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AUGUST 2026 I I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE 39 PCB designers integrate these requirements into a physical implementation. The success of the product depends on how effectively these disci- plines interact. Within this ecosystem, the PCB designer does not replace the expertise of other disciplines, nor should they be expected to become an expert in every engineering specialty. Instead, their unique value comes from understanding how decisions create interaction and recognizing when collabora- tion is required. Every placement decision affects thermal behavior, manufacturability, SI, test accessibility, and mechanical integration. Every routing strategy involves tradeoffs between performance, cost, complexity, and reliability. The designer becomes the person who helps translate system-level intent into a physical product that can actually succeed in the real world. This broader responsibility is especially evident as we see more diversity in PCB design. HDI tech- nologies require closer collaboration with fabrica- tors and process engineers. RF designs require deeper interaction with electromagnetic specialists. High-speed digital systems demand careful consid- eration of return paths, impedance control, timing, and power delivery. Flexible and rigid-flex designs introduce mechanical reliability concerns that extend far beyond traditional layout practices. The days when a designer could work independently within the boundaries of a CAD environment are disappearing because the product itself no longer allows it. This does not mean DFM has become less impor- tant. Quite the opposite. It remains one of the most essential disciplines in successful PCB develop- ment. However, its role has expanded. Manufac- turing is now a partner that helps shape better designs from the beginning. The same principle applies across the entire product lifecycle. Design for assembly, design for test, design for reliability, design for cost, and design for supply chain are not separate activities competing for attention. They are interconnected perspectives that contribute to the overall health of the engineering ecosystem. Change Your Mindset Today's organizations are moving away from isolat- ed engineering processes and toward connected workflows where information flows continuously between disciplines. Digital engineering environ- ments, simulation, automation, and emerging AI ca- pabilities will continue improving this collaboration by making design intent and engineering data more accessible throughout the lifecycle. However, tech- nology alone will not create better products. The greatest advantage will come from engi- neering judgment, experience, and collaboration. Tools can help identify possibilities, analyze perfor- mance, and automate repetitive tasks, but they cannot replace the conversations that occur when experienced engineers challenge assumptions, share knowledge, and solve problems together. Ultimately, that may be the most important lesson from the evolution of PCB design. The future of our profession will not be defined by how quickly we can create layouts or how many design rules we can automate. It will be defined by how effectively we connect engineering disciplines and preserve the intent behind every decision. So, who really designs the PCB? The answer is that the PCB is designed by an ecosystem of engineers, specialists, manufacturers, suppliers, and stakeholders who contribute their expertise throughout the development process. The PCB designer remains central to that ecosystem, not because they own every decision, but because they help bring those decisions together into a successful product. The best products emerge when every partici- pant understands that they are not designing an individual piece of the system; they are helping create the system itself. I-CONNECT007 Stephen V. Chavez is principal technical product marketing manager at Siemens EDA and chair of PCEA.