Many engineers still think of KiCad as a hobbyist PCB design tool. That perception is changing.

In this episode, Judy Warner sits down with Seth Hillbrand, lead KiCad developer and founder of KiCad Services Corporation, to discuss how KiCad has evolved into a professional EDA platform trusted by startups, aerospace companies, research organizations, and enterprise engineering teams.

You'll learn:

• Why more professional engineers are choosing KiCad
• How open-source EDA tools stack up against commercial tools
• Why preserving design intent and long-term IP matters
• How KiCad's architecture is enabling the next generation of AI-powered PCB design
• Seth's perspective on using AI to make engineers more effective, not replace them

Whether you're evaluating new PCB design tools or simply curious about the future of electronic design automation (EDA), this conversation offers an inside look at one of the fastest-growing platforms in the industry.

🔗 Learn more about KiCad: https://www.kicad.org

Connect with Seth Hillbrand

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethhillbrand/
• KiCad Services: https://www.kipro-pcb.com/

The EEcosystem helps professional electronics engineers stay ahead through expert interviews, masterclasses, technical articles, and practical engineering education covering PCB design, signal integrity, RF, embedded systems, advanced packaging, AI, and emerging technologies.

Subscribe for new episodes every week. https://theeecosystem.com

Take our free online Masterclasses with Dr. Eric Bogatin: https://theeecosystem/masterclass

#KiCad #PCBDesign #EDA #ElectronicsEngineering #HardwareEngineering #OpenSource #Engineering #AI #PrintedCircuitBoard #TheEEcosystem

In this episode, Judy Warner sits down with Colin Stoner, co-founder of Zenode (zenode.ai) and a veteran electrical engineer with 250+ unique board designs under his belt. Colin shares how he turned years of real-world frustrations — endless datasheet digging, pinout copying, power budgeting, and last-minute alternate-part hunts into an AI-powered component intelligence platform that actually delivers results for hardware engineers.

If you’re tired of AI hype that doesn’t translate to real workflow wins in electronics design, this conversation will restore your faith. Discover how Zenode combines specialized data, engineering context, and modern AI to automate the boring but critical tasks so you can focus on actual design work.

In this episode of The EEcosystem Podcast, Judy Warner sits down with David Schild of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America (PCBAA) for a timely, high-impact conversation about the future of U.S. PCB manufacturing. David shares insights on The New Frontier, a new documentary spotlighting the human stories behind America’s PCB industry and the urgent need to reshore domestic manufacturing.

Together, they unpack why PCBs are critical infrastructure—powering everything from AI data centers to national defense—and why rebuilding this ecosystem is essential for innovation, security, and workforce development. If you care about the future of electronics, national security, and sustainable engineering careers, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

👉 Watch The New Frontier documentary

👉 Learn more about PCBAA and how to get involved

👉 Connect with David Schild and follow the movement

In this special DesignCon 2026 Kick-Off edition, Stephen Slater of Keysight joins Judy Warner to discuss all the activities Keysight is offering on this year's conference. He highlights Keysight's NPI that will be featured at this year's show, Chiplet 3D Interconnect Designer which will be showcased in their booth. See the links below to tap into the full spectrum of technology highlights included in this year's "Superbowl of Electronics."

DesignCon Resource Hub | Keysight https://www.keysight.com/us/en/lib/events/seminars/designcon-resource-hub.html

Keysight Unveils 3D Interconnect Designer for Chiplet and 3DIC Advanced Package Designs | Keysight https://www.keysight.com/us/en/about/newsroom/news-releases/2026/0217-pr-26-035-keysight-unveils-3d-interconnect-designer-for-chiplet-and-3dic-advanced-package-designs.html

Article: High-speed digital design frontier with Keysight’s Hee-Soo Lee https://semiwiki.com/eda/366688-on-the-high-speed-digital-design-frontier-with-keysights-hee-soo-lee/

In this episode Judy Warner talks with Steve Sandler, Heidi Barnes and Ben Dannan, who are three leading experts in Power Integrity and combined are presenting 17 talks at DesignCon 2026, Including a tutorial they will present together. They have all also been nominated for Engineer of the Year at DesignCon this year. Enjoy learning about the breakthrough they are creating together to create solutions for AI, Data Centers and HPC applications that will empower engineers both today and for the future. DesignCon

Picotest has products to help you analyze, characterize, and test all aspects of your circuitry. Picotest products are designed to simplify your measurements while providing optimal accuracy and resolution. Visit the Picotest Website https://picotest.com

Signal Edge Solutions are your Signal Integrity, Power Integrity, Electromagnetic Modeling, and EMC Experts Visit Signal Edge Solutions https://www.signaledgesolutions.com/

Visit Keysight Technology for all your Simulations and Measurement needs https://www.keysight.com/us/en/home.html

Modern engineering teams need design tools that can scale with their growth. In this episode, Judy Warner talks with David Haboud of Siemens EDA about how evolving PCB Design tools are helping small and mid-sized engineering teams manage increasing design complexity. They discuss data integration, flexible access to advanced capabilities, and how cross-tool collaboration and supply chain data are shaping the future of engineering workflows.

Learn more: Scaling Design Capabilities with Adaptable Add-Ons | Siemens Webinar https://tinyurl.com/ybsdfhre

🤝Join The EEcosystem Community for more free engineering Masterclasses from Eric Bogatin, resources, and member-only benefits at https://theeecosystem.com

👨🏽‍💻For free Technical Resources and to Learn more about Keysight Pathwave EDA Software Solutions visit the homepage now. https://www.keysight.com/us/en/products/software/pathwave-design-software.html

💻 Visit Cofactr for AI-Powered real-time part data Intelligence and supply chain connected workflow and logistics. https://www.cofactr.com/

🔗For all of your high-speed and RF connectors visit the Samtec website and access excellent engineering resources while you are there. https://www.samtec.com/

⛰️Visit Summit Interconnect for all your complex PCB manufacturing needs. https://summitinterconnect.com/

🌎 Visit Isola Group global for High performance laminates and prepreg materials for PCB manufacturing, as well as new IC packaging interposer https://www.isola-group.com/

💽 For high complexity EDA solutions visit SIEMENS EDA Website https://eda.sw.siemens.com/en-US/

💡For SI/PI/EMI News and Technical Resources and to register for a free subscription visit the Signal Integrity Journal today. https://www.signalintegrityjournal.com/

📡 For Custom RF and MW PCBs visit the Transline Technology Website to learn more. Visit https://translinetech.com/

🔌 Picotest specializes in high-fidelity testing and measurement tools, primarily for power-related applications. Visit their website for more product information and excellent training materials from expert Steve Sandler https://www.picotestonline.com/

In this conversation, David Schild, the Executive Director of the Printed Circuit Board Association of America (PCBAA), discusses the current state of PCB manufacturing in the U.S., the importance of national security for the industry, and the challenges posed by foreign dominance in the market. He emphasizes the importance of reshoring manufacturing capabilities and the intersection of industrial policy and national security. The conversation also touches on the implications of AI for hardware engineering jobs and the growth of PCBAA as an organization advocating for the PCB ecosystem.