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Altium Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

You will create PCB layouts in Altium Designer, maintain and enhance component libraries, and support multiple concurrent design projects. The position requires close collaboration with an ...

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Design multilayer and split-plane PCBs using Altium Designer * Maintain and update related files and databases; electronically stores archives of drawings. * Translate and update existing designs ...

Software Engineer

Bloomingdale, IL · On-site

$90 - $120/hr

Use Altium Designer for schematic capture and PCB layout.Documentation: Prepare detailed technical documentation, including AutoCAD drawings, functional specifications, and verification reports.

... Altium Designer Prepare PCB projects for manufacturing Prototype and test new hardware designs Debug and validate electronic circuits Participate in the board bring-up process by working side-by-side ...

Experience with electrical CAD modeling systems (i.e., Altium, OrCAD/Cadence) required, Altium preferred. * Battery management system and protection circuit design experience highly preferred. * Must ...

... Altium Designer • Prepare PCB projects for manufacturing • Prototype and test new hardware designs • Debug and validate electronic circuits • Participate in the board bring-up process by ...

... Altium Designer Prepare PCB projects for manufacturing Prototype and test new hardware designs Debug and validate electronic circuits Participate in the board bring-up process by working side-by-side ...

Staff Hardware Engineer

Buffalo Grove, IL · On-site

$140K - $170K/yr

... Altium Designer • Prepare PCB projects for manufacturing • Prototype and test new hardware designs • Debug and validate electronic circuits • Participate in the board bring-up process by ...

Uses industry standard tools to support embedded development (Altium or similar for PCB design, simulation application, MCU IDEs, pin configuration tools, etc.) * Performs hands-on troubleshooting ...

Uses industry standard tools to support embedded development (Altium or similar for PCB design, simulation application, MCU IDEs, pin configuration tools, etc.) * Performs hands-on troubleshooting ...

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Showing results 1-20

Altium information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$69.5K

$128.5K

$174.1K

How much do altium jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for altium in Chicago, IL is $128,483.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $110,700.00 and $144,200.00 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 Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 71% In-person, and 29% Hybrid job distribution, with an average salary of $128,483 per year, or $61.8 per hour.

Pcb Designer

Actalent

Waukegan, IL

$50 - $68/hr

Contractor

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday

New


Job description

Job Title: PCB DesignerJob Description

This role focuses on designing and laying out printed circuit boards (PCBs) with a strong emphasis on power electronics and high‑frequency applications. You will create PCB layouts in Altium Designer, maintain and enhance component libraries, and support multiple concurrent design projects. The position requires close collaboration with an engineering team to ensure that all designs meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements, with a particular focus on power boards, charger circuits, and controller boards.

Responsibilities
  • Create detailed and manufacturable PCB layouts using Altium Designer for power electronics and related systems.
  • Update, maintain, and create component libraries, footprints, and models in Altium Designer as needed for ongoing and new designs.
  • Support multiple concurrent PCB design projects, managing priorities and delivering high‑quality layouts on schedule.
  • Work closely with the engineering team to translate electrical schematics and design requirements into robust PCB layouts.
  • Ensure PCB designs meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements, particularly for power and high‑frequency applications.
  • Design and optimize power electronic boards, including charger circuits, power boards, controller boards, and high‑frequency designs.
  • Collaborate in person with engineers on a daily basis to review designs, resolve issues, and incorporate feedback into board layouts.
  • Focus PCB design efforts on power electronics rather than highly digital systems, aligning layouts with power device and IGBT requirements.
  • Contribute independently to board design activities while maintaining strong communication and coordination with the broader engineering team.
Essential Skills
  • Proven experience in PCB design, with approximately 5+ years of hands‑on PCB layout work.
  • Strong background in power electronics PCB design, including power boards and charger circuits.
  • Proficiency with Altium Designer for PCB layout and library management.
  • Experience designing high‑frequency power electronic boards and related circuitry.
  • Ability to create, update, and manage component libraries, footprints, and models in Altium Designer.
  • Solid understanding of electrical and power electronics principles, including microcontroller‑based control boards and IGBT‑based designs.
  • Ability and willingness to work onsite in Waukegan, IL and collaborate in person with the engineering team.
  • Capability to work independently while closely coordinating with engineers on design requirements and reviews.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
  • Experience with power distribution and control systems such as DCPDU and controller boards.
  • background in designing power‑focused boards rather than primarily digital systems.
  • Familiarity with charger circuits, power boards, and high‑frequency power electronics design.
  • Strong attention to detail in PCB layout, including component placement, routing, and manufacturability considerations.
  • Effective communication skills to collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
  • Ability to manage multiple design tasks simultaneously while maintaining quality and accuracy.
Work Environment

This is an onsite role based in Waukegan, IL, working closely with an engineering team in a collaborative environment. You will use Altium Designer and related electrical and power electronics tools on a daily basis, contributing to multiple active board design projects. The work involves frequent in‑person collaboration, design reviews, and problem‑solving sessions with engineers focused on power electronics, charger circuits, and high‑frequency boards.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Waukegan, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $68.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

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 Waukegan,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 4, 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 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

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 actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com 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.


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About Actalent

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Actalent connects passion with purpose. Our scalable talent solutions and services capabilities drive value and results and provide the expertise to help our customers achieve more. Every day, our experts around the globe are making an impact. We're supporting critical initiatives in engineering and sciences that advance how companies serve the world. Actalent promotes consultant care and engagement through experiences that enable continuous development. Our people are the difference. Actalent is an operating company of Allegis Group, the global leader in talent solutions.

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Hanover, MD, US

Year founded

1983

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