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Hardware Design Engineer Intern Jobs in Chicago, IL

Join us and help shape the future of healthcare. Mission The Service Engineer Intern will gain ... Provide support for PTS Hardware and Software testing. * Help with daily clinical operations for ...

Join us and help shape the future of healthcare. Mission The Service Engineer Intern will gain ... Provide support for PTS Hardware and Software testing. * Help with daily clinical operations for ...

Experience with FPGA or other hardware/systems design and development * Experience with RTL (SystemVerilog/Verilog/VHDL) * Previous internship experience in hardware or low-level software engineering

Experience with FPGA or other hardware/systems design and development * Experience with RTL (SystemVerilog/Verilog/VHDL) * Previous internship experience in hardware or low-level software engineering

Experience with FPGA or other hardware/systems design and development * Experience with RTL (SystemVerilog/Verilog/VHDL) * Previous internship experience in hardware or low-level software engineering

Experience with FPGA or other hardware/systems design and development * Experience with RTL (SystemVerilog/Verilog/VHDL) * Previous internship experience in hardware or low-level software engineering

They are directly involved in the hardware design of control cabinets, software programming for intelligent distribution relays, specifying and design of networking systems and cabling, SCADA systems ...

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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 ... cabinet hardware. * Familiarity with sheet metal, metal fabrication, aluminum machining, die ...

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in hardware design and development, with a proven ... engineers Develop detailed design specifications, schematics, and documentation Work with suppliers ...

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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 ... cabinet hardware. * Familiarity with sheet metal, metal fabrication, aluminum machining, die ...

Staff Hardware Engineer

Buffalo Grove, IL · On-site

$140K - $170K/yr

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in hardware design and development, with a proven ... to fellow hardware engineers • Develop detailed design specifications, schematics, and ...

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Hardware Design Engineer Intern information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$9

$19

$37

How much do hardware design engineer intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for hardware design engineer intern in Chicago, IL is $19.96, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.86 and $22.31 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Hardware Design Engineer Intern, you need a solid understanding of electronics, circuit design, and hardware fundamentals, usually supported by coursework or a degree in electrical or computer engineering. Familiarity with CAD tools such as Altium Designer, OrCAD, or Mentor Graphics, along with basic proficiency in hardware description languages, is typically expected. Strong problem-solving ability, attention to detail, and effective teamwork set standout candidates apart. These skills ensure that interns can contribute meaningfully to design projects, troubleshoot issues, and collaborate efficiently in fast-paced engineering environments.

What types of projects can a hardware design engineer intern expect to work on during their internship?

As a Hardware Design Engineer Intern, you can expect to be involved in projects such as circuit board design, prototyping, testing, and debugging of hardware components. Interns often assist with schematic capture, PCB layout, and collaborating with senior engineers to validate and optimize hardware designs. These projects provide hands-on experience with industry-standard tools and foster collaboration with cross-functional teams, including firmware and mechanical engineers. This exposure helps build a strong technical foundation and prepares you for more advanced engineering roles.

What is the difference between Hardware Design Engineer Intern vs Hardware Design Engineer?

AspectHardware Design Engineer InternHardware Design Engineer
Required CredentialsEnrolled in or recent graduate of Electrical or Computer EngineeringBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering or related field
Work EnvironmentInternship setting, often in tech or manufacturing companiesFull-time professional role in hardware development teams
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in tech, electronics, and semiconductor industries for entry-level rolesFull-time positions in similar industries, focusing on product development

The main difference between a Hardware Design Engineer Intern and a Hardware Design Engineer lies in experience level and responsibilities. Interns are typically students or recent graduates gaining practical experience, while engineers are full-time professionals responsible for designing and developing hardware products.

What does a hardware design engineer intern do?

A Hardware Design Engineer Intern assists in the development and testing of electronic hardware components and systems, such as circuit boards, processors, and embedded systems. They work under the supervision of experienced engineers, helping with schematic design, PCB layout, prototyping, and debugging. Their tasks may also include performing simulations, documenting designs, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. This role provides hands-on experience in the hardware development process and helps interns learn industry standards and tools.
What are the most commonly searched types of Hardware Design Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Hardware Design Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What are popular job titles related to Hardware Design Engineer Intern jobs in Chicago, IL? For Hardware Design Engineer Intern jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Hardware Design Engineer Intern jobs in Chicago, IL look for? The top searched job categories for Hardware Design Engineer Intern jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Hardware Design Engineer Intern jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Hardware Design Engineer Intern job openings:
Infographic showing various Hardware Design Engineer Intern job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $41,519 per year, or $20 per hour.

FPGA Engineer Intern (Summer 2027 - Chicago)

Optiver

Chicago, IL • On-site

$80K/yr

Full-time, Temporary, Internship

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

As an FPGA Engineer Intern, you'll work side-by-side with your mentor and teammates to build real-world applications that power a global trading firm. Your projects will be scoped based on your team's real needs - not hypothetical tasks - and your mentor will be fully invested in helping you build high-quality solutions designed to last. You'll contribute to meaningful projects focusing on nanosecond response times, highly parallelized algorithms, and customized low-level networking.
Optiver is building with cutting edge AI technology in the most competitive, data rich landscapes in the world: financial markets. That means no two days are the same, and every day brings new, exciting technical challenges to solve.
This opportunity is also available in our Austin office - learn more and apply.
What you'll do:
Our internship is designed for fast thinkers with a critical mindset and a drive to solve tough problems. You'll experience what it's like to be a full-time engineer at a leading trading firm - working on projects that blend cutting-edge FPGA technology with real-world trading strategies, directly contributing to the efficiency and performance of our trading systems. Mentored by Optiver engineers, our program gives you the opportunity to:
  • Accelerate network infrastructure and trading system components with high-speed hardware designs.
  • Research new low-latency techniques and platforms and identify opportunities for integration with our trading system.
  • Collaborate in a multidisciplinary team of traders, software developers, and infrastructure engineers.
  • Leverage the best hardware available or build in-house versions to ensure our FPGAs can interface with cutting-edge server hardware.

What you'll get:
You'll join a culture of collaboration and excellence, surrounded by curious thinkers and creative problem-solvers. Motivated by a passion for continuous improvement, you'll thrive in a supportive, high-performing environment alongside talented colleagues, collectively tackling some of the toughest challenges in the financial markets.
In addition, you'll receive:
  • The opportunity to work alongside best-in-class professionals from over 40 different countries
  • A highly-competitive internship compensation package
  • Optiver-covered flights, living accommodations, and commuting stipends
  • Extensive office perks, including breakfast, lunch and snacks, regular social events, clubs, sporting leagues and more

Who you are:
  • A student pursuing a bachelor's, master's, or PhD in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or another related field
  • On track to graduate between December 2027 to June 2028, with junior standing or higher
  • A student with strong engineering instincts and hands-on experience in digital design with FPGAs or ASICs
  • Experienced in writing hardware in VHDL, Verilog, or System Verilog
  • Passionate for writing clean code, well-architected systems, and continuous improvement
  • A collaborative teammate comfortable working with developers, traders and business teams

Who we are:
Optiver is a leading technology- and research-driven trading firm. Our teams of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and traders work side by side to develop, test, and scale ideas that shape how we understand and trade global markets. Powered by a global platform built for rapid experimentation and iteration, we combine the scientific rigor of a research institution with the pace of a technology company.
Our differences are our edge. Optiver does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, or other legally protected characteristics. Optiver is supportive of US immigration sponsorship for this role.
Optiver has a global application re-apply policy for our intern and graduate roles. If you have completed any portion of an online assessment or interviewed for an FPGA Engineer graduate or internship role at any Optiver location in the past 8 months, please note that you are not yet eligible to reapply. We welcome you to re-apply to after the 8-month cool off period.
Below is the expected compensation for this position. This is a good-faith estimate of the base pay scale and sign-on bonus for this position and offers will ultimately be determined based on experience, education, skill set, and performance in the interview process. This position will also be eligible for the benefits listed above.
Base Salary Range
$80,000-$80,000 USD