The electronics sector is growing rapidly —driven by the development of artificial intelligence infrastructures, electric vehicles and medical devices— but the supply of qualified PCB designers has not kept pace: companies are looking for professionals who master modern electronic design automation (EDA) workflows.
Traditionally, students have had limited opportunities to develop the applied skills needed to take a circuit board design from sketch to production-ready delivery. This program was created specifically to bridge that gap in workforce preparedness.
“PCB design is an applied skill set that sits at the intersection of engineering knowledge and real-world production workflows,” says Dora Smith, senior director of Future Workforce Strategy at Siemens Digital Industries Software. “This program gives students the hands-on experience they need to contribute to real-world projects and gives employers confidence that candidates with a Siemens microcredential are ready to get the job done.” “At ASU, we focus on creating learning experiences that connect engineering fundamentals with the skills employers need today,” says Kyle Squires, senior vice provost for Engineering, Computing, and Technology and dean of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University. “By combining our faculty’s expertise with Siemens’ technology and industry knowledge, this program helps students develop the practical skills needed to contribute to electronic design projects and advance toward high-impact engineering roles.” Delivered entirely online and at your own pace to offer maximum flexibility, "PCB Design Fundamentals: From Discovery to Production" is a 40-hour program consisting of four courses covering the fundamentals and best practices of PCB design, schematic design and component selection, multilayer design and advanced routing, design for manufacturability (DFM), and delivery to production.
Students work with Siemens' Xpedition™ PCB design software, an industry-leading software used in the aerospace, automotive, and medical device sectors. With no prerequisites, the program is open to undergraduate engineering students, technicians, career changers, and engineers from related disciplines seeking to add hardware design capabilities to their skill set.
“The electronics industry is facing a real and growing shortage of engineers capable of taking a board design through all stages, from concept to manufacturable product,” said AJ Incorvaia, senior vice president of Electronic Board Systems at Siemens Digital Industries Software. “The effects of this situation are already impacting engineering teams, which are facing increased pressure and tighter deadlines, with fewer staff possessing the practical experience needed to fill the gap. This program directly addresses this problem by providing students with the applied skills they need.”.
Upon completion of the program, students receive a Siemens microcredential and a professional certificate from ASU. The microcredential badge can be displayed on LinkedIn and other professional platforms, making the acquisition of applied knowledge and skills visible to recruiters and hiring managers. Students who complete the microcredential are also invited to join the Siemens Talent Directory, which both Siemens and its business customers can use to identify candidates with specific skill sets.
