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Circuit Design Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Northrop Grumman

FPGA Design Engineer

Rolling Meadows, IL · On-site

$96K - $144K/yr

The FPGA Design Engineer role involves full life-cycle product development from system concept and ... Your expertise in digital component design and analysis, modeling and simulation, circuit level ...

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All JobsCircuit Design Engineer JobsCircuit Design Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Circuit Design Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$61.3K

$114.2K

$154.1K

How much do circuit design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for circuit design engineer in Chicago, IL is $114,225.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $86,100.00 and $136,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a circuit design engineer do?

A circuit design engineer develops electronic circuitry found in analog devices such as a computer, smartphone, or television. As a circuit design engineer, your job duties include designing the latest advances in circuits, developing circuit equipment, and troubleshooting after installation. You may also supervise the manufacturing process in plants and factories, as well as perform safety and cost assessments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a circuit design engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Circuit Design Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering principles, circuit analysis, and experience with schematic design, usually backed by a relevant engineering degree. Proficiency with EDA tools like Cadence, OrCAD, or Altium Designer, and knowledge of simulation software such as SPICE, are typically required. Strong problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help you collaborate with teams and troubleshoot complex circuits. These skills are crucial for ensuring reliable, efficient circuit designs that meet industry standards and project requirements.

What are some common challenges faced by circuit design engineers when working on new product development?

Circuit Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as meeting stringent performance specifications while minimizing power consumption and cost. They must also ensure their designs are manufacturable and meet industry standards for reliability and safety. Collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, including PCB layout, firmware, and testing engineers, is essential to address integration issues and ensure the final product functions as intended. Staying updated with rapidly evolving technology and component availability is another key aspect of the role.

What is the difference between Circuit Design Engineer vs Electronics Engineer?

AspectCircuit Design EngineerElectronics Engineer
Primary FocusDesigning and developing electronic circuits and systemsDesigning, testing, and troubleshooting electronic devices and systems
Skills & CertificationsCircuit simulation, PCB design, CAD tools, often requires electrical engineering degreeElectronics theory, circuit analysis, testing, often requires electrical engineering degree
Work EnvironmentDesign labs, R&D departments, manufacturing facilitiesResearch labs, manufacturing, field testing, product development
Industry UsageConsumer electronics, telecommunications, aerospaceConsumer electronics, industrial equipment, automotive

While both roles involve working with electronic systems, a Circuit Design Engineer primarily focuses on creating and optimizing electronic circuits, whereas an Electronics Engineer has a broader scope, including testing and troubleshooting entire electronic devices. The roles often overlap, especially in design and development phases, but their specific responsibilities differ based on project needs.

More about Circuit Design Engineer jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Circuit Design Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Circuit Design Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Circuit Design Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Circuit Design Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Circuit Design Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Circuit Design Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

Circuit Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Circuit Design Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $114,135 per year, or $54.9 per hour.

Hardware Design Engineer (FPGA, Xilinx)

Rolling Meadows, IL • On-site

PROLIM Global Corporation
IT Services • 201 - 500 employees
Learn more about PROLIM Global Corporationexternal

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

New

Job description

Job Title: Engineer Hardware 2 (1885)
Location: Rolling Meadows Illinois
Secret Clearance: Active SECRET
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Must Have
  • Computer Simulations
  • Digital Electronics Design
  • Hardware Design
  • Integrated Circuit Layout

JOB DESCRIPTION
The Hardware Design Engineer 2 role involves full life-cycle product development from system concept and requirements through design, implementation, test verification, production, and field support while working in integrated product teams spanning Engineering, Manufacturing, and Program Management. Digital subsystem and circuit card designs utilize the latest FPGA technologies from all major vendors and device families including Xilinx, Altera, and Actel, and support high speed interfaces, Radio Frequency (RF) and Electro-Optical (EO) DSP, controls, data links, embedded processing, and processor interfaces.
As a Hardware Design Engineer 2, you will join our diverse team and be responsible for research, design, and development of digital hardware products. Your expertise in digital component design and analysis, modeling and simulation, circuit level design and test, and project leadership are desired for this position. Research, designs, develops, and tests a variety of electronic equipment and systems, including radar and radiation detection equipment; radio, television and other communications equipment and systems; circuitry components; analog and digital computers; and control and test equipment.
This position will be full-time, on-site at our Rolling Meadows, IL. location.
Basic Qualifications for a Principal Digital Design Engineer:
  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering or similar engineering discipline with a minimum 5 years of digital electronics design experience or a master's degree in electrical engineering, Computer Engineering or similar engineering discipline and 3 years of digital electronics design experience.
  • Digital circuit design experience, including simulation & schematic capture through test and integration
  • Prior hands-on prototyping and debug experience testing complex digital subsystems, such as complex circuit card development involving FPGAs, and/or embedded processors, and/or high-speed interfaces.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead projects with 2 or less team members.
  • Demonstrated ability to translate system performance and operational specifications into hardware requirements, design, and test specifications.
  • Familiarity with documentation revision control and review systems like DOORS, ClearCase, and ClearQuest.
  • US Citizen
  • Current Active Secret Clearance with additional customer specified clearance prior to start.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Advanced degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering with a minimum 10 years of digital electronics design experience.
  • Working knowledge of Electronic Warfare systems.
  • Experience in Aerospace and/or Defense industries.
  • Recent circuit card design experience utilizing circuit-related tools including Cadence Concept, Allegro, and/or Mentor Dx Designer, Expedition.
  • Working experience with ClearCase/ClearQuest and DOORS Current Secret or Top-Secret Security Clearance.
  • Proven skills to include team leadership, mentoring others, communicating with all levels of an organization internally and externally, being adaptable, creative, collaborative, and also comfortable working independently and enjoying solving difficult problems.

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