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Hardware Engineer Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

BAE Systems is currently looking for a Hardware Engineering Manager to lead a team focused on advancing the Hardware Technologies for the Precision Strike (PS) organization. This position offers ...

BAE Systems is currently looking for a Hardware Engineering Manager to lead a team focused on advancing the Hardware Technologies for the Precision Strike (PS) organization. This position offers ...

BAE Systems is currently looking for a Hardware Engineering Manager to lead a team focused on advancing the Hardware Technologies for the Precision Strike (PS) organization. This position offers ...

In our Navigation & Sensor Solutions Hardware Engineering department located at a newly constructed facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, you will become part of a Hardware Engineering Team developing ...

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Hardware Engineer information

See Iowa salary details

$47.9K

$137.3K

$184.6K

How much do hardware engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average yearly pay for hardware engineer in Iowa is $137,349.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $116,000.00 and $153,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a hardware engineer?

Hardware engineers are professionals who design, develop, test, and oversee the manufacturing of computer hardware, such as circuit boards, processors, memory devices, networks, and routers. They work closely with software engineers to ensure that hardware and software function together efficiently. Hardware engineers are involved in researching new technologies, improving existing hardware, and troubleshooting issues to enhance system performance. Their work is crucial in industries like computing, telecommunications, automotive, and consumer electronics.

What does a hardware engineer do?

A hardware engineer, or computer hardware engineer, specializes in all aspects of computer hardware, including testing, repairing, building, and maintaining its efficiency. As a hardware engineer, your responsibilities include developing and installing new hardware systems for businesses, providing tech support to users with hardware issues, along with designing and building new products for manufacturers. You may specialize in areas such as internal components, servers, electrical engineering, cellular and tablet devices, or traditional computers and networks.

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

To thrive as a Hardware Engineer, a strong background in electrical engineering, circuit design, and computer architecture is essential, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with CAD software, PCB layout tools, and hardware description languages, as well as certifications like Certified Hardware Design Engineer (CHDE), are commonly required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective teamwork set outstanding hardware engineers apart. These skills and qualities are vital for designing reliable, high-performance hardware products that meet rigorous industry standards.

What are some typical challenges hardware engineers face when working on cross-functional teams?

Hardware Engineers often collaborate closely with software developers, product managers, and manufacturing teams. One common challenge is aligning hardware specifications with software requirements, which may change throughout the development cycle. Effective communication and adaptability are essential, as Hardware Engineers must balance technical constraints, cost considerations, and evolving project goals. Staying proactive in cross-team meetings and clarifying expectations early on can help reduce misunderstandings and ensure smoother project delivery.

What is the difference between Hardware Engineer vs Electrical Engineer?

AspectHardware EngineerElectrical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Electrical, Electronics, or Computer EngineeringBachelor's in Electrical Engineering or related field
Work EnvironmentDesigning and testing hardware components, working in labs or officesDesigning electrical systems, working in labs, manufacturing, or field
Industry UsageElectronics, computer hardware, telecommunicationsPower systems, electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing

Hardware Engineers focus on designing and developing physical electronic components and systems, while Electrical Engineers work on electrical systems and power distribution. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and often collaborate in technology industries.

What are the most commonly searched types of Hardware Engineer jobs in Iowa?

The most popular types of Hardware Engineer jobs in Iowa are:

What are popular job titles related to Hardware Engineer jobs in Iowa?

For Hardware Engineer jobs in Iowa, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Hardware Engineer jobs in Iowa look for?

The top searched job categories for Hardware Engineer jobs in Iowa are:

What cities in Iowa are hiring for Hardware Engineer jobs?

Cities in Iowa with the most Hardware Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Hardware Engineer job openings in Iowa as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 88% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 84% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $137,349 per year, or $66 per hour.

Electrical Engineer II - Digital Hardware

Cedar Rapids, IA • On-site

Raytheon Technologies
Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing • 10K+ employees

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 14 days ago


RTX rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 86 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

38th of 72 rated aerospace companies


Job description

Date Posted:
2026-08-19
Country:
United States of America
Location:
US-IA-CEDAR RAPIDS-137 ~ 855 35Th St NE ~ BLDG 137
Position Role Type:
Onsite
U.S. Citizen, U.S. Person, or Immigration Status Requirements:
The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance
Security Clearance Type:
DoD Clearance: Secret
Security Clearance Status:
Active and existing security clearance required after day 1
The Resilient Connectivity Products (RCP) Hardware Technologies team is seeking a Hardware Electrical Engineer II to help develop the next generation of advanced communication systems in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Fort Wayne, IN. In this role, you will contribute to high-speed digital electronics that power mission-critical communication products supporting the defense of our nation-including advanced software-defined radios and data links used across ground, airborne, and space platforms.
We are looking for a driven and curious Electrical Engineer with a passion for digital circuit card design and a desire to work on technologies that operate in some of the most demanding aerospace environments. In this role, you will support the full lifecycle of circuit card development-from requirements and schematic capture through PCB layout, build, integration, testing, and final design verification in the lab.
The ideal candidate is motivated, collaborative, and detail-oriented, with a strong foundation in electrical circuits and PCB design. You'll work closely with a multidisciplinary team of engineers and program partners, helping deliver innovative, reliable solutions that enable resilient connectivity for critical missions.
Potential Locations: (Placement for this Onsite role is based on business need and departmental requirements; therefore, any resulting offer may be designated for any of the listed facility locations)
  • Cedar Rapids, IA
  • Fort Wayne, IN

What You will do
  • You will perform circuit card design lifecycle activities including requirements capture, schematic capture, design documentation, signal integrity analysis, creation of board stackup and routing instructions, coordination and review of printed wiring board layout, creation of test plans, root cause analysis, test, and integration.
  • You will design, document, verify, support, test and troubleshoot digital hardware for communication products using electrical engineering principles and techniques. Designs may include the use of FPGA, processors, and DDR memory components, and industry interfaces, such as Ethernet, I2C, SPI, and UART.
  • You will collaborate with a multi-discipline team of Engineers to develop proven hardware designs that meet system performance and operational specifications
  • You will contribute to new product development, as well as both engineering and production test hardware that include circuit card assemblies (CCAs), test fixtures, test interface adapters, cabling

What You Will Learn
  • Take the steps to become a subject matter expert in the domain area of high-speed digital design.
  • Gain hands on experience with technologically advanced communication/radio hardware in production that will help propel your career.
  • This role will help you broaden your knowledge and opens the door to many possibilities - becoming a leader, promotional opportunities, and direct interfacing with customers. We are growing so can you.

Qualifications You Must Have
  • Prior experience with schematic capture of electrical circuit designs and PCB layout. Includes familiarity with a schematic capture tool (examples may include Siemens/Mentor Graphics Xpedition, Altium, Cadence Allegro, EAGLE, KiCAD, etc.) for creation of circuit card designs.
  • Typically requires a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) and minimum 2 years of prior relevant experience or an Advanced Degree in a related field.
  • The ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government issued security clearance is required. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance

Qualifications We Prefer
  • Experience with electrical designs that contain digital electronics such as processors, FPGAs, high-speed transceivers, DDR, and flash memories.
  • Experience with generating Printed Wiring Board (PWB) layout constraint guidelines and overseeing the routing, layout, fabrication, and assembly of the design
  • Experience with using Hyperlynx (or similar) for performing signal integrity and timing analyses for creation of robust circuit card designs.
  • Familiarity with Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) Test Equipment, such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, logic analyzers, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, power supplies, etc.
  • Familiarity with designing and integrating circuit cards, test fixtures, and/or cables.
  • Experience with Agile for Hardware Development, including planning, tracking, and managing hardware development projects in JIRA is a plus.

What We Offer
Some of our competitive benefits package includes:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees
  • Generous 401(k) plan that includes employer matching funds and separate employer retirement contribution, including a Lifetime Income Strategy option
  • Tuition reimbursement program
  • Student Loan Repayment Program
  • Life insurance and disability coverage
  • Optional coverages you can buy pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life and accident insurance, critical illness insurance, group legal, ID theft protection
  • Birth, adoption, parental leave benefits
  • Ovia Health, fertility, and family planning
  • Adoption Assistance
  • Autism Benefit
  • Employee Assistance Plan, including up to 10 free counseling sessions
  • Healthy You Incentives, wellness rewards program
  • Doctor on Demand, virtual doctor visits
  • Bright Horizons, child and elder care services
  • Teladoc Medical Experts, second opinion program
  • This role may be eligible for relocation
  • And more!

Do you want to be a part of something bigger? A team whose impact stretches across the world, and even beyond? At Collins Aerospace, our Mission Systems team helps civilian, military and government customers complete their most complex missions - whatever and wherever they may be. Our customers depend on us for intelligent and secure communications, missionized systems for specialized aircraft and spacecraft and collaborative space solutions. By joining our team, you'll have your own critical part to play in ensuring our customer succeeds today while anticipating their needs for tomorrow. Are you up for the challenge? Join our mission today.
*Please ensure the role type (defined below) is appropriate for your needs before applying to this role.
Onsite: Employees who are working in Onsite roles will work primarily onsite. This includes all production and maintenance employees, as they are essential to the development of our products.
At Collins, the paths we pave together lead to limitless possibility. And the bonds we form - with our customers and with each other -- propel us all higher, again and again.
Apply now and be part of the team that's redefining aerospace, every day
#MISENG
As part of our commitment to maintaining a secure hiring process, candidates may be asked to attend select steps of the interview process in-person at one of our office locations, regardless of whether the role is designated as on-site, hybrid or remote.
The salary range for this role is 68,900 USD - 131,100 USD. The salary range provided is a good faith estimate representative of all experience levels. RTX considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.
Hired applicants may be eligible for benefits, including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, flexible work schedules, employee assistance program, Employee Scholar Program, parental leave, paid time off, and holidays. Specific benefits are dependent upon the specific business unit as well as whether or not the position is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement.
Hired applicants may be eligible for annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs depending on the level of the position and whether or not it is covered by a collective-bargaining agreement. Payments under these annual programs are not guaranteed and are dependent upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, individual performance, business unit performance, and/or the company's performance.
This role is a U.S.-based role. If the successful candidate resides in a U.S. territory, the appropriate pay structure and benefits will apply.
RTX anticipates the application window closing approximately 40 days from the date the notice was posted. However, factors such as candidate flow and business necessity may require RTX to shorten or extend the application window.
RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified Individuals with a Disability and Protected Veterans in compliance with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act.
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About RTX

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing, it services, aerospace product and parts manufacturing and engineering professional services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Waltham, MA, US

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