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Altium Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Design schematic diagrams and multilayer printed circuit boards (PCBs) using CAD tools such as Altium Designer. * Program and debug embedded microcontrollers and circuit board controllers using C/C ...

Design schematic diagrams and multilayer printed circuit boards (PCBs) using CAD tools such as Altium Designer. * Program and debug embedded microcontrollers and circuit board controllers using C/C ...

Familiarity with board-level electrical design, schematic capture, and layout tools (e.g., Altium Designer, KiCad, OrCAD) * Eligible to hold a security clearance Preferred Qualification * 6-8 years ...

Familiarity with board-level electrical design, schematic capture, and layout tools (e.g., Altium Designer, KiCad, OrCAD) * Eligible to hold a security clearance Preferred Qualification * 6-8 years ...

Familiarity with board-level electrical design, schematic capture, and layout tools (e.g., Altium Designer, KiCad, OrCAD) * Eligible to hold a security clearance Preferred Qualification * 6-8 years ...

Principal RF/Electrical Engineer

Chantilly, VA · On-site

$142K - $174K/yr

Proficiency with electrical design software, such as Altium Designer, ADS, and SolidWorks are highly desired. * Proficiency with test equipment including VNAs, protocol signal generators, and ...

Hardware Engineer

Germantown, MD · On-site

$125K - $165K/yr

Demonstrated experience working with PCB design tools such as Altium Designer * 7+ years of experience with multi-layer PCB layout, including prototyping, SMT, RF, mixed-signal design, high-speed ...

Senior Electrical Engineer

Jessup, MD

$110K - $144K/yr

Strong proficiency with Altium Designer. * Experience with PLM systems. * Knowledge of integrating ECAD and PLM systems preferred. * Experience with RS232, UART, CAN, I2C, and SPI communication ...

Hardware Engineer

Germantown, MD · On-site

$125K - $165K/yr

Demonstrated experience working with PCB design tools such as Altium Designer * 7+ years of experience with multi-layer PCB layout, including prototyping, SMT, RF, mixed-signal design, high-speed ...

Showing results 21-40

Altium information

See Washington salary details

$76.5K

$141.3K

$191.4K

How much do altium jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average yearly pay for altium in Washington is $141,261.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $121,800.00 and $158,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an Altium designer?

Altium designers are professionals who use Altium Designer, a leading electronic design automation (EDA) software, to create printed circuit boards (PCBs). They are skilled in schematic capture, PCB layout, component placement, and preparing designs for manufacturing. Altium designers often work closely with engineers to ensure that electronic circuits meet functional and production requirements. Their expertise helps bring electronic products from concept to reality efficiently and accurately.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Altium designer, and why are they important?

To excel as an Altium Designer, you need expertise in PCB design, electronic circuit theory, and a relevant engineering degree or comparable experience. Familiarity with Altium Designer software, schematic capture tools, and industry standards like IPC is essential, and certifications in PCB design can be advantageous. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with engineers and manufacturing teams. These competencies ensure accurate, manufacturable designs that meet client requirements and industry standards.

What are some common challenges faced by Altium designers when collaborating with hardware and manufacturing teams?

Altium Designers often work closely with hardware engineers and manufacturing teams to ensure that PCB designs are both functional and manufacturable. One common challenge is maintaining clear communication about design intent, component selection, and manufacturing constraints, which can change throughout a project. Additionally, ensuring that design files, such as schematics and Gerber files, are accurately handed off and compatible with manufacturing processes is critical. Regular design reviews and the use of version control tools within Altium Designer help mitigate these challenges and foster smooth collaboration.

What is the difference between Altium vs PCB Designer?

AspectAltiumPCB Designer
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in electronics or electrical engineering, with certifications in PCB designOften requires similar degrees and certifications, focusing on PCB design skills
Work EnvironmentSoftware-based, used in office or design labs for electronic circuit and PCB layoutPrimarily software-driven, working in design offices or remote setups for PCB development
Industry UsageWidely used in electronics manufacturing, product development, and engineering firmsCommonly employed in electronics design companies, contract manufacturers, and engineering teams

Altium and PCB Designer are closely related roles in electronic design. Altium refers to the software platform used for PCB design, while PCB Designer is a job title for professionals who use such software to create circuit layouts. Both require similar technical skills and work environments, making them highly interconnected in the electronics industry.

Infographic showing various Altium job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $141,261 per year, or $67.9 per hour.

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 21 days ago


Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory rating

9.6

Company rating: 9.6 out of 10

Based on 8 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

2nd of 74 rated research


Job description

Description
Are you an electrical engineer who enjoys designing, building, and troubleshooting hardware?
Do you enjoy taking electronic designs from schematic and PCB layout through fabrication, bring-up, integration, and test?
Are you interested in developing hardware systems that integrate electronics, sensors, optical hardware, and embedded processing?
If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL.
Our team develops advanced optical systems used to evaluate and demonstrate complex sensing and control technologies. These systems combine custom electronics, optical components, real-time processing, instrumentation, and software to create high-fidelity test environments and advanced prototypes.
We are seeking an experienced electrical engineer to contribute to the design, implementation, integration, and testing of the electronic hardware that enables these capabilities. You will work closely with electrical, optical, mechanical, FPGA, software, and systems engineers to develop laboratory and fieldable systems that require precise timing, reliable interfaces, and high-performance real-time operation.
This position is well suited for an engineer who enjoys working across the full hardware development lifecycle and is equally comfortable designing a printed circuit board, bringing up new hardware at the bench, and troubleshooting an integrated system with an oscilloscope.
As an Electrical Design Engineer...
    • Design analog, digital, and mixed-signal electronic circuits for real-time hardware-in-the-loop and optical test systems.
    • Develop printed circuit boards from concept through schematic capture, PCB layout, fabrication, assembly, bring-up, and integration.
    • Perform PCB design using tools such as Altium Designer and KiCad.
    • Design electronics for sensor interfaces, signal conditioning, power distribution, communications, timing, synchronization, and control.
    • Select components and develop hardware interfaces between optical systems, sensors, computers, FPGA-based hardware, embedded processors, and laboratory equipment.
    • Perform hands-on electronics testing, debugging, and troubleshooting using equipment such as oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, power supplies, function generators, logic analyzers, and other laboratory instrumentation.
    • Develop test approaches and execute board-level and system-level verification and characterization.
    • Integrate custom electronics into complex real-time hardware-in-the-loop optical systems.
    • Diagnose hardware and system-level issues involving signal integrity, timing, power, communications, and hardware/software interfaces.
    • Support system integration, experimental testing, and demonstrations in laboratory environments.
    • Develop documentation including schematics, interface definitions, test procedures, test results, and design review materials.
    • Participate in peer reviews and collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the design and integration process.
    • Work with FPGA and software engineers to define and implement real-time hardware interfaces and system architectures.

Qualifications
You meet our qualifications for the job if you...
  • A Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
  • 5+ years of relevant experience designing, developing, integrating, or testing electronic hardware.
  • Experience designing analog, digital, and/or mixed-signal electronics.
  • Hands-on experience with schematic capture and printed circuit board development.
  • Experience with PCB design tools such as Altium Designer, KiCad, or equivalent.
  • Strong laboratory skills and experience troubleshooting electronics using oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, function generators, logic analyzers, and similar test equipment.
  • Experience bringing up and debugging newly fabricated printed circuit boards.
  • A working understanding of common digital and analog interfaces, signal conditioning, power electronics, and electronic component selection.
  • Experience integrating electronic hardware into larger systems and troubleshooting interactions between multiple hardware and software components.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary engineering team.
  • The ability to independently solve technical problems while contributing effectively to a collaborative development environment.
  • Are able to obtain an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

About Us
Why Work at APL?
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.
At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accessibility@jhuapl.edu.
The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Minimum Rate
$100,000 Annually
Maximum Rate
$245,000 Annually

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