Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1517130
12 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2024 paradigm shi in how people and companies operated. at was where it all started, and we haven't recovered. We're behind the eight ball on the available talent, and we have not caught up. We've all seen the surveys asking designers whether they plan to retire in the next 10 years, and 50% of respondents say yes. Marcy LaRont: Many would agree with you. We've done a terrible job preparing our young people and making this an even remotely enticing career. It hasn't gotten better over time. No, not much has changed. If anything, it's got- ten worse because we've had huge advances in technology and electronic innovations, but we do not have the PCB talent to undergird all of us. is is very concerning, and a problem in our industry. People assume there's a set path or set of routes to become a printed circuit board designer. Shaughnessy: But there's no critical path at all. at's right. I have students coming from dif- ferent segments of the industry, and even dif- ferent careers. I have construction workers, and even a deli worker in this year's course. I have many students who are changing careers, different things like that. ere's a belief that you must be an electrical engineer to be a PCB designer. No, you don't. An EE degree is not required. LaRont: What trends do you notice among your students? For one, there's been more interest in PCB design. ey understand that it's a creative career, and it can pay well. As I mentioned, I have had construction workers and truck drivers decide to switch careers later in life to become PCB designers. At Palomar College, we concentrate on the internship side, where we work with companies waiting for gradu- ates. It's a very attractive situation; they get the education they need and then step right into their new career. It's really gaining momentum. is class has been going on for nearly 25 years. I attended Palomar College myself as a brand- new designer, where I started my career. In my book, I say that universities are pri- marily focused on the theoretical side, and they haven't gotten into the practical side, because you don't have time for the practical. Compa- nies realize that even if you have EEs on staff, they may not have the practical experience to do the job. ey know the theoretical, not the practical. Shaughnessy: What is driving PCB design right now? e industry is pushing smaller packaging, especially advanced packaging. Our footprints are so small that they can't possibly get any smaller. Now, they're building upward, stack- ing components on top of each other. It's a huge trend, and we don't have enough design- ers who are familiar with this technology. Our industry has shied because of the autonomous vehicle industry, and that entire segment has just taken off. As a result, we're now shiing to high power. I'm having many John Watson