Google this: PCB design engineer
As a printed circuit board (PCB) design engineer for Google’s Pixel hardware group, Matt Staub engages daily in complex designs and active collaboration (with the occasional ping-pong game and Google bike ride on the side).
The 2007 electronics engineering technology graduate offers insights into his Google gig and shares advice with current Penn College students:
What type of work do you do?
I am a printed circuit board (PCB) design engineer for Google’s Pixel hardware group, working out of the Chicago office. I was a lead designer for both the Pixel 3XL and Pixel 4 phones, as well as supporting many other internal and consumer-facing products. As a PCB designer, I am responsible for bringing electrical schematics to life through the placement, layout and routing of both analog and digital circuits for some of the most complex designs in the consumer electronics industry.
What is a typical day like?
A large portion of my day is spent using electronic computer-aided drafting (ECAD) software to work on my designs. These are very complex designs and require a lot of collaboration between me and all the other engineers that make up the different cross-function teams required for developing a phone. In between designs, I develop software and scripts that help automate some of our manual processes we do, run additional checks on a design, or generate additional reports to help support our vendors. There is also the occasional game of ping-pong, coffee with a coworker at one of the cafes, or a bike ride on one of the Google bikes.
What is the most rewarding project you’ve worked on?
The Pixel 3XL is currently the most rewarding project I’ve worked on. Throughout my life, I have always been into electronics and consistently find myself on tech websites, following the latest product releases and trends in the consumer hardware space. More specifically, I’ve been interested in smartphones since their introduction in the late 2000s. I would always look at the latest smartphone teardowns online just so I could see the circuit boards in them. I was amazed at how they were able to fit so much processing power and functionality into such a small-form factor. The Pixel 3XL was the first smartphone I worked on and led the PCB design into mass production. I finally got to see this phone, a design I helped produce, covered on all my usual tech websites.
Any advice for electronics engineering technology students? Or what type of skills do students need to be successful in the electronics engineering technology industry?
During my time at Penn College, I believe I thought that the more I knew about the subjects I was studying, the better off I would be when graduating. And, although there is truth to that, I found that during my time in the industry, the ability to solve complex problems and collaborate with others with an open mind have been equally important. With that, my advice to the current students would be the following: It’s OK if you don’t know something. The important thing is the steps you take to figure it out. Start by asking questions. It took me a few years into my education to understand the value in asking questions and to speak up in class.

What is your favorite aspect of your job?
There are many aspects of my job, and I can’t call just one my favorite. To start, I love the designs I get to work on. Each one is a complex puzzle I get to solve. I also really enjoy the people I work with here at Google. They are some of the smartest, nicest, encouraging people I have ever had the privilege to work with. I am also fortunate to work in an environment that fosters learning and the exploration of personal projects. I am constantly coming up with projects, tools and ideas, and I am given the time to explore them.
How do you think Penn College helped prepare you to excel in the electronics engineering technology industry?
Penn College gave me the ability to face and solve complex problems through their hands-on learning and industry-applicable classes. The creation of most consumer electronics stems from a problem, or set of problems, and having the know-how to deal with them has been very rewarding to both me and my career.
Share
Author

Matt Staub
Matt Staub, a 2007 Electronics Engineering Technology graduate, is a PCB Design Engineer with Google's Pixel hardware group in Chicago.
Recent Posts
Automotive grad makes ‘PACT’ to earn customers’ trust
By Alain Johnson, December 2, 2020
Philanthropic grad/retiree supporting next generation of students
By Jim Cunningham, November 12, 2020
Designing your dream job
By Kimbr Filko, November 10, 2020
Cherished Meals
By Amy Koral, September 3, 2020
Inspired by Donor Support
By Mary Watts, November 12, 2020
Surgical technologists expect the unexpected in the OR
By Alexis Ashby, June 26, 2020
Alumnus answers call for students impacted by devastating pandemic
By John Urick, May 15, 2020
Post by:

Matt Staub
Matt Staub, a 2007 Electronics Engineering Technology graduate, is a PCB Design Engineer with Google's Pixel hardware group in Chicago.
You must login to post a comment.
Or Login below:
Penn College welcomes comments that are on topic and civil. Read our full disclaimer.
Related Stories
Automotive grad makes ‘PACT’ to earn customers’ trust
By Alain Johnson, December 2, 2020
A graduate of Pennsylvania College of Technology’s automotive technology: Honda PACT emphasis major, Alain Johnson is straddling two worlds: sharing through his day job what he has learned, while working toward adding a degree to his toolkit.
Philanthropic grad/retiree supporting next generation of students
By Jim Cunningham, November 12, 2020
An award-winning alumnus with a decades-long family connection to Williamsport Area Community College and Pennsylvania College of Technology has the perfect vantage point from which to view his personal accomplishments and the institution that helped shape them.
Alumni, People, Scholarships, Technology
Penn College alumnus, Transforming Tomorrow Together
Designing your dream job
By Kimbr Filko, November 10, 2020
As Senior UI/UX Designer for Blackboard, an educational technology company, Kimbr Filko applies the skills she learned at Penn College to design websites for K-12 schools.
The 2014 graphic design alumna offers insight into the value of her degree, and the important role the College continues to play in her life.
Cherished Meals
By Amy Koral, September 3, 2020
After working as a pastry chef and production manager for a French bakery in Portland, Oregon, 2014 baking and pastry arts graduate Amy (Lynn) Koral turned a side gig into a full-time career.
Alumni, Baking & Culinary Arts
baking and pastry arts, cherished meals, personal chef
Inspired by Donor Support
By Mary Watts, November 12, 2020
Mary Watts is a senior at Pennsylvania College of Technology, majoring in Information Assurance & Cyber Security. She is vice president of the ISA organization on campus. When Mary isn’t busy in class or working as a student college relations assistant, she enjoys relaxing at home and spending time with her family.
Cyber Security, People, Student Life
Transforming Tomorrow Together
Surgical technologists expect the unexpected in the OR
By Alexis Ashby, June 26, 2020
As a certified surgical technologist Alexis Ashby keeps a vigilant eye to keep patients safe in the operating room. She is grateful to impact lives, even if her patients are unaware.
Alumnus answers call for students impacted by devastating pandemic
By John Urick, May 15, 2020
I know the impact that a Pennsylvania College of Technology applied technology education has on lives.