of PCB design requirements and production processes.
• Engineers Working with Flexible and Rigid-Flex Circuits seeking specialized knowledge in advanced PCB technologies.
• High-Speed and High-Frequency Design Engineers responsible for signal integrity, impedance control, and EMI/EMC performance.
• Product Development Teams involved in complex electronic systems and multi-board assemblies.
• Professionals Preparing for Advanced Electronics Engineering Roles who want hands-on experience using Altium Designer and industry-standard PCB design workflows.

Course Details and Next Steps

• Course Typically Offered: Online during Fall and Spring quarters. 
• Prerequisites: Basic PCB Design course (EE-41004) or general understanding of PCB desing principles.  
• Next steps: Upon completion of this course, consider expanding your PCB expertise by enrolling in the PCB Fabrication Technology (EE-41005) or Electronics Assembly Technology (EE-41007) courses.
• More information: Contact unexengr@ucsd.edu to learn more about this course and related PCB offerings.