How do you train the next generation of PCB engineers when the veterans are retiring faster than they can be replaced?

And what happens when the lessons learned in the Marine Corps become the blueprint for building defense-grade electronics?

What you’ll learn…

(00:40) Timothy Burns’ journey from Marine Corps captain to CEO of Timberwolf

(02:30) The state of U.S. defense electronics and why skills shortages threaten national security

(04:50) The education gap: how academia is falling behind in practical PCB training

(06:30) Why mentorship, not just tools, is key to building the next generation of engineers

(09:40) Expedition EDA tools and how the right software accelerates defense-grade design

(12:50) High-speed design challenges: DDR4, 25 Gbps lanes, and the limits of board density

(13:50) How to handle “72-hour-turnaround” boards and design under battle conditions

(19:00) Power-delivery, signal-integrity, and the forgotten fundamentals of quality design

(22:00) The role of AI in EDA—and why it will never replace human engineering judgment

(25:30) How investment, mentorship, and collaboration will close the PCB talent gap

More about the episode…

In this episode of The Printed Circuit Podcast, host Steph Chavez welcomes Timothy Burns, former Marine Corps ISR pilot and current CEO of Timberwolf, a defense-electronics design firm tackling some of the most demanding high-speed, high-reliability PCB projects in the industry.

Drawing from his experience on the battlefield and in the boardroom, Tim shares how precision, reliability, and mentorship define both military and engineering excellence. He explains how the skills gap across the electronics industry has become a national-security issue, as veteran designers retire faster than they can be replaced.

Tim highlights why today’s engineering education often misses the mark—focusing on theory instead of hands-on application—and calls for renewed investment in academic-industry collaboration. He also discusses his preferred EDA ecosystem, Siemens Expedition, and why modern defense boards demand tools capable of managing 25 Gbps signals, DDR4 layouts, and extreme reliability requirements.

The conversation dives deep into mentorship, AI in EDA, and real-world design pressure, from 72-hour emergency turnarounds to projects where a single mis-routed trace could mean mission failure. Burns’ passion for teaching and his pragmatic outlook make this a must-listen episode for anyone invested in the future of printed-circuit engineering.

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