JobsMotorola Solutions

PCB Fabrication Specialist

Motorola Solutions · Schaumburg, IL

Posted Sep 7, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

Apply at Motorola Solutions

Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you had to push back on a vendor over quality or a missed commitment. How did that conversation go?

negotiation skill and whether they can hold a supplier accountable without burning the relationship

Describe a time you had to explain a technical fabrication issue - stackup, impedance, yield problem - to someone without a PCB background, like an executive or a customer.

ability to translate technical detail for non-technical stakeholders, which the role explicitly requires across engineering and executive audiences

Tell me about a fabrication vendor relationship you built from scratch, including a site visit or business review you led.

actual hands-on vendor sourcing and relationship-building experience versus purely transactional procurement work

Technical

Walk me through how you would work with a design engineer to choose a stackup and substrate material for a new high-speed digital board.

whether the candidate understands the tradeoffs between signal integrity, cost, and material availability, not just textbook stackup theory

What do you look for when you do a final CAM and artwork check before releasing a board to manufacturing, and what's a mistake at this stage that's cost you before?

depth of hands-on CAM review experience and whether they've actually caught costly errors, not just used the software

How do you approach panelization to maximize yield without compromising the board's mechanical or electrical performance?

practical grasp of tradeoffs in panel utilization versus routing, edge clearance, and process constraints

Tell me about D-coupons - what are they verifying, and how do you manage the process of ordering and tracking them for a job.

whether they understand impedance/signal integrity verification workflows or are just repeating a term from the posting

What's your experience with CMMC, ITAR, or EAR requirements, and how have you kept a vendor's compliance status current in practice?

real familiarity with defense-adjacent compliance tracking versus surface-level awareness of the acronyms

What experience do you have with AI-assisted DFM, AOI/AXI inspection, or predictive supply chain tools, and how did you actually use them day to day?

whether their AI tool exposure is concrete and operational or just a resume keyword

Situational

A batch of incoming boards fails dimensional inspection against IPC standards. What's your process from that point to getting a resolution with the vendor?

how systematically they handle nonconformance, including CAR issuance and follow-through, versus just escalating and hoping it gets fixed

How do you decide which vendor gets the nod when you're comparing quotes for a specific board design?

whether they weigh technical capability, cost, lead time, and compliance status together or default to lowest price

Say a long-lead material you pre-ordered for a design suddenly becomes unavailable mid-project. What do you do?

contingency planning and how they balance schedule pressure against material substitution risk

How would you go about building or maintaining something like a PCB technology roadmap or capabilities matrix for a team like this one?

whether they can think beyond day-to-day firefighting and contribute to longer-term technical strategy and vendor capability tracking

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Motorola Solutions from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by Motorola Solutions.

Company Overview At Motorola Solutions, we believe that everything starts with our people. We’re a global close-knit community, united by the relentless pursuit to help keep people safer everywhere. We build and connect technologies to help protect people, property and places. Our solutions foster the collaboration that’s critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer hospitals, safer businesses, and ultimately, safer nations. Connect with a career that matters, and help us build a safer future. Department Overview Applied Technology is a prototyping center within Motorola Solutions. We specialize in proof-of-concept and low-volume advanced communications products for government and industry customers. Our Automated Test group partners with cross-functional teams to deliver robust testing capabilities, ensuring the delivery of high-reliability products. We cultivate a collaborative, customer-centric culture that drives continuous innovation and professional growth. Job Description The PCB Fabrication Specialist sits at the intersection of printed circuit board engineering, global procurement, and emerging AI technologies. In this role within the Applied Technology department, you will serve as the primary bridge between our design engineering teams and manufacturing partners. You will oversee the technical lifecycle of PCB fabrication—from initial stackup planning and material selection to CAM artwork approval, vendor management, CMMC compliance, quality tracking, and the integration of AI-assisted tools for DFM, supply chain forecasting, and inspection. Key Responsibilities Technical Design & Stackup Engineering • Stackup & Material Selection: Collaborate with engineering to determine optimal PCB stackups and substrate materials for new designs; verify material stock availability and coordinate long-lead pre-orders. • CAM & Artwork Approval: Perform final CAM and artwork checks/approvals prior to manufacturing release. • Panelization & Material Utilization: Perform panelization calculations to maximize board yields and optimize raw material utilization. • D-Coupon Management: Oversee D-coupon requirements, processes, and ordering to ensure signal integrity and quality verification. • Incoming Quality Inspection: Lead and coordinate incoming PCB inspection processes to ensure boards meet all physical, dimensional, and IPC standards. Procurement, Quoting & Order Assistance • RFQ & Sourcing: Work with PCB Procurement to technically support quote requests and select the optimal vendor for each specific board design. • Order Tracking & Reporting: Track, report, and help resolve any production issues or manufacturing defects that arise.  Interface with the vendor and internal Quality team to receive sufficient Corrective Action Reports (CARs). Vendor Management & Supply Chain Compliance • Supplier Relations: Sourcing new fabrication vendors, attending business reviews, and conducting site visits. • Compliance: Monitor and maintain vendor CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) status to comply with defense/defense-adjacent security standards. Departmental Leadership & Technology Strategy • Commodity Assistance: Assist the internal PCB Commodity Team and serve as the subject matter expert on fabrication technologies. • Technology Roadmap: Maintain the PCB Technology Roadmap, Capabilities Matrix, and internal Material Specifications to keep the team aligned with emerging industry capabilities. e.g., ultra high-density interconnects (uHDI), AI-driven DFM. • Industry Insights: Represent the department at relevant industry conferences and trade shows. • Internal Communication: Assist the PCB Design & Procurement group in communicating to other areas within the department to keep Applied Technology informed on supply chain trends, technology shifts, and vendor performance. Qualifications & Key Requirements • Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of PCB manufacturing processes, IPC standards, material properties (FR-4, High-Speed Digital, RF/Microwave), panelization, and impedance stackups. • AI & Automation Literacy: Familiarity with AI-enhanced EDA/CAM verification tools, predictive supply chain platforms, or automated visual inspection systems (AOI/AXI) is a plus. • Compliance Awareness: Familiarity with defense/industrial compliance standards, specifically CMMC, ITAR, or EAR regulations. • Tools: Proficiency with CAM viewing tools, ERP/MRP procurement systems, and advanced Excel/data analytics for tracking and reporting. • Soft Skills: Strong negotiation skills, cross-functional project management, and clear technical communication skills across engineering and executive teams. #AppliedTech #LI-JM2 Target Base Salary Range: $72,700  - $105,400  USD Consistent with Motorola Solutions values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. Pay within this range varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate. Basic Requirements • Experience: 3+ years of experience in PCB fabrication, CAM engineering, or technical PCB procurement/supply chain management. • U.S. Citizenship required as well as the ability to obtain necessary security clearance as required by government contractors. Travel Requirements None Relocation Provided None Position Type Experienced Referral Payment Plan Yes Our U.S. Benefits include: • Incentive Bonus Plans • Medical, Dental, Vision benefits • 401K with Company Match • 10 Paid Holidays • Generous Paid Time Off Packages • Employee Stock Purchase Plan • Paid Parental & Family Leave • and more! EEO Statement Motorola Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally-protected characteristic.  We are proud of our people-first and community-focused culture, empowering every Motorolan to be their most authentic self and to do their best work to deliver on the promise of a safer world. If you’d like to join our team but feel that you don’t quite meet all of the preferred skills, we’d still love to hear why you think you’d be a great addition to our team. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruiting experience for candidates with disabilities, or other physical or mental health conditions. To request an accommodation, please complete this  Reasonable Accommodations Form  so we can assist you.

Apply at Motorola Solutions

Related jobs

Cyber Security - 2027 Summer Internship (Chicago Hybrid)

Motorola Solutions · Chicago, IL

Posted Sep 17 · Verified Sep 20

Global Product Manager

Motorola Solutions · Schaumburg, IL

Posted Sep 17 · Verified Sep 20

Finance & Accounting Intern (2027 Internship)

Motorola Solutions · Chicago, IL

Posted Sep 17 · Verified Sep 20

Marketing - 2027 Summer Internship

Motorola Solutions · Chicago, IL

Posted Sep 16 · Verified Sep 20

M&A Integration Manager

Motorola Solutions · Chicago, IL

Posted Sep 16 · Verified Sep 20

VS&A Supply Chain Intern 2027 internship

Motorola Solutions · Chicago, IL

Posted Sep 16 · Verified Sep 20