Pacific Design Engineering helps companies bring complex products to market. We integrate with your team, fill critical skill gaps, and deliver engineering expertise across hardware, firmware, software, and compliance—all under one roof.
Pacific Design Engineering helps companies bring complex products to market. We integrate with your team, fill critical skill gaps, and deliver engineering expertise across hardware, firmware, software, and compliance—all under one roof.
Whether you found us through an industry partner, a colleague's recommendation, or your own research, you're probably here because you're facing a product development challenge. That's exactly the situation we're built to solve.
Pacific Design Engineering began in 1988 as a spin-off from MPR Teltech, BC Tel's research and development facility. Nine engineers started the company with a focus on PCB layout and mechanical design—work that, in those days, meant manual techniques like tape and doughnuts.
The founding vision was clear: provide integrated design services that helped companies get products to market faster and better than they could alone.
The early years brought rapid growth—and significant tests of resilience:
1988-1996: Grew from 9 to 20 people, expanding from PCB services to full integrated product design. Acquired PDE Inc. in Oregon, serving Intel, HP, and Tektronix. Launched Impact Staffing, growing to 200+ technical professionals.
1996: When our parent company closed, management led an employee buyout. For the first time, the people who built PDE took ownership of its future.
1999: Acquired by a public company seeking telecom ODM capabilities.
2002: When the acquiring company changed direction, PDE's management led another buyout. For the second time, we chose independence over corporate uncertainty.
These experiences shaped who we are: a company that has survived market cycles, ownership changes, and technology transitions by focusing on what matters—delivering value to clients and taking care of our team.
What started as PCB layout has evolved into comprehensive product development:
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2007 | First FCC, ISED, and CE certifications |
| 2008 | First Automated Test Fixture designed |
| 2010 | Accepted into TI Elite Design House Network |
| 2014 | RF isolation chamber added |
| 2015 | Arrow ACES partnership |
| 2016 | First VCCI (Japan) certification |
| 2018 | First electrical safety certification |
| 2020 | First PTCRB and AT&T certifications |
| 2021 | First Verizon certification |
| 2022 | First KC (Korea) certification |
| 2024 | EGBC permit to practice |
Each capability was added because clients needed it. We don't chase technology trends—we evolve with the products we're asked to build.
PDE is now one of Western Canada's largest contract design houses, serving clients throughout North America. Our team of 19 engineers brings an average tenure of 8.8 years—unusual in an industry known for job-hopping.
What hasn't changed since 1988: our commitment to being a genuine extension of our clients' teams.
Steve leads PDE with a focus on sustainable growth and client partnership. Under his leadership, PDE continues to expand technical capabilities while maintaining the collaborative culture that has defined the company for decades.
Mathieu is likely top be the first person you talk to when you contact PDE. His policy of maintaining transparent, honest, and efficient relationships is the backbone of how we are interact with you, the customer.
To redefine engineering teamwork by setting a new industry standard—where unified teams, purposeful innovation, and principled leadership shape the future of what's possible.
We embed with our customers to form unified engineering teams—guiding with expertise, driving clarity and alignment through structured, purposeful communication, and delivering innovation with purpose.
Integrity – We do what's right—always. Transparent communication even when it's difficult. Honest assessments of technical risks. Following through on commitments.
Collaboration – We build better, together. Working across roles, teams, and with customers to co-create outcomes.
Innovation – We exist to create. Delivering value through thoughtful, effective solutions.
Agility – We adapt to deliver. When things change—and they will—we stay flexible and move forward with clarity.
Ownership – We lead from within. Taking responsibility for outcomes. Stepping up, following through, and taking pride in what we deliver.
These aren't words on a wall. They're decisions we make daily:
Integrity means telling a client their timeline is unrealistic, even when we want the work.
Collaboration means our firmware engineers sit in hardware design reviews, catching integration issues before they become problems.
Innovation means investing in BLE and mobile development in 2011 when we saw Apple's announcement, even though it would eventually replace some of our existing business.
Agility means restructuring teams mid-project when requirements change, without losing momentum.
Ownership means when something goes wrong, we focus on "what could we have done differently?"—not blame.
Texas Instruments Elite Design House Network – One of only 12 companies in the Americas selected for TI's premier partner program. This recognition came because of our "long track record of solving customers' problems with high quality product design and engineering development."
Arrow ACES Partner – Pre-screened, qualified, and certified as one of Arrow's trusted engineering design services providers in North America.
AMD/Xilinx Partner Network – Recognized expertise in FPGA development and adaptive computing.
Renesas Independent Design House – Certified partner for Renesas semiconductor solutions.
Our Burnaby, BC headquarters includes a complete engineering lab:
This isn't just workspace—it's capability that lets us debug problems faster, validate designs earlier, and reduce time to certification.
We've evolved from telecommunications cabinets to IoT devices. From manual PCB layout to cloud-connected systems. From regional contracts to continental partnerships.
The next evolution is already underway. As products become more connected, as AI capabilities move to the edge, as sustainability requirements reshape design decisions—we're building the expertise our clients will need.
Whatever technology comes next, PDE will be ready. That's been true for 37 years. It will be true for the next 37.
Start a Conversation – Tell us about your project and let's explore whether PDE is the right fit.
Explore Our Work – See detailed case studies across industries.
Review Our Capabilities – Technical breakdown of services and expertise.