Custom PCB Design for Portable Touchscreen Electronics Device

**Title: Embedded Hardware Engineer Needed to Take a Portable Touchscreen Device From Concept to Final PCB Design** I’m looking for an experienced embedded hardware engineer or PCB designer who can take a portable touchscreen electronics device from early concept through a complete, production-ready hardware design. This is not just a PCB layout task. I need someone who can help define the architecture, select components, create the schematic, complete the PCB layout, support prototype bring-up, resolve hardware issues, and deliver the final revised design package. The device will integrate a touchscreen, rechargeable battery, wireless connectivity, onboard sensors, NFC, audio, vibration, removable storage, physical buttons, and external expansion connections. Please provide a **fixed-price quote and estimated timeline for each milestone listed below**. I would also like a total estimated project cost and overall schedule. ## Required Hardware Features *Note: This feature list represents the current concept and is expected to evolve as the system architecture is defined and refined.* * Main processor / SoC * External RAM and flash storage * High-resolution display connector * Touchscreen controller connection * USB-C charging, data, and programming * Rechargeable LiPo battery connector * Battery charging and protection circuitry * Battery fuel gauge * Power-management circuitry * Voltage regulators * Dedicated sleep, wake, and power button * Two programmable physical action buttons * Reset and boot controls * MicroSD card slot * Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antenna design * GPS/GNSS module and antenna connection * 6-axis IMU with accelerometer and gyroscope * Magnetometer * BME688 environmental sensor * Time-of-flight distance sensor * Ambient-light sensor * Microphone * NFC reader/writer IC and NFC antenna * Speaker or buzzer amplifier and connection * Vibration-motor driver and connection * RGB status LED * Infrared transmitter and driver * External GPIO connections * I²C and UART expansion * Analog and digital input/output connections * Protected external power output * Compact wire or spring-terminal connections * Magnetic 10–16-pin pogo-pin connector * Pogo connector support for power, charging, ground, and data * ESD, reverse-polarity, overcurrent, and overvoltage protection * Debug and programming connection * Manufacturing test points * Mounting holes and enclosure-alignment features * Wireless-charging receiver support * Magnetic charging and accessory-alignment area ## Magnetic Pogo Connector The device should include a magnetic pogo-pin connector with approximately 10–16 contacts. The final pin count and pinout should be recommended during the architecture and schematic phases. The connector may support: * Battery charging * External power * Ground * USB or another suitable data interface * I²C * UART * GPIO * Analog input * Accessory identification * Docking stations * External sensor modules * Expansion accessories The design should include suitable protection, current limiting, hot-plug considerations, pin sequencing, accessory detection, and protection against incorrect attachment or shorted contacts. ## Physical Button Requirements The device will include: * One sleep, wake, and power button * Two programmable action buttons * Reset and boot access for development and recovery The power button should support power-on, sleep, wake, and controlled shutdown behavior. The two action buttons should connect to suitable GPIO pins and be assignable to different firmware functions or applications. ## Sensor and Antenna Placement The PCB layout must carefully account for the placement and isolation of: * Magnetometer * GPS/GNSS antenna * NFC antenna * Wi-Fi and Bluetooth antenna * Microphone * Ambient-light sensor * Time-of-flight distance sensor * IMU * Speaker * Vibration motor * Wireless-charging coil * Magnets * Battery * Display * Pogo-pin connector * Physical buttons Some of these components may require enclosure openings, optical windows, acoustic ports, antenna keep-out zones, shielding, or specific placement relative to the display, battery, magnets, and other electronics. ## Industrial Design Coordination I will eventually hire an industrial designer to create the device enclosure. The selected hardware engineer will need to work with the industrial designer to ensure the PCB and enclosure are developed together and have the correct: * PCB dimensions and shape * Mounting-hole locations * Connector positions * Button positions * Display and touchscreen alignment * Sensor openings and optical windows * Microphone and speaker openings * Antenna keep-out areas * Battery placement * Wireless-charging coil placement * Magnet placement * Pogo-pin connector alignment * Assembly clearances * Tolerances * Cable routing * Service and assembly access The PCB design may need to be adjusted as the enclosure design develops. ## Project Milestones ### Milestone 1: Architecture Review Review the overall product concept and define the recommended hardware architecture. This milestone should include: * Review of all required features * Recommended processor and system architecture * Review of display and touchscreen requirements * Power architecture * Battery and charging strategy * Wireless connectivity approach * Sensor interfaces * NFC architecture * GPS architecture * Pogo connector concept * Expansion interface strategy * Major technical risks * Initial PCB size and layer-count recommendations * Preliminary block diagram * Questions or requirements that must be resolved before schematic design Please provide a fixed-price cost and timeline for this milestone. ### Milestone 2: Component Selection Select the primary components required for the design. This milestone should include: * Processor / SoC selection * RAM and flash selection * Power-management components * Battery charger and protection components * Battery fuel gauge * Voltage regulators * Wireless and antenna components * GPS/GNSS module and antenna * Sensor selection * NFC controller and antenna approach * Audio components * Vibration motor driver * USB-C components * MicroSD interface * Pogo connector selection * Buttons, connectors, and protection components * Availability and lifecycle review * Preliminary bill of materials * Alternative components for supply-chain risk Please provide a fixed-price cost and timeline for this milestone. ### Milestone 3: Schematic Design Create the complete electrical schematic for the device. This milestone should include: * Complete schematic capture * Power tree * Processor connections * Display and touchscreen connections * USB-C charging, programming, and data * Battery charging and protection * Sensor interfaces * GPS/GNSS interface * NFC interface * Audio and vibration circuits * Physical button circuits * MicroSD interface * Pogo connector pinout * GPIO, I²C, UART, and analog expansion * ESD and electrical protection * Debug and programming interfaces * Manufacturing test points * Schematic review and design checks Please provide a fixed-price cost and timeline for this milestone. ### Milestone 4: PCB Layout Create the complete PCB layout and manufacturing package. This milestone should include: * PCB outline and mechanical constraints * Layer stack-up * Component placement * Antenna placement and keep-out areas * Sensor placement * Power and signal routing * High-speed routing where required * Grounding and shielding strategy * Thermal review * Design-rule checks * Manufacturing-rule checks * Coordination with the industrial designer * Gerber files * Drill files * Pick-and-place files * Assembly drawings * Updated bill of materials * Source PCB design files * 3D PCB model if supported by the selected design software Please provide a fixed-price cost and timeline for this milestone. ### Milestone 5: Prototype Bring-Up Support the assembly, testing, and debugging of the first physical prototypes. This milestone should include: * Review of assembled boards * Initial power-on testing * Power-rail verification * Processor boot and programming support * USB testing * Display and touchscreen testing * Battery charging and fuel-gauge testing * Wi-Fi and Bluetooth testing * GPS/GNSS testing * NFC testing * Sensor testing * Audio and vibration testing * Button testing * MicroSD testing * Pogo connector testing * Debugging of hardware issues * Documentation of issues and recommended corrections Please explain whether prototype assembly coordination is included or quoted separately. Please provide a fixed-price cost and timeline for this milestone. ### Milestone 6: Revision and Final Handoff Revise the design based on prototype testing and provide the final production-ready design package. This milestone should include: * Schematic revisions * PCB revisions * Updated component placement and routing * Corrections from prototype testing * Coordination with the industrial designer * Final Gerber and drill files * Final bill of materials * Final pick-and-place files * Final assembly drawings * Final source design files * Final 3D PCB model * Manufacturing notes * Bring-up and test notes * Documented pogo connector pinout * Documented programming and debug interfaces * Component alternates * Complete final handoff package Please provide a fixed-price cost and timeline for this milestone. ## Required Deliverables The final handoff should include: * Full schematic source files * Full PCB source files * Gerber files * Drill files * Pick-and-place files * Complete bill of materials * Approved component alternatives * Assembly drawings * PCB fabrication notes * Manufacturing notes * Test-point documentation * Programming and debug documentation * Pogo connector pinout * 3D PCB model * Prototype bring-up notes * Revision history ## Ideal Experience Please include examples of projects involving: * Portable electronics * Handheld devices * Battery-powered products * Touchscreen devices * Embedded processors * Wi-Fi and Bluetooth * GPS/GNSS * NFC * Antenna layout * Sensor-heavy designs * Wireless charging * Magnetic pogo-pin connectors * High-density multilayer PCBs * Low-power design * Industrial-design coordination * Prototype bring-up * Design for manufacturing ## Proposal Requirements Please include the following in your proposal: * Relevant project examples * Your role on those projects * PCB design software you use * Recommended development process * Fixed-price quote for each milestone * Timeline for each milestone * Total estimated project cost * Total estimated project schedule * Expected PCB layer count * Whether you can support component sourcing * Whether you can coordinate fabrication and assembly * Whether you can support prototype bring-up * Whether you can work directly with an industrial designer * Any major risks or concerns you see with the project I am specifically looking for someone who can stay involved throughout the full process and take the hardware from concept through final design, rather than completing only one isolated part of the project.