PEACHTREE CITY, GA – AUGUST 25, 2026 – PCB West this year will debut Designer Career Day, a free program targeted at students, graduates, and anyone interested in careers in PCB design and design engineering, Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA) announced today.
The daylong event will be held on September 30, and is chaired by Matthew McBride and John Burkhert, Jr. Designer Career Day will feature sessions by industry experts including Stephen V. Chavez, Tomas Chester and Dan Beeker, as well as a panel discussion. Speakers will cover everything from interview skills, networking and compensation through technology, CAD tools and the reality of working as a PCB design professional today.
Attendees will learn about securing industry internships, certifications, fine-tuning a resume and utilizing social media, plus “soft” skills such as communication and problem-solving. Career pathways, education, and training opportunities will also be discussed.
“Designer Career Day could end up being a pivotal moment in a young engineer’s future,” said Burkhert. “I can still recall the first time I was shown a CAD workstation. From that point onward, I knew what kind of work I wanted to do.”
This year’s show will feature more than 100 exhibitors showcasing the leading companies in the PCB industry, including the top CAD and CAM vendors and top names in printed circuit fabrication and electronics assembly.
PCB West will be held September 29 – October 2, 2026, at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center. The event includes a one-day exhibition on September 30.
PRINTED CIRCUIT DESIGN & FAB and CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY magazines are media partners for the event.
For more information about PCB West, visit pcbwest.com or contact Conference Director Mike Buetow at 617-327-4702; mike@pcea.net.