8-Port Smart Switch PCB Design
Budget: $10 – $30 USD
I’m building a compact, 8-port smart Ethernet switch and need a seasoned PCB engineer to turn the concept into production-ready files. Every port will present as standard RJ45, and the board must accommodate the switching chip set, magnetics, power regulation and basic management interface typical of a smart switch, while keeping the footprint tight for a small desktop enclosure.
Here is what I expect at hand-off:
• Complete, well-labelled schematic and PCB layout (Altium, KiCad or an equally capable tool)
• Gerber, drill, and pick-and-place files ready for fabrication
• A clean, structured bill of materials with part numbers, tolerances and suggested alternates
• Assembly drawings and any special manufacturing notes
• Simple bring-up guide so my team can power the first units and verify link/activity LEDs, management access and thermal performance
Design for EMC and signal integrity is important; keep differential pairs length-matched and respect 100 Ω impedance throughout. The end target is a two-layer or four-layer board depending on your professional judgement—cost and performance need a healthy balance.
If this sounds like a project you can move quickly on, tell me which switching silicon you propose, any reference designs you would leverage, and a realistic timeline for schematic, layout, and review passes.
Here is what I expect at hand-off:
• Complete, well-labelled schematic and PCB layout (Altium, KiCad or an equally capable tool)
• Gerber, drill, and pick-and-place files ready for fabrication
• A clean, structured bill of materials with part numbers, tolerances and suggested alternates
• Assembly drawings and any special manufacturing notes
• Simple bring-up guide so my team can power the first units and verify link/activity LEDs, management access and thermal performance
Design for EMC and signal integrity is important; keep differential pairs length-matched and respect 100 Ω impedance throughout. The end target is a two-layer or four-layer board depending on your professional judgement—cost and performance need a healthy balance.
If this sounds like a project you can move quickly on, tell me which switching silicon you propose, any reference designs you would leverage, and a realistic timeline for schematic, layout, and review passes.
Related categories:
Electronics
CAD/CAM
PCB Layout
Circuit Design
Embedded Systems
Product Development