Careers

Software Engineer, C++ Frontend

Full-TimeSan Francisco Bay Area or RemoteEngineering$160,000–$220,000 + equity
3+ years preferred

We are looking for PCB designers who can code, or software engineers with real PCB design experience, to help improve the core Trace C++ frontend. This role is focused on the actual design experience: layout, editing, routing, constraints, visualization, performance, and the everyday workflows PCB designers rely on.

What you'll do

  • Build and improve C++ frontend features for PCB and schematic design workflows
  • Work on layout interactions: selection, movement, snapping, placement, routing, measurement, alignment, and layer visibility
  • Implement workflows for components, nets, pads, vias, traces, polygons, planes, constraints, and design rules
  • Translate real PCB designer pain points into practical software improvements
  • Improve frontend performance for larger and more complex boards
  • Test features using real PCB design scenarios, not simple demo files
  • Contribute to technical decisions around architecture, interaction models, and user-facing behavior

Required qualifications

  • Experience designing PCBs — professionally, academically, or through serious personal projects
  • Strong programming ability, especially in C++
  • Understanding of PCB concepts: components, footprints, nets, routing, vias, copper pours, layers, clearances, and constraints
  • Strong eye for software usability and interaction details
  • Ability to think like both a PCB designer and a software developer
  • Comfort working on complex frontend systems where precision and performance matter

Nice to have

  • Experience building desktop applications, CAD tools, EDA tools, graphics editors, or game engines
  • Experience with rendering, geometry, spatial data structures, or canvas-based editing systems
  • Familiarity with Qt, OpenGL, Vulkan, ImGui, or similar frontend/rendering technologies
  • Experience with PCB manufacturing files: Gerbers, drill files, pick-and-place, IPC formats
  • Familiarity with DRC, constraint systems, autorouting, or interactive routing behavior
  • Experience working with hardware engineers or PCB layout teams

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