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

Pcb Designer

Waukegan, IL ยท On-site

$50 - $68/hr

Work closely with the engineering team to translate electrical schematics and design requirements into robust PCB layouts. * Ensure PCB designs meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability ...

This hands-on role spans circuit design, schematic capture, PCB layout, prototype development, embedded programming, and system validation, offering the opportunity to work across hardware, software ...

This hands-on role spans circuit design, schematic capture, PCB layout, prototype development, embedded programming, and system validation, offering the opportunity to work across hardware, software ...

Sr Engineer Design Electrical

Northfield, IL ยท On-site

$101K - $152K/yr

Job Summary The Senior Design Engineer researches, designs, develops, and supports complex medical ... Design and develop electrical schematics, PCB layouts, and supporting documentation using ECAD ...

Job Summary The Senior Design Engineer researches, designs, develops, and supports complex medical ... Design and develop electrical schematics, PCB layouts, and supporting documentation using ECAD ...

Sr Engineer Design Electrical

Northfield, IL ยท On-site

$101K - $152K/yr

Job Summary The Senior Design Engineer researches, designs, develops, and supports complex medical ... Design and develop electrical schematics, PCB layouts, and supporting documentation using ECAD ...

Sr Engineer Design Electrical

Northfield, IL ยท On-site

$101K - $152K/yr

Job Summary The Senior Design Engineer researches, designs, develops, and supports complex medical ... Design and develop electrical schematics, PCB layouts, and supporting documentation using ECAD ...

Senior Electrical PCB Design Drafter

Batavia, IL ยท On-site

$34.24 - $41.76/hr

Fermilab is seeking a Senior Electrical PCB Design Drafter within our Power Electronics Systems ... Good interpersonal skills for working with engineers and technicians. * Experience with Altium ...

We are looking for an experienced Electrical Design Engineer to support the design and development ... This role focuses on schematic design, PCB layout, and embedded firmware development, and plays a ...

We are looking for an experienced Electrical Design Engineer to support the design and development ... This role focuses on schematic design, PCB layout, and embedded firmware development, and plays a ...

This role requires deep expertise in RF/microwave design, PCB materials, and system integration ... Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field * 8+ years of experience ...

This role requires deep expertise in RF/microwave design, PCB materials, and system integration ... Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field * 8+ years of experience ...

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Showing results 1-20

Pcb Design Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$79.4K

$127.1K

$177.8K

How much do pcb design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for pcb design engineer in Chicago, IL is $127,116.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,600.00 and $156,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a PCB design engineer?

A printed circuit board design engineer oversees the creation of printed circuit boards (PCB) used in phones, computers, and most other electronic devices. As a PCB design engineer, your responsibilities include designing the layout of the unit to incorporate the appropriate components, making recommendations to improve existing designs, and overseeing the actual manufacturing of these products to ensure they meet industry and company standards. These boards are the backbone of modern-day electronics, acting as the central unit of anything that runs on a microchip or CPU. You must design the board in such a way that it meets the specific needs of each product. While there is no universal education requirement, most employers prefer at least an associate degree in an electronics or computer science related field. Most PCB design engineers work for computer hardware manufacturers, but some general tech companies have in-house design departments.

What are some common challenges faced by PCB design engineers during the product development cycle?

PCB Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as meeting tight deadlines while ensuring design accuracy, managing complex multilayer layouts, and adhering to strict manufacturing and regulatory standards. Collaborating effectively with hardware engineers, mechanical designers, and manufacturing teams is essential to balance design requirements and production constraints. Staying updated with evolving CAD tools and design-for-manufacturability practices also plays a significant role in ensuring successful project outcomes.

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

To thrive as a PCB Design Engineer, you need a solid background in electronics engineering, circuit design, and PCB layout principles, often backed by a relevant engineering degree. Proficiency with PCB design software such as Altium Designer, Eagle, or OrCAD, and familiarity with industry standards like IPC are typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective communication help you collaborate with cross-functional teams and ensure design accuracy. These skills and qualifications are crucial for delivering reliable, manufacturable, and high-performance electronic products.

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

AspectPcb Design EngineerElectronics Engineer
Primary FocusDesigning printed circuit boards (PCBs)Designing electronic circuits and systems
Skills & CertificationsPCB design software, schematic capture, IPC standardsCircuit theory, component selection, simulation tools
Work EnvironmentElectronics manufacturing, PCB layout firms, R&D labsElectronics product development, engineering firms, R&D labs

While both roles involve electronics, a Pcb Design Engineer specializes in creating the physical layout of PCBs, focusing on manufacturability and design standards. An Electronics Engineer designs electronic circuits and systems, often overseeing the entire electronic product development process. Both roles require a strong understanding of electronics, but their daily tasks and focus areas differ significantly.

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

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

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

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

Infographic showing various Pcb Design Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 81% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 14% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $127,116 per year, or $61.1 per hour.

Pcb Designer

Actalent

Waukegan, IL โ€ข On-site

$50 - $68/hr

Contractor

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

Job Title: PCB DesignerJob Description

This role focuses on designing and laying out printed circuit boards (PCBs) with a strong emphasis on power electronics and high‑frequency applications. You will create PCB layouts in Altium Designer, maintain and enhance component libraries, and support multiple concurrent design projects. The position requires close collaboration with an engineering team to ensure that all designs meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements, with a particular focus on power boards, charger circuits, and controller boards.

Responsibilities
  • Create detailed and manufacturable PCB layouts using Altium Designer for power electronics and related systems.
  • Update, maintain, and create component libraries, footprints, and models in Altium Designer as needed for ongoing and new designs.
  • Support multiple concurrent PCB design projects, managing priorities and delivering high‑quality layouts on schedule.
  • Work closely with the engineering team to translate electrical schematics and design requirements into robust PCB layouts.
  • Ensure PCB designs meet performance, reliability, and manufacturability requirements, particularly for power and high‑frequency applications.
  • Design and optimize power electronic boards, including charger circuits, power boards, controller boards, and high‑frequency designs.
  • Collaborate in person with engineers on a daily basis to review designs, resolve issues, and incorporate feedback into board layouts.
  • Focus PCB design efforts on power electronics rather than highly digital systems, aligning layouts with power device and IGBT requirements.
  • Contribute independently to board design activities while maintaining strong communication and coordination with the broader engineering team.
Essential Skills
  • Proven experience in PCB design, with approximately 5+ years of hands‑on PCB layout work.
  • Strong background in power electronics PCB design, including power boards and charger circuits.
  • Proficiency with Altium Designer for PCB layout and library management.
  • Experience designing high‑frequency power electronic boards and related circuitry.
  • Ability to create, update, and manage component libraries, footprints, and models in Altium Designer.
  • Solid understanding of electrical and power electronics principles, including microcontroller‑based control boards and IGBT‑based designs.
  • Ability and willingness to work onsite in Waukegan, IL and collaborate in person with the engineering team.
  • Capability to work independently while closely coordinating with engineers on design requirements and reviews.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
  • Experience with power distribution and control systems such as DCPDU and controller boards.
  • background in designing power‑focused boards rather than primarily digital systems.
  • Familiarity with charger circuits, power boards, and high‑frequency power electronics design.
  • Strong attention to detail in PCB layout, including component placement, routing, and manufacturability considerations.
  • Effective communication skills to collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
  • Ability to manage multiple design tasks simultaneously while maintaining quality and accuracy.
Work Environment

This is an onsite role based in Waukegan, IL, working closely with an engineering team in a collaborative environment. You will use Altium Designer and related electrical and power electronics tools on a daily basis, contributing to multiple active board design projects. The work involves frequent in‑person collaboration, design reviews, and problem‑solving sessions with engineers focused on power electronics, charger circuits, and high‑frequency boards.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Waukegan, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $68.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Waukegan,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 4, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.


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About Actalent

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Actalent connects passion with purpose. Our scalable talent solutions and services capabilities drive value and results and provide the expertise to help our customers achieve more. Every day, our experts around the globe are making an impact. We're supporting critical initiatives in engineering and sciences that advance how companies serve the world. Actalent promotes consultant care and engagement through experiences that enable continuous development. Our people are the difference. Actalent is an operating company of Allegis Group, the global leader in talent solutions.

Industry

Business management consulting

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Hanover, MD, US

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