A solid state switching device, such as a solid state circuit breaker, includes at least one heat sink, a control electronics printed circuit board (PCB), and power electronics. The power electronics are useful to regulate the flow of current from one terminal of the solid state switching device to another terminal. The power electronics can include one or more solid state devices such as FETs, Thyristors, Thyristors+SiC JFET in parallel, IGBTs, and IGCTs. The control PCB can include a variety of circuit elements useful to perform the function of a gate driver useful to activate the solid state device of the power electronics. The heat sink includes one or more signal vias formed therethrough to permit nesting of the control PCB within the heat sink.