diff --git a/examples/single_module.yml b/examples/single_module.yml
index 40f8ede..f8cf5a2 100644
--- a/examples/single_module.yml
+++ b/examples/single_module.yml
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ connectors:
   J2:
     type: SIG_CONN
     pinlabels:
-    - SIGNAL_IN
     - VOUT
+    - SIGNAL_IN
     notes: 'SPICE ref: J2, nets: SIGNAL_IN, VOUT'
   TP1:
     type: TP
@@ -63,5 +63,5 @@ connections:
     - 1
     - 2
   - J2:
-    - 2
     - 1
+    - 2
diff --git a/src/spice2wireviz/mapper/single_module.py b/src/spice2wireviz/mapper/single_module.py
index ed5ed24..5b92a40 100644
--- a/src/spice2wireviz/mapper/single_module.py
+++ b/src/spice2wireviz/mapper/single_module.py
@@ -8,11 +8,18 @@ defined inside it) and port interface. Generates:
 - Cables connecting the module header to boundary components via shared nets
 
 This shows the external interface of a single board/module.
+
+Layout optimization for the star topology:
+  1. Order boundary components by average header pin position
+  2. Group header pins by boundary component (reduces inter-cable crossings)
+  3. Reorder boundary component pins to be parallel with header (eliminates
+     within-cable crossings)
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import sys
+from collections import defaultdict
 from typing import Any
 
 from ..emitter.yaml_emitter import (
@@ -34,6 +41,257 @@ def _net_wire_color(net: str, netlist: ParsedNetlist) -> str:
     return ""
 
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Layout optimization helpers
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def _remap_pins(
+    name: str, pins: int | list[int], mapping: dict[int, int]
+) -> int | list[int]:
+    """Apply pin index remapping, failing explicitly if a pin is missing."""
+    try:
+        if isinstance(pins, int):
+            return mapping[pins]
+        return [mapping[p] for p in pins]
+    except KeyError as e:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"Pin remapping failed for {name}: pin {e.args[0]} not in "
+            f"mapping. Available: {sorted(mapping.keys())}, "
+            f"Requested: {pins if isinstance(pins, int) else list(pins)}"
+        ) from e
+
+
+def _optimize_single_layout(
+    header_name: str,
+    connectors: dict[str, dict[str, Any]],
+    cables: dict[str, dict[str, Any]],
+    connections: list[list[dict[str, Any]]],
+) -> tuple[
+    dict[str, dict[str, Any]],
+    dict[str, dict[str, Any]],
+    list[list[dict[str, Any]]],
+]:
+    """Optimize star-topology layout for single-module diagrams.
+
+    Three-pass optimization:
+      1. Order boundary components by average header pin position
+      2. Regroup header pins so pins connecting to the same boundary
+         component are adjacent (reduces inter-cable crossings)
+      3. Reorder boundary component pins to be parallel with header
+         (eliminates within-cable crossings)
+    """
+    if len(connectors) < 2 or not connections:
+        return connectors, cables, connections
+
+    header = connectors.get(header_name)
+    if not header or "pinlabels" not in header:
+        return connectors, cables, connections
+
+    header_labels = header["pinlabels"]
+    n_header = len(header_labels)
+
+    # --- Parse connections to extract (header_pin, comp_pin) pairs ---
+    comp_pin_pairs: dict[str, list[tuple[int, int]]] = defaultdict(list)
+
+    for i, conn in enumerate(connections):
+        if len(conn) < 3:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"Connection {i} has {len(conn)} elements, expected at least 3 "
+                f"(connector, cable, connector): {conn}"
+            )
+        left_name = next(iter(conn[0]))
+        right_name = next(iter(conn[2]))
+
+        if left_name == header_name:
+            comp_name = right_name
+            h_pins = conn[0][header_name]
+            c_pins = conn[2][comp_name]
+        elif right_name == header_name:
+            comp_name = left_name
+            h_pins = conn[2][header_name]
+            c_pins = conn[0][comp_name]
+        else:
+            continue
+
+        h_list = [h_pins] if isinstance(h_pins, int) else list(h_pins)
+        c_list = [c_pins] if isinstance(c_pins, int) else list(c_pins)
+
+        for h, c in zip(h_list, c_list, strict=True):
+            comp_pin_pairs[comp_name].append((h, c))
+
+    if not comp_pin_pairs:
+        return connectors, cables, connections
+
+    # --- Step 1: Order boundary components by average header pin ---
+    comp_avg: dict[str, float] = {}
+    for comp_name, pairs in comp_pin_pairs.items():
+        comp_avg[comp_name] = sum(h for h, _ in pairs) / len(pairs)
+
+    boundary_order = sorted(comp_avg.keys(), key=lambda c: (comp_avg[c], c))
+
+    # --- Step 2: Regroup header pins by boundary component ---
+    # Pins connecting to the first boundary component come first, then
+    # the second, etc.  Unconnected header pins go at the end.
+    # Duplicate detection: a header pin shared by multiple boundary
+    # components (e.g., GND routed to both J1 and J2) is assigned to
+    # the first component in boundary_order — subsequent duplicates
+    # are skipped to avoid corrupting the pin mapping.
+    new_header_order: list[int] = []
+    seen_pins: set[int] = set()
+    for comp_name in boundary_order:
+        comp_h_pins = sorted(h for h, _ in comp_pin_pairs[comp_name])
+        for pin in comp_h_pins:
+            if pin not in seen_pins:
+                seen_pins.add(pin)
+                new_header_order.append(pin)
+
+    connected = set(new_header_order)
+    for p in range(1, n_header + 1):
+        if p not in connected:
+            new_header_order.append(p)
+
+    # Build header pin mapping (old position -> new position)
+    header_mapping: dict[int, int] | None = None
+    if new_header_order != list(range(1, n_header + 1)):
+        header_mapping = {
+            old: new for new, old in enumerate(new_header_order, 1)
+        }
+        new_header_labels = [header_labels[old - 1] for old in new_header_order]
+    else:
+        new_header_labels = header_labels
+
+    # --- Step 3: Reorder boundary component pins to parallel header ---
+    # For each component, sort its pins by the corresponding (remapped)
+    # header pin position so wires run parallel without crossing.
+    comp_mappings: dict[str, dict[int, int]] = {}
+
+    for comp_name, pairs in comp_pin_pairs.items():
+        comp_conn = connectors.get(comp_name, {})
+        comp_labels = comp_conn.get("pinlabels", [])
+        n_comp = len(comp_labels) if comp_labels else comp_conn.get("pincount", 0)
+        if n_comp <= 1:
+            continue
+
+        # Map each component pin to its effective header position.
+        # A pin may connect to multiple header pins (fan-out); use
+        # the average position rather than last-wins.
+        comp_pin_h_positions: dict[int, list[float]] = defaultdict(list)
+        for h, c in pairs:
+            h_pos = header_mapping[h] if header_mapping else h
+            comp_pin_h_positions[c].append(float(h_pos))
+
+        comp_pin_to_h_pos: dict[int, float] = {
+            pin: sum(positions) / len(positions)
+            for pin, positions in comp_pin_h_positions.items()
+        }
+
+        # Sort: connected pins by header position, unconnected at end
+        all_comp_pins = list(range(1, n_comp + 1))
+        sorted_comp = sorted(
+            all_comp_pins,
+            key=lambda p: (comp_pin_to_h_pos.get(p, float("inf")), p),
+        )
+
+        if sorted_comp != all_comp_pins:
+            mapping = {old: new for new, old in enumerate(sorted_comp, 1)}
+            comp_mappings[comp_name] = mapping
+
+    # --- Build new ordered connectors dict (no in-place mutation) ---
+    ordered: dict[str, dict[str, Any]] = {}
+
+    # Header first (with possible pinlabel update)
+    if header_mapping:
+        new_h: dict[str, Any] = {}
+        for k, v in header.items():
+            new_h[k] = new_header_labels if k == "pinlabels" else v
+        ordered[header_name] = new_h
+    else:
+        ordered[header_name] = connectors[header_name]
+
+    # Boundary components in order (with possible pinlabel update)
+    for comp_name in boundary_order:
+        if comp_name not in connectors:
+            continue
+        comp_conn = connectors[comp_name]
+        if comp_name in comp_mappings:
+            mapping = comp_mappings[comp_name]
+            comp_labels = comp_conn.get("pinlabels", [])
+            if comp_labels:
+                sorted_pins = sorted(mapping.keys(), key=lambda p: mapping[p])
+                new_labels = [comp_labels[old - 1] for old in sorted_pins]
+                new_comp: dict[str, Any] = {}
+                for k, v in comp_conn.items():
+                    new_comp[k] = new_labels if k == "pinlabels" else v
+                ordered[comp_name] = new_comp
+            else:
+                ordered[comp_name] = comp_conn
+        else:
+            ordered[comp_name] = comp_conn
+
+    # Remaining connectors (e.g., disconnected test points)
+    for name, conn in connectors.items():
+        if name not in ordered:
+            ordered[name] = conn
+
+    # --- Apply all pin mappings to connections ---
+    all_mappings: dict[str, dict[int, int]] = {}
+    if header_mapping:
+        all_mappings[header_name] = header_mapping
+    all_mappings.update(comp_mappings)
+
+    if all_mappings:
+        updated: list[list[dict[str, Any]]] = []
+        for conn in connections:
+            # Shallow copy: only conn[0] and conn[2] are replaced (new dicts).
+            # conn[1] (cable) is shared by reference — safe because cables
+            # are not remapped in this pass.
+            new_conn = list(conn)
+
+            left_name = next(iter(conn[0]))
+            if left_name in all_mappings:
+                new_conn[0] = {
+                    left_name: _remap_pins(
+                        left_name, conn[0][left_name], all_mappings[left_name]
+                    )
+                }
+
+            right_name = next(iter(conn[2]))
+            if right_name in all_mappings:
+                new_conn[2] = {
+                    right_name: _remap_pins(
+                        right_name, conn[2][right_name], all_mappings[right_name]
+                    )
+                }
+
+            updated.append(new_conn)
+        connections = updated
+
+    # --- Sort connections by minimum header pin (top-to-bottom order) ---
+    def _sort_key(conn: list[dict[str, Any]]) -> tuple[float, ...]:
+        left_name = next(iter(conn[0]))
+        right_name = next(iter(conn[2]))
+
+        if left_name == header_name:
+            h_pins = conn[0][header_name]
+        elif right_name == header_name:
+            h_pins = conn[2][header_name]
+        else:
+            return (float("inf"),)
+
+        pin_list = [h_pins] if isinstance(h_pins, int) else h_pins
+        return (min(pin_list),)
+
+    connections.sort(key=_sort_key)
+
+    return ordered, cables, connections
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Main mapper
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
 def map_single_module(
     netlist: ParsedNetlist,
     subcircuit_name: str,
@@ -143,6 +401,11 @@ def map_single_module(
                     comp_name, mapped_comp,
                 ))
 
+    # --- Optimize layout for cleaner diagrams ---
+    connectors, cables, connections = _optimize_single_layout(
+        header_name, connectors, cables, connections
+    )
+
     return assemble_wireviz_doc(connectors, cables, connections, metadata)
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_single_module.py b/tests/test_single_module.py
index 40e9292..21ff9cf 100644
--- a/tests/test_single_module.py
+++ b/tests/test_single_module.py
@@ -5,7 +5,11 @@ from pathlib import Path
 import pytest
 
 from spice2wireviz.filter import FilterConfig
-from spice2wireviz.mapper.single_module import map_single_module
+from spice2wireviz.mapper.single_module import (
+    _optimize_single_layout,
+    _remap_pins,
+    map_single_module,
+)
 from spice2wireviz.parser.netlist import parse_netlist
 
 FIXTURES = Path(__file__).parent / "fixtures"
@@ -102,3 +106,215 @@ class TestSingleModuleFiltering:
         result = map_single_module(netlist, "amplifier_board", config)
 
         assert "TP1" not in result["connectors"]
+
+
+class TestSingleModuleLayoutOptimization:
+    """Tests for the star-topology layout optimization."""
+
+    def test_boundary_component_order(self):
+        """Boundary components should appear in header pin order."""
+        netlist = parse_netlist(FIXTURES / "simple_board.net")
+        result = map_single_module(netlist, "amplifier_board")
+
+        names = list(result["connectors"].keys())
+        # Header first, then J1 (avg pin 1.5), then J2 (avg pin 3.5), then TP1
+        assert names[0] == "amplifier_board"
+        assert names.index("J1") < names.index("J2")
+
+    def test_j2_pins_reordered_to_eliminate_crossing(self):
+        """J2 pins should be [VOUT, SIGNAL_IN] to match header order."""
+        netlist = parse_netlist(FIXTURES / "simple_board.net")
+        result = map_single_module(netlist, "amplifier_board")
+
+        j2 = result["connectors"]["J2"]
+        # Header has VOUT@3, SIGNAL_IN@4 — J2 must match: VOUT first
+        assert j2["pinlabels"] == ["VOUT", "SIGNAL_IN"]
+
+    def test_connections_parallel_after_optimization(self):
+        """After optimization, cable wires should not cross (pins monotonic)."""
+        netlist = parse_netlist(FIXTURES / "simple_board.net")
+        result = map_single_module(netlist, "amplifier_board")
+
+        for conn in result["connections"]:
+            left_pins = conn[0][next(iter(conn[0]))]
+            right_pins = conn[2][next(iter(conn[2]))]
+            l_list = [left_pins] if isinstance(left_pins, int) else left_pins
+            r_list = [right_pins] if isinstance(right_pins, int) else right_pins
+            assert l_list == sorted(l_list), f"Left pins not sorted: {l_list}"
+            assert r_list == sorted(r_list), f"Right pins not sorted: {r_list}"
+
+    def test_connection_pins_valid(self):
+        """All pin indices must be within the connector's pin count."""
+        netlist = parse_netlist(FIXTURES / "simple_board.net")
+        result = map_single_module(netlist, "amplifier_board")
+
+        connectors = result["connectors"]
+        for conn in result["connections"]:
+            for entry in [conn[0], conn[2]]:
+                name = next(iter(entry))
+                pins = entry[name]
+                pin_list = [pins] if isinstance(pins, int) else pins
+                n_pins = len(connectors[name].get("pinlabels", []))
+                if n_pins == 0:
+                    n_pins = connectors[name].get("pincount", 0)
+                for p in pin_list:
+                    assert 1 <= p <= n_pins, (
+                        f"Pin {p} out of range for {name} ({n_pins} pins)"
+                    )
+
+    def test_optimize_no_crash_single_connector(self):
+        """Single connector (no boundary) should pass through."""
+        connectors = {"header": {"pinlabels": ["A", "B"]}}
+        result_c, _cb, _cn = _optimize_single_layout("header", connectors, {}, [])
+        assert result_c == connectors
+
+    def test_optimize_no_crash_empty(self):
+        """Empty inputs should pass through."""
+        result_c, _cb, _cn = _optimize_single_layout("header", {}, {}, [])
+        assert result_c == {}
+
+    def test_header_pin_regrouping(self):
+        """Header pins connecting to the same component should be grouped."""
+        # Synthetic: header has interleaved pins
+        # Pin 1 → compA, Pin 2 → compB, Pin 3 → compA, Pin 4 → compB
+        connectors = {
+            "H": {"pinlabels": ["A1", "B1", "A2", "B2"]},
+            "CA": {"pinlabels": ["X", "Y"]},
+            "CB": {"pinlabels": ["M", "N"]},
+        }
+        connections = [
+            [{"H": [1, 3]}, {"W1": [1, 2]}, {"CA": [1, 2]}],
+            [{"H": [2, 4]}, {"W2": [1, 2]}, {"CB": [1, 2]}],
+        ]
+        result_c, _, result_cn = _optimize_single_layout(
+            "H", connectors, {}, connections
+        )
+        # Header should be regrouped: [A1, A2, B1, B2]
+        assert result_c["H"]["pinlabels"] == ["A1", "A2", "B1", "B2"]
+        # CA should come before CB
+        names = list(result_c.keys())
+        assert names.index("CA") < names.index("CB")
+
+    def test_header_regrouping_updates_connections(self):
+        """After header regrouping, connection pin indices must be updated."""
+        connectors = {
+            "H": {"pinlabels": ["A1", "B1", "A2", "B2"]},
+            "CA": {"pinlabels": ["X", "Y"]},
+            "CB": {"pinlabels": ["M", "N"]},
+        }
+        connections = [
+            [{"H": [1, 3]}, {"W1": [1, 2]}, {"CA": [1, 2]}],
+            [{"H": [2, 4]}, {"W2": [1, 2]}, {"CB": [1, 2]}],
+        ]
+        _, _, result_cn = _optimize_single_layout("H", connectors, {}, connections)
+
+        # After regrouping: H pins [A1,A2,B1,B2] → old 1→new 1, old 3→new 2,
+        # old 2→new 3, old 4→new 4
+        # Connection 1: H:[1,3] should become H:[1,2]
+        h_pins_0 = result_cn[0][0]["H"]
+        assert h_pins_0 == [1, 2]
+        # Connection 2: H:[2,4] should become H:[3,4]
+        h_pins_1 = result_cn[1][0]["H"]
+        assert h_pins_1 == [3, 4]
+
+    def test_comp_pin_reorder_eliminates_crossing(self):
+        """Component pins should be reordered to match header pin order."""
+        # Header: [A, B], CompX: [Y, X] where A→Y and B→X
+        # This means header pin 1→comp pin 2, header pin 2→comp pin 1 (crossing!)
+        connectors = {
+            "H": {"pinlabels": ["A", "B"]},
+            "CX": {"pinlabels": ["Y", "X"]},
+        }
+        connections = [
+            [{"H": [1, 2]}, {"W1": [1, 2]}, {"CX": [2, 1]}],
+        ]
+        result_c, _, result_cn = _optimize_single_layout(
+            "H", connectors, {}, connections
+        )
+        # CX should be reordered to [X, Y] so pin 1→pin 1, pin 2→pin 2
+        assert result_c["CX"]["pinlabels"] == ["X", "Y"]
+        # Connection should now be CX:[1,2] (no crossing)
+        assert result_cn[0][2]["CX"] == [1, 2]
+
+    def test_disconnected_test_point_preserved(self):
+        """Test points with no header connection should appear last."""
+        netlist = parse_netlist(FIXTURES / "simple_board.net")
+        result = map_single_module(netlist, "amplifier_board")
+
+        names = list(result["connectors"].keys())
+        # TP1 connects to internal net N001 (not a port), so it's disconnected
+        # from the header. It should appear after connected components.
+        assert names[-1] == "TP1"
+
+    def test_connections_sorted_by_header_pin(self):
+        """Connections should be sorted by their minimum header pin."""
+        netlist = parse_netlist(FIXTURES / "simple_board.net")
+        result = map_single_module(netlist, "amplifier_board")
+
+        prev_min = 0
+        for conn in result["connections"]:
+            # Header is always on the left in single-module connections
+            left_name = next(iter(conn[0]))
+            h_pins = conn[0][left_name]
+            pin_list = [h_pins] if isinstance(h_pins, int) else h_pins
+            min_pin = min(pin_list)
+            assert min_pin >= prev_min, (
+                f"Connection order wrong: min pin {min_pin} < previous {prev_min}"
+            )
+            prev_min = min_pin
+
+    def test_shared_header_pin_deduplication(self):
+        """Header pin shared by two components should not corrupt mapping."""
+        # Pin 2 of header connects to both CA and CB (e.g., GND fan-out)
+        connectors = {
+            "H": {"pinlabels": ["VIN", "GND", "VOUT"]},
+            "CA": {"pinlabels": ["X", "Y"]},
+            "CB": {"pinlabels": ["M", "N"]},
+        }
+        connections = [
+            [{"H": [1, 2]}, {"W1": [1, 2]}, {"CA": [1, 2]}],
+            [{"H": [2, 3]}, {"W2": [1, 2]}, {"CB": [1, 2]}],
+        ]
+        result_c, _, result_cn = _optimize_single_layout(
+            "H", connectors, {}, connections
+        )
+        # Should not crash, and all pin indices must be valid
+        h_labels = result_c["H"]["pinlabels"]
+        assert len(h_labels) == 3
+        # All connections should have valid pin references
+        for conn in result_cn:
+            h_pins = conn[0]["H"]
+            pin_list = [h_pins] if isinstance(h_pins, int) else h_pins
+            for p in pin_list:
+                assert 1 <= p <= 3, f"Header pin {p} out of range"
+
+    def test_remap_pins_missing_key_raises(self):
+        """_remap_pins should raise ValueError with context on missing pin."""
+        mapping = {1: 2, 2: 1}
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Pin remapping failed for J1"):
+            _remap_pins("J1", [1, 3], mapping)
+
+    def test_remap_pins_scalar(self):
+        """_remap_pins should handle scalar pin input."""
+        mapping = {1: 3, 2: 1, 3: 2}
+        assert _remap_pins("X", 2, mapping) == 1
+
+    def test_comp_pin_fanout_averaging(self):
+        """Component pin connecting to multiple header pins should use average."""
+        # CX pin 1 connects to header pins 4 and 5 → remapped avg = 2.5
+        # CX pin 2 connects to header pin 1 → remapped pos = 1.0
+        # After header regrouping [1,4,5] → positions [1,2,3]:
+        #   pin 1: avg(2,3) = 2.5, pin 2: pos(1) = 1.0
+        # So pin 2 should come before pin 1 → [P2, P1]
+        connectors = {
+            "H": {"pinlabels": ["A", "B", "C", "D", "E"]},
+            "CX": {"pinlabels": ["P1", "P2"]},
+        }
+        connections = [
+            [{"H": 4}, {"W1": 1}, {"CX": 1}],
+            [{"H": 5}, {"W2": 1}, {"CX": 1}],
+            [{"H": 1}, {"W3": 1}, {"CX": 2}],
+        ]
+        result_c, _, _ = _optimize_single_layout("H", connectors, {}, connections)
+        # Pin 2 (remapped h_pos=1.0) before Pin 1 (avg remapped h_pos=2.5)
+        assert result_c["CX"]["pinlabels"] == ["P2", "P1"]