IPC International Community magazine an association member publication
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70 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I JANUARY 2026 PCB Design in 2026 and Beyond Filbert (Fil) Arzola is a veteran electrical engineer and seasoned expert in PCB design with over three decades of experience in commercial, industrial, and aerospace electronics engineering. He currently serves as a principal electrical and PCB design engineer at Raytheon SAS, where he specializes in model-based PCB design method- ologies, constraint management, and sustainable engineering practices. Fil's work emphasizes engi- neering rigor and producibility in PCB design, help- ing professionals elevate their craft from drafting to true engineering excellence. Here is Fil's view of what will be most important and influential for PCB designers going into 2026 and beyond. Fil, what will be the most influential changes in PCB design over the next several years? Filbert (Fil) Arzola: The obvious influential changes that I expect to dominate the PCB design engineer- ing arena include AI, digital twins, and the accep- tance of PCB design as actual engineering work. …Wow, did I say that out loud? A lot of PCB design engineers/colleagues are F E AT U R E Q & A WITH FIL ARZOL A , R AY TH EON SA S Editor's note: We asked several experts in PCB design and fabrication about the pressures shaping PCB fabrication today, including speed, density, geopolitics, and relentless technological complexity. The results were valuable insights about where we are, where we're headed, and importantly, what it will take to get there.