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Freelance Physical Design Engineer Jobs in Decatur, AL

Kratos Defense

Manufacturing Engineer IV

Huntsville, AL · On-site

$68K - $87K/yr

Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles and application during digital and physical builds ... Advise Engineering on consistent documentation for DFMActs as a bridge between mechanical design ...

Kratos Defense

Manufacturing Engineer IV

Huntsville, AL

$71K - $92K/yr

Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles and application during digital and physical builds ... Advise Engineering on consistent documentation for DFMActs as a bridge between mechanical design ...

Kratos Defense

Manufacturing Engineer IV

Huntsville, AL · On-site

$68K - $87K/yr

Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles and application during digital and physical builds ... Advise Engineering on consistent documentation for DFMActs as a bridge between mechanical design ...

MS Companies

Assembly Engineer

Cullman, AL

This position works closely with production, quality, design engineering, maintenance, external ... flow improvements Physical and Environment Requirements Physical expectations and working ...

Kratos Defense

Manufacturing Engineer ll

Huntsville, AL

$71K - $92K/yr

The Manufacturing Engineers (MFEs) at Nomad GCS play a crucial role in supporting the engineering ... Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles and application during digital and physical builds.

Kratos Defense

Manufacturing Engineer ll

Huntsville, AL

$68K - $87K/yr

The Manufacturing Engineers (MFEs) at Nomad GCS play a crucial role in supporting the engineering ... Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles and application during digital and physical builds.

Kratos Defense

Manufacturing Engineer ll

Huntsville, AL

$68K - $87K/yr

The Manufacturing Engineers (MFEs) at Nomad GCS play a crucial role in supporting the engineering ... Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles and application during digital and physical builds.

Kratos Defense

Manufacturing Engineer ll

Huntsville, AL · On-site

$68K - $87K/yr

The Manufacturing Engineers (MFEs) at Nomad GCS play a crucial role in supporting the engineering ... Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles and application during digital and physical builds.

Kratos Defense

Manufacturing Engineer IV

Huntsville, AL

$68K - $87K/yr

The Manufacturing Engineers (MFEs) at Nomad GCS play a crucial role in supporting the engineering ... Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles and application during digital and physical builds.

Kratos Defense

Electrical Engineer III

Huntsville, AL · On-site

We are seeking Electrical Engineers to help design, develop, and support the electrical systems ... Physical Demands: * Ability to stand and sit for extended periods. * Manual dexterity to operate ...

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All JobsPhysical Design Engineer JobsFreelance Physical Design Engineer JobsFreelance Physical Design Engineer Jobs in Decatur, AL

Freelance Physical Design Engineer information

See Decatur, AL salary details

$13

$44

$123

How much do freelance physical design engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance physical design engineer in Decatur, AL is $44.72, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $22.74 and $57.93 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Freelance Physical Design Engineer vs Full-Time Physical Design Engineer?

AspectFreelance Physical Design EngineerFull-Time Physical Design Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a relevant degree and industry experience; certifications are optionalRequires a degree and often certifications or ongoing training
Work EnvironmentIndependent, project-based, remote or on-siteCompany office or dedicated team environment
Employer & Industry UsageHired by multiple clients across various companies; flexible engagementsEmployed by a single company; stable employment
Work ScopeSpecific projects, often short-termOngoing responsibilities within a team or department

The main difference between a Freelance Physical Design Engineer and a Full-Time Physical Design Engineer lies in employment type, work environment, and project scope. Freelancers work independently on short-term projects for multiple clients, offering flexibility. Full-time engineers are employed by a single company, focusing on continuous, long-term responsibilities within a team.

What is a freelance physical design engineer?

Freelance Physical Design Engineers are specialized professionals who work independently, often on a contract basis, to design and implement the physical layout of integrated circuits (ICs) and chips. They are responsible for taking a digital circuit design and transforming it into a manufacturable physical layout, which includes tasks such as floorplanning, placement, routing, timing analysis, and verification. These engineers typically use electronic design automation (EDA) tools and collaborate remotely with semiconductor companies, startups, or design teams. Freelance Physical Design Engineers offer flexibility and specialized expertise for projects without requiring long-term employment commitments.

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

To thrive as a Freelance Physical Design Engineer, you need expertise in ASIC/FPGA physical design, knowledge of VLSI concepts, and a degree in electrical or electronics engineering. Familiarity with EDA tools such as Cadence, Synopsys, or Mentor Graphics, and experience with scripting languages like TCL or Python are typically required. Strong problem-solving, communication, and time management skills help freelancers efficiently collaborate with clients and meet project deadlines. These skills and qualities are vital for delivering high-quality chip designs and succeeding in a competitive, project-based environment.

What are some common challenges faced by freelance physical design engineers, and how can they be addressed?

Freelance physical design engineers often encounter challenges such as limited access to advanced EDA tools, variable project scopes, and the need to quickly adapt to different clients' design methodologies. To address these, it’s important to invest in personal tool licenses or partner with clients who provide access, maintain a strong network to secure consistent projects, and stay updated on industry trends and technologies. Effective communication and documentation also help ensure alignment with client expectations and avoid misunderstandings during the project lifecycle.

What are popular job titles related to Freelance Physical Design Engineer jobs in Decatur, AL?

For Freelance Physical Design Engineer jobs in Decatur, AL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Freelance Physical Design Engineer jobs near you

Firmware/FPGA Engineer Mid-Level

Aviation & Missile Solutions

Huntsville, AL • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 13 days ago

Job description

Aviation & Missile Solutions, LLC. (AMS) is seeking a talented Electrical or Computer Engineer to join our diverse team in Huntsville, AL., to create unique solutions for complex problems. AMS provides responsive, cost-effective engineering and scientific solutions ranging from air and missile defense technologies, command and control, radar systems, seekers, electronic warfare (EW), modeling & simulation, and prototype hardware development and testing.

Position Description:

The Firmware/FPGA design engineer will work with a multi-disciplined design team (systems engineers, electrical engineers, computer scientists, mechanical engineers, etc.) to design, develop, simulate, and integrate challenging DSP designs for radar, seeker, and/or electronic warfare (EW) systems. The role will provide the opportunity to design and develop unique FPGA design solutions for various hardware platforms, with the opportunity to advance your FPGA techniques under subject matter experts to guide your development. In addition, the role provides opportunities to mentor newer employees in firmware and FPGA design. The role expected to work in a fast-paced development environment under a multi-disciplinary design team to quickly develop, integrate, test, and verify final products.


Basic Qualifications (required):

  • Candidate must possess a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or Computer Science from an ABET-accredited university and a minimum of 5 years of applicable experience.
  • Resident of the Huntsville, AL area or be willing to relocate.
  • Good people skills and the desire to work with a highly technical team of engineers and scientists.
  • Collaborate in a multi-disciplinary design team to implement and integrate FPGA designs into radar, seeker, and or EW systems.
  • Analyze, design, simulate, and implement algorithms in hardware description languages (HDL); such as VHDL/ Verilog/SystemVerilog, based on Matlab models
  • Implement HDL test benches for code validation against Matlab models
  • Practical experience of Xilinx, Altera, or Microsemi FPGA technology
  • Deriving detailed hardware, PCB, and firmware requirements for complex systems
  • Ability to debug and test new hardware and firmware designs and support module integration
  • Analyze schematic diagrams for either custom or commercial-of-the-shelf electronic hardware to support high-speed analog and/or digital circuitry for FPGA-centric designs
  • Good problem-solving skills, willing to take ownership as well as positively contribute to multi-disciplinary teams
  • Prepare technical documents and reports

Preferred Skills/Abilities:

  • Familiarity with modern Xilinx FPGA families and design tools (7-series FPGAs, Ultrascale+, Vivado, Xilinx IP cores)
  • Experience working with System on Chip (SoC) designs such as Zynq and Zynq Ultrascale+ including architecting and interfacing with peripherals, interrupts, and related bus architectures.
  • Experience with high-speed Analog to Digital Converters (ADC), Digital to Analog Converters (DAC), or the Zynq Ultrascale+ RFSoC
  • Experience developing and implementing FPGA-optimized versions of DSP algorithms (e.g., modulation/demodulation, PLLs, filters, image processing).
  • Assisting in writing SoC software interfaces to firmware modules in programmable logic
  • Experience in radar or EW fields

Travel Requirements:

  • Must be able to travel 10% of the year.

Physical Requirements:

  • Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
  • Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.
  • Must be able to access and navigate each department at the organization's facilities.

Security Requirements:

  • Citizenship: Candidate must a US only citizen.
  • Clearance level: Candidate must be able to obtain a Secret security clearance or higher.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.


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