Job overview
Aptiv is hiring an ECAD Engineer for its Chennai location in Tamil Nadu. The role maintains the component library used for PCB designs delivered to automotive customers.
Chennai is one of India’s busiest hubs for automotive, engineering and technology employers, so a role here also puts you inside a large professional network.
What the ECAD Engineer will do
Reading the employer’s description closely, the work covers the following areas:
- Maintain the component library database, including schematic symbols and geometry cells.
- Create, change, review and approve schematic symbols and cells.
- Improve libraries for design for manufacturing.
- Work with local and remote engineering teams.
- Deliver tasks on time within quality standards and design processes.
The exact split of tasks may vary by team, so confirm the details during the interview.
Eligibility and experience
Aptiv asks for a degree in Electrical and Electronics or Electronics and Communication Engineering and five to eight years in a PCB librarian role. Experience of 5–8 years is expected, which places this opening at a mid or senior level.
Skills that will help you
If you can show the following, your profile will stand out:
- Five to eight years as a PCB component librarian.
- Hands-on experience with ECAD tools.
- Careful attention to library accuracy.
- Handling of confidential information.
Mention a project or work example for each skill you claim, with the result you achieved.
Three themes run through the listing: ECAD tools, schematic symbols and footprints and design for manufacturing. If your profile touches at least two of them, say so in the first lines of your CV.
Who should apply
It suits electronics engineers who enjoy precise library work behind automotive PCB design. It is less suitable for candidates who are only looking for a short-term job with no learning.
A typical working day
Your day will mix several tasks. You are likely to create, change, review and approve schematic symbols and cells, then work with local and remote engineering teams, and at other times maintain the component library database. Your exact routine will depend on the team, the project phase and your manager’s priorities.
How to prepare for the interview
Interviewers for engineering roles like to test fundamentals before tools. Revise the theory behind your main subject, then be ready to show how you applied it in a college project, internship or job.
Be ready for a question about a mistake you made and what you learned from it. Honest, specific answers earn trust. One likely question is how you would create, change, review and approve schematic symbols and cells. Another may ask how you would work with local and remote engineering teams. Spend extra time on ECAD tools, schematic symbols and footprints and design for manufacturing, because the listing points to them.
Resume tips for an ECAD Engineer application
Replace general phrases with outcomes. A line such as ‘reduced rework by changing a drawing check’ says more than ‘good design skills’.
Save the file as a PDF with your name and role in the file name, so it is easy to find later.
Use the words of the listing where they are true for you. If the employer writes ECAD tools or schematic symbols and footprints, make sure those exact words appear in your CV. Give proof for five to eight years as a PCB component librarian, and for hands-on experience with ECAD tools, with a project, a figure or a result next to each.
Career growth after this role
A few years of solid delivery in a role like this can open the way to team lead, project engineer or technical specialist positions. Find a senior colleague as a mentor early on and ask for feedback on a regular basis.
Ask the recruiter how people usually progress at Aptiv. A thoughtful question about training and mentoring leaves a good impression.
Questions to ask the recruiter
Use the closing minutes of the call wisely. Questions like these work well for this opening at Aptiv:
- How does the team share knowledge and handle handovers?
- How is technical work reviewed and approved in this team?
- How are new joiners trained during the first few months?
- What tools and standards does the team use every day?
Note each reply after the call so you can weigh this job against any other offer you receive.
Common mistakes to avoid
Do not skip a final read of the listing before the call. Ten minutes of revision shows respect for the recruiter’s time.
Avoid sending repeated applications with changing details to Aptiv. One careful application is better than several rushed ones, and quick replies to calls help your chances.
How to apply for the ECAD Engineer job
Apply through the Aptiv careers site by using the button on this page. The link takes you straight to the company’s own posting. Prepare an updated CV and a short profile summary before you open the portal, because some systems time out during long forms.
Watch your inbox for a few weeks, as larger companies often take time to shortlist.
Frequently asked questions
Can a fresher apply for this ECAD Engineer job?
Not usually. With 5–8 years of experience expected, the role is aimed at people who already have solid work behind them. Freshers should look for entry-level posts first.
What is an ECAD librarian?
It is a person who builds and maintains the library of component symbols and footprints that PCB designers use.
What should I stress in my CV for this job?
Three points matter most here: hands-on experience with ECAD tools; five to eight years as a PCB component librarian; and handling of confidential information. Show each with a project, a figure or a short story from your work.
Which location will I work from?
The employer lists Chennai, Tamil Nadu as the work location. Check the final site address with the recruiter, especially if the company has several offices nearby.
Quick facts
- Company: Aptiv.
- Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- Experience: 5–8 years.
- Job type: Full-time.
- Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Electrical and Electronics or Electronics and Communication Engineering.
- Apply through: The employer’s own career portal.
Stay safe while applying
Never pay for a test, a kit or a training seat to get a job. Real employers do not ask for it.