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Wire Harness Design Engineer Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

RFA Engineering

Electrical Design Engineer

Dubuque, IA · On-site

$65K - $85K/yr

Electrical Design Engineer The Electrical Design Engineer is a responsible for creating and developing the layout and design of electrical wire harness systems used in off-highway equipment. They ...

E91

Electrical Design Engineer

Dubuque, IA · On-site

Full Benefits Electrical Engineer responsible for wiring harness routing, electrical system design, CAD modeling, design reviews, manufacturing support, and troubleshooting for heavy equipment model ...

Iowa Rotocast Plastics

Product Design Engineer

Decorah, IA · On-site

$119K - $143K/yr

... products, wire racks, electric refrigeration, and fabricated portables for food and beverage ... Description Product design engineer is responsible for end-to-end development of innovative ...

Puck Enterprises

Product Design Engineer I

Manning, IA · On-site

$121K - $146K/yr

Product Design Engineer I Puck | Built to Lead. Location: Manning, IA Department: Engineering Employment Type: Full-Time Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Who We Are At Puck, we are Built ...

Puck Enterprises

Product Design Engineer I

Manning, IA · On-site

$121K - $146K/yr

Product Design Engineer I Puck | Built to Lead. Location:Manning, IADepartment:EngineeringEmployment Type:Full- TimeSchedule:Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Who We Are At Puck, we areBuilt to Lead.

Puck Enterprises

Product Design Engineer I

Manning, IA

$121K - $146K/yr

Product Design Engineer I Puck | Built to Lead. Location:Manning, IADepartment:EngineeringEmployment Type:Full-TimeSchedule:Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Who We Are At Puck, we areBuilt to Lead.

Ulteig

Substation Design Electrical Engineer

Hiawatha, IA · On-site +1

$91K - $112K/yr

The Substation Design Engineer develops and reviews utility substation drawings, including General Arrangements, Elevations, Cable and Conduit Plans, Grounding Plans, AC/DC Schematics, panel ...

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All JobsWire Harness Design Engineer JobsWire Harness Design Engineer Jobs in Iowa

Wire Harness Design Engineer information

See Iowa salary details

$10

$46

$73

How much do wire harness design engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for wire harness design engineer in Iowa is $46.93, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $38.37 and $53.75 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a wire harness design engineer?

A wire harness design engineer works to design harnesses to protect electrical wiring and cable in airplanes, cars, and other devices that rely on electrical power. In this career, your duties focus on designing harnesses that allow the electrical distribution system to bring energy safely to the outlet where the mechanisms, product, airplane, or vehicle needs it. Your responsibilities involve using your electrical engineering skills to analyze the electrical needs for the project, calculate current requirements, and incorporate this data into your harness design.

What does a wire harness design engineer do?

A Wire Harness Design Engineer is responsible for designing and developing wire harnesses used to connect electrical and electronic components in vehicles, machinery, or equipment. Their work involves creating detailed wiring diagrams, selecting appropriate materials, ensuring compliance with industry standards, and collaborating with manufacturing teams to optimize production. They also perform testing and troubleshooting to ensure the harnesses meet safety and functional requirements. This role is crucial in industries like automotive, aerospace, and industrial equipment where reliable electrical connections are essential.

What is the difference between Wire Harness Design Engineer vs Electrical Engineer?

AspectWire Harness Design EngineerElectrical Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in electrical or mechanical engineering, certifications like IPC/WHMA-A-620 are commonRequires a degree in electrical engineering; professional licensure (PE) may be preferred
Work EnvironmentDesigning and testing wiring harnesses in manufacturing or automotive settingsDesigning electrical systems, circuit analysis, and testing in various industries
Industry UsageAutomotive, aerospace, industrial equipmentElectronics, power systems, telecommunications

While both roles involve electrical knowledge, the Wire Harness Design Engineer specializes in creating wiring assemblies for specific products, whereas the Electrical Engineer focuses on broader electrical system design and analysis. The roles often overlap in skills and certifications but differ in scope and application.

What are some common challenges a wire harness design engineer faces when coordinating with manufacturing teams?

Wire Harness Design Engineers often encounter challenges related to ensuring that their designs are manufacturable and meet production timelines. Translating complex electrical schematics into practical, assembly-ready harnesses requires close collaboration with manufacturing teams to address issues such as routing constraints, component availability, and assembly ergonomics. Open communication is key to resolving discrepancies between design intent and production feasibility, and engineers frequently participate in design reviews or on-site walkthroughs to ensure smooth implementation. Being proactive in soliciting feedback and making iterative improvements helps minimize costly rework and keeps projects on schedule.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a wire harness design engineer?

To thrive as a Wire Harness Design Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical or mechanical engineering, knowledge of wiring standards, and experience with harness design principles, often backed by a relevant degree. Proficiency with CAD software (such as AutoCAD Electrical or CATIA), harness design tools, and familiarity with industry regulations (like IPC/WHMA-A-620) are commonly required. Strong attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and effective communication are essential soft skills for collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and ensuring design accuracy. These competencies are crucial for delivering safe, reliable, and cost-effective wiring solutions in industries like automotive and aerospace.
More about Wire Harness Design Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Wire Harness Design Engineer jobs in Iowa? The most popular types of Wire Harness Design Engineer jobs in Iowa are:
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What job categories do people searching Wire Harness Design Engineer jobs in Iowa look for? The top searched job categories for Wire Harness Design Engineer jobs in Iowa are:
What are popular job titles related to Wire Harness Design Engineer jobs in IA? For Wire Harness Design Engineer jobs in IA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Wire Harness Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Wire Harness Design Engineer job openings in Iowa as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $97,622 per year, or $46.9 per hour.

Electrical Design Engineer

RFA Engineering

Dubuque, IA • On-site

$65K - $85K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

RFA Engineering (www.rfamec.com) is an engineering service provider dedicated to delivering our clients with timely engineering support and expertise. We are seeking an Entry-Level to Experienced candidate to become an integral part of our engineering team. The selected candidate will work with an experienced engineering staff using state-of-the-art engineering tools & processes. This position will operate onsite at our customer's world-class engineering and manufacturing facility.
This is a full-time position with a full benefit package listed below that includes opportunities for professional growth, direct hire by our customers, and additional opportunities within our own organization.
Electrical Design Engineer
The Electrical Design Engineer is a responsible for creating and developing the layout and design of electrical wire harness systems used in off-highway equipment. They work on the configuration, routing, and integration of wires, connectors, and other electrical components, ensuring efficient and organized assembly.
Job Description
  • Route and develop wiring harnesses while coordinating with cross-functional teams to meet design standards and integration guidelines.
  • Create designs and modify existing designs using Creo, ProCable and Capital Harness
  • Participate in print reviews and formal design reviews to support new product development.
  • Support manufacturing and assembly teams during the build and launch of new model designs.
  • Troubleshoot, diagnose, and resolve electrical system issues on prototype and production machines.
  • Work with manufacturing and quality engineers to identify improvements to designs
  • Interact with other design teams and the electrical team to coordinate co-effective changes
  • Work with supplier(s) to determine best design practices and components
  • Review and approve two-dimensional harness drawings
  • Participate on a cross functional team and perform design reviews

Requirements
  • Bachelor's of Science in Electrical, Mechanical Engineering or related degree
  • Strong mechanical aptitude demonstrated through work experience or hobbies
  • Excellent communication both written and verbal
  • Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and commitments
  • Strong analytical, problem solving and troubleshooting skills
  • Ability to thrive in a team environment

Desired Attributes
  • Experience in 3-D Modeling Software; experience (Preferred)
  • Previous experience with Windchill or PDMLink
  • Design experience or exposure to off-road mobile equipment
  • Experience with ProCable
  • Wire harness or cable design for vehicles
  • Experience with Capital Harness Systems (CHS)
  • Read electrical schematics to relate to wire harness designs

Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this position.
Pay Range: $65,000-$85,000 - Commensurate with experience
About RFA Engineering
RFA Engineering has provided product development and engineering services to industry leading customers since 1943. Our primary focus is the development of off highway equipment including agricultural, construction, mining, recreational, industrial, and special machines. Our work includes concept development, product design, documentation, problem-solving, simulation, optimization, and testing of components, systems and complete machines. Our engineering staff is located at our Engineering Center in Minneapolis, branch office in Dubuque, IA, and at numerous customer sites throughout the U.S.
Competitive Benefits
  • Health and Dental Insurance
  • TelaDoc Healthiest You
  • Supplemental Vision Insurance
  • Company Paid Life Insurance
  • Company Paid Long-Term Disability
  • Short-term Disability
  • Retirement Savings Account (Traditional 401k & Roth 401k)
  • Flexible Spending Plan Dependent Care
  • HSA for Medical Expenses
  • Bonus Plan (Exempt Employees Only)
  • Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Paid Holidays
  • Bereavement Leave
  • Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
  • Education Assistance

Equal Opportunity and Veteran Friendly
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

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