Hardware Design Engineer

Job Title: Electronics Engineer - PCB Design (High-Reliability Systems)

Job Description

This role focuses on the end-to-end design, simulation, layout, and testing of complex printed circuit boards for high-reliability applications such as aerospace, space, satellite, and defense systems. You will lead PCB electrical design activities, own high-speed digital circuit development, and ensure all designs meet stringent electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing specifications. Working closely with cross-functional teams, you will validate board performance through rigorous testing and ensure compliance with relevant industry standards.

Responsibilities

• Design, simulate, and lay out printed circuit boards to meet electrical, mechanical, and manufacturing specifications for high-reliability applications.
• Lead PCB electrical design activities, including schematic development, component selection, and layout guidance for complex multi-layer circuit boards.
• Own the design of high-speed digital circuits, including processors, memory systems, and high-bandwidth communication interfaces.
• Apply detailed PCB layout techniques such as controlled-impedance routing, differential pair tuning, stack-up planning, and power-distribution design to achieve robust performance.
• Conduct signal integrity (SI) and power integrity (PI) analysis to validate design performance and ensure reliable high-speed operation.
• Develop resilient board architectures incorporating redundancy, watchdogs, fail-safe circuitry, and robust memory subsystems to support mission-critical applications.
• Collaborate with firmware, software, systems, and mechanical teams to ensure seamless integration of board-level electronics into larger systems.
• Perform design verification and validation activities, including board bring-up, functional testing, environmental testing, and troubleshooting of hardware issues.
• Generate and maintain comprehensive engineering documentation, including schematics, bills of materials (BOMs), test procedures, analysis reports, and design review materials.
• Engage with manufacturing partners, providing design-for-manufacturing (DFM) and design-for-test (DFT) input and resolving issues related to fabrication, assembly, or testing.
• Ensure designs comply with relevant industry standards such as IPC, IEEE, and MIL-STD, as well as internal quality processes.
• Lead technical design reviews, present design decisions and trade-offs, and incorporate feedback to improve design quality and reliability.
• Mentor junior engineers in best practices for PCB design, high-speed digital design, and high-reliability electronics engineering.

Essential Skills

• At least 3 years of experience in high-performance PCB design, preferably involving complex multi-layer boards and high-speed digital circuits.
• Proficient experience with Altium Designer for schematic capture and PCB layout.
• Demonstrated experience designing high-reliability electronics, including aerospace, space, satellite, or defense systems, or IPC Class 3 designs.
• Strong understanding of PCB layout techniques such as controlled-impedance routing, differential pair tuning, stack-up planning, and power-distribution design.
• Experience performing signal integrity (SI) and power integrity (PI) analysis for high-speed digital designs.
• Knowledge of advanced PCB manufacturing techniques, including the use of blind vias and microvias.
• Ability to develop resilient architectures that incorporate redundancy, watchdogs, fail-safe circuitry, and robust memory subsystems.
• Experience with design verification and validation, including board bring-up, functional testing, environmental testing, and hardware troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with industry standards such as IPC, IEEE, and MIL-STD and the ability to design in compliance with these standards.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or Electronics Engineering Technology, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in aerospace, space, satellite, defense, or other high-reliability sectors.
• Background in designing electronics for mission-critical or safety-critical applications.
• Exposure to high-reliability design practices, including IPC Class 3 requirements.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including firmware, software, systems, and mechanical engineering.
• Experience interfacing with fabrication and assembly partners, including providing DFM and DFT guidance.
• Strong documentation skills for schematics, BOMs, test procedures, and analysis reports.
• Ability to lead technical design reviews and provide mentorship to junior engineers.

Work Environment

The role centers on the design and development of high-reliability printed circuit boards for demanding environments such as aerospace, space, satellite, and defense applications. You will work with advanced PCB technologies, including multi-layer boards, high-speed digital interfaces, and manufacturing techniques such as blind vias and microvias. The environment emphasizes rigorous engineering practices, adherence to standards like IPC, IEEE, and MIL-STD, and close collaboration with firmware, software, systems, mechanical, and manufacturing teams. Work typically involves a mix of design work using tools such as Altium Designer, analysis of signal and power integrity, and hands-on involvement in board bring-up, testing, and troubleshooting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Cape Canaveral, FL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $43.00 - $53.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Cape Canaveral,FL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 12, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email ... for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.