Hardware and printed circuit board (PCB) design for more reliable, manufacturable, and EMC-test-ready circuits
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I help you transform your schematic or electronic idea into a producible PCB, documented and designed with attention to electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
Too many projects fail electromagnetic compatibility tests, causing costly delays, redesigns, and, in the worst cases, the complete abandonment of the idea. But there is a solution: the PCB-First Method.
The PCB-First Method has been created created to reduce the risk of rework, EMC problems, and delays by anticipating critical issues already in the schematic and layout stage..
⚠️ Traditional Method
- Draw the schematic without protection or filtering
- Route the PCB without considering that traces, vias, and layers are real components
- Test the circuit
- Cross fingers for EMC tests
✨ PCB-First Method
- Think about the final PCB before starting
- Choose "PCB-friendly" components
- Draw the schematic with integrated EMC rules
- Test the circuit
- Face compatibility tests with confidence
Our Tailored Services
🔍 Schematic Review and Integration
I analyze your existing schematic and optimize it according to EMC best practices, ensuring electromagnetic compatibility from the design phase.
🔧 Advanced PCB Design
I create the printed circuit layout by rigorously applying electromagnetic compatibility rules, maximizing success probability. Includes documentation with project files in chosen CAD, Gerber files or ODB++ files, component list (BOM), component coordinate file for automatic assembly, and 3D PCB model.
🎯 Premium Additional Services
- 📦 Sample Supply: Receive pre-assembled and functional prototypes
- 🛡️ EMC Test Accompaniment: I create a technical documentation draft and guide you through compatibility test preparation
Important Notes
I do not design (regarding circuit schematics) high voltage or current devices such as flyback converters, PFC, power inverters.
I do not write structured firmware and FPGA programming. I do not perform enclosure design and do not manage internal component codes.
This service is for you if:
- you have an electronic schematic and want to turn it into a professional PCB;
- you already have a prototype but are concerned about EMC or manufacturing issues;
- you need to prepare Gerber, ODB++, BOM files and production documentation;
- you want to reduce the risk of rework and delays;
- you need an external designer with expertise in PCB + electromagnetic compatibility.
- you have an idea for an electronic device (with clear specifications) and need full schematic + PCB design.
Not for you if:
- you need structured firmware development;
- you need to design FPGAs;
- you need to develop mechanical enclosures;
- you need to design high-voltage / high-current devices — flyback, PFC or power inverters.
Gabriele Marocco
Electronic Circuit Designer
Professional Experience
For thirteen years I have been designing electronic circuits with a burning passion that drives every working day. This is not just my job — it is the engine of my technical creativity.
- Automotive
- Professional Drones
- Sensing & Sensors
- Home Automation Modules
Certifications
October 2020: IPC CID (Certified Interconnect Designer) certification
IPC is the organization that sets and regulates the design, manufacturing, and soldering standards for printed circuit boards, ensuring internationally recognised quality.
Software & Tools
I have worked with both professional and open-source PCB design software:
- KiCad (Preferred)
- Altium Designer
- Cadence (OrCAD)
Design Philosophy
"Today, when I create a printed circuit, I imagine a living organism. The traces are the veins and arteries, the signals are the vital impulse that flows silently but powerfully, and the vias are the essential communication points — like nerves transmitting vital information. The components are the organs, each with a unique and indispensable function."
But there is more: a circuit, just like a human body, lives in delicate equilibria. If a current flows in the wrong place, if an electromagnetic field interferes in the wrong way, the circuit suffers, loses efficiency, and cannot perform at its best.
ESP32-S3 — Industrial Development Board
The challenge
Making an RF section and an isolated section dedicated to RS485 and CAN-BUS communication coexist on the same board, while preserving signal integrity across both domains.
GitHub Repository
Industrial sensor
The challenge
The compact PCB footprint required using a BGA microcontroller with a 0.5 mm pitch, pushing the design into HDI (High Density Interconnect) territory.
Home automation module
The challenge
Finding a circuit solution and component placement that satisfied the enclosure constraints — while still passing EMC certification tests.
High-current home automation module
The challenge
Making low-voltage logic and the high-voltage / high-current power section coexist safely, with proper isolation — and passing EMC tests.
PCB for automated test bench
The challenge
Managing a high signal count while respecting the hard constraint of a maximum 4-layer stackup, optimising routing and domain separation throughout.