1

Contract Physical Design Engineer Jobs in Naperville, IL

Be Seen First

Design Engineer

Wood Dale, IL · On-site

$70K - $90K/yr

The Design Engineer will work within OPTO's component driven modular based store fixture system to ... and Physical Requirements: This position is based in an office environment. The role involves ...

Design Engineer

Westmont, IL · On-site

$82K - $124K/yr

The Design Engineer (Precast Concrete) supports projects from initial design through fabrication ... Physical & Work Expectations: An individual in this position must be able to successfully perform ...

Design Engineer

Des Plaines, IL · On-site

$85K - $96K/yr

Overview Filtran is seeking a Design / Project Engineer to lead the design and development of ... Working Conditions & Physical Requirements * Primarily office-based and requires the ability to ...

Design Engineer

Des Plaines, IL · On-site

$85K - $96K/yr

Filtran is seeking a Design / Project Engineer to lead the design and development of advanced ... Working Conditions & Physical Requirements * Primarily office-based and requires the ability to ...

Senior Design Engineer - Bridge Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid - Flexible Schedule, Partial Remote ... Develop technical reports, contract plans, specifications, and construction cost estimates.

Senior Design Engineer - Bridge Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid - Flexible Schedule, Partial Remote ... Develop technical reports, contract plans, specifications, and construction cost estimates.

Open - Contract / C2H/ FTE Employment Type: Long-term Contract Let's create our future together at ... Design and engineer overhead and underground electric distribution systems, typically operating ...

Senior Design Engineer - Bridge Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid - Flexible Schedule, Partial Remote ... Develop technical reports, contract plans, specifications, and construction cost estimates.

Design Engineer

Downers Grove, IL · On-site

$72K - $95K/yr

Lovejoy, a company in the Timken family of brands, is hiring a Design Engineer. Position Summary ... Validate product performance through physical testing. Develop test parameters, test standards and ...

Design Engineer

Downers Grove, IL · On-site +1

$72K - $95K/yr

Lovejoy, a company in the Timken family of brands, is hiring a Design Engineer. Position Summary ... Validate product performance through physical testing. Develop test parameters, test standards and ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Contract Physical Design Engineer information

See Naperville, IL salary details

$94.9K

$141.3K

How much do contract physical design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for contract physical design engineer in Naperville, IL is $139,201.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $135,800.00 and $139,800.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a contract physical design engineer?

Contract Physical Design Engineers are professionals who specialize in the layout and implementation of integrated circuits (ICs) for semiconductor devices, typically working on a temporary or project-based basis. They focus on transforming circuit designs into physical layouts that can be fabricated on silicon chips, ensuring optimal performance, power, and area efficiency. Their work involves tasks such as floorplanning, placement, routing, timing analysis, and design rule checking. Contract roles allow companies flexibility in staffing for specific projects or peak development periods, and engineers in these positions often work for consulting firms or as independent contractors.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract physical design engineer?

A Contract Physical Design Engineer typically requires a solid background in electrical engineering, strong knowledge of VLSI design, and hands-on experience with ASIC or FPGA physical implementation. Familiarity with EDA tools such as Synopsys ICC2, Cadence Innovus, and scripting languages like Tcl and Perl, as well as understanding of industry standards, is crucial. Standout soft skills include strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication for collaborating with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure the engineer can deliver optimized, manufacturable chip layouts on time and within specification, which is vital for project and product success.

What are some common challenges faced by contract physical design engineers when joining new projects or teams?

Contract Physical Design Engineers often need to quickly adapt to new workflows, proprietary tools, and unique design methodologies used by different clients or teams. They may also face tight project timelines and the need to rapidly understand complex chip architectures. Effective communication and collaboration with cross-functional teams, such as verification and RTL design engineers, are critical to ensure design hand-offs and resolve issues efficiently. Flexibility, strong organizational skills, and a proactive approach to learning new environments are key to overcoming these challenges.

What are the most commonly searched types of Physical Design Engineer jobs in Naperville, IL?

The most popular types of Physical Design Engineer jobs in Naperville, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Contract Physical Design Engineer jobs in Naperville, IL?

For Contract Physical Design Engineer jobs in Naperville, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Contract Physical Design Engineer jobs in Naperville, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Contract Physical Design Engineer jobs in Naperville, IL are:

What cities near Naperville, IL are hiring for Contract Physical Design Engineer jobs?

Cities near Naperville, IL with the most Contract Physical Design Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Contract Physical Design Engineer job openings in Naperville, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 66% Full Time, and 34% Contract. Highlights an 79% In-person, and 21% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $139,201 per year, or $66.9 per hour.

Substation Physical Design Engineer

Chicago, IL • On-site


Kimley-Horn
Specialized Design Services • 5 - 10K employees

8.9

Company rating: 8.9 out of 10

Based on 86 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

57th of 450 rated engineering

Great coworkers

People enjoy working here

Good employer


$100K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

Overview

Kimley-Horn's Chicago, Illinois (IL) office is seeking a Substation Physical Design Engineer with 4+ years of experience to join the Power Delivery team. This is not a remote position.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will support the design, and execution of high-voltage and medium-voltage substation projects for utility, renewable energy, and industrial clients. Responsibilities include developing physical layouts, equipment arrangements, grounding systems, lightning protection systems, and construction drawing packages while coordinating closely with protection and control, civil, structural, and electrical disciplines. The ideal candidate is a self-driven engineer with strong technical skills, experience in substation design standards and industry practices, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

  • Perform conceptual and detailed HV and MV substation physical/electrical design for utilities and substations, including basic layout, electrical arrangement, one-line diagrams, three-line drawings, plan-section drawings, and grounding.
  • Perform engineering studies and calculations.
  • Perform quality control reviews on substation physical design projects.
  • Assume the role of technical lead on projects with limited guidance.
  • Create and review bills of materials for substation physical projects.
  • Develop and review proposals and scopes of work for smaller substation physical projects.
  • Plan and lead client meetings, or meeting sections, related to physical design as required.
  • Support the continued professional development of less experienced engineers, including technical guidance and training recommendations.
  • Communicate effectively with internal teams and clients to meet project objectives.
  • Develop leadership skills in preparation for future roles on the team.
Qualifications
  • 4+ years of relevant engineering experience in substation design.
  • Preferred (but not required): Professional Engineering (P.E.) license, or ability to obtain within 12 months.
  • Proficiency with industry-standard design software such as AutoCAD, MicroStation and inventor.
  • Experience with grounding studies, lightning protection studies, and lighting studies.

Salary Range: $100,000-$160,000

Why Kimley-Horn?

At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People, clients, and employees are at the forefront of who we are. Clients know we prioritize achieving their goals and growing their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to provide an environment for everyone to flourish. Our commitment to quality is only as good as the people behind it- that's why we welcome and develop passionate, hardworking, and proactive employees. We take pride in how our employee retention, robust benefits package, and company values have led to Kimley-Horn's placement on the Fortune "100 Best Companies to Work" list for 19 years!

Key Benefits at Kimley-Horn

  • Exceptional Retirement Plan: 2-to1- company match on up to 4% of eligible compensation (salary + bonus) and additional profit-sharing contribution.
  • Comprehensive Health Coverage: Low-cost medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
  • Time Off: Personal leave, flexible scheduling, floating holidays, and half-day Fridays.
  • Financial Wellness: Student loan matching in our 401(k), and performance-based bonuses.
  • Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement and extensive internal training programs.
  • Family-Friendly Benefits: New Parent Leave, family building benefits, and childcare resources.
Education:Bachelor's DegreeEmployment Type: FULL_TIME

Kimley-Horn logo

About Kimley-Horn

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

We are a full-service consulting firm that provides a wide range of infrastructure and land development planning and engineering services to both public and private clients. Though we have more than 6,000 employees in 100+ offices, we pride ourselves on our small company feel. At Kimley-Horn, we do things differently. People--clients and employees--are at the forefront of our business. Clients know we are laser-focused on their success. Employees know our culture and approach to business are built on a desire to see our staff flourish, one and all. Both groups know that with Kimley-Horn, they can expect more and experience better.

Industry

Specialized design services

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Raleigh, NC, US

Year founded

1967


What Kimley-Horn employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom