Temporary Background Designer Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

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

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)

This is a fully onsite position in Waukegan,IL.

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.