Wire Harness Design Engineer Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Actively Hiring! | Electrical Engineer | Des Moines, IA | Apply Now!

Job Description

This Electrical Engineer role focuses on the design and development of electrical systems that support power generation, transmission, and distribution projects. You will create AC and DC schematics, wiring diagrams, relay panel layouts, and control enclosure drawings while ensuring full compliance with customer specifications and industry standards. The position offers the opportunity to see your designs move from concept through fabrication, testing, and final production, working closely with cross-functional teams and customers. You will make a direct impact on critical power infrastructure and expand your expertise in protection, control, and power systems within a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities

• Design AC and DC schematics, wiring diagrams, relay panels, and control enclosures for electrical power applications in generation, transmission, and distribution projects.
• Develop detailed engineering drawings and documentation that meet customer requirements, applicable codes, and industry standards.
• Review and verify subcontractor designs for technical accuracy, completeness, and compliance with project specifications.
• Provide technical support and engineering expertise to customers, project management, fabrication, testing, and other internal stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
• Collaborate with the functional testing team to support system validation, commissioning activities, and troubleshooting of electrical systems.
• Inspect completed products and assemblies to ensure conformance with design requirements, quality standards, and customer specifications.
• Manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously while maintaining high quality and meeting established deadlines.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives related to engineering processes, design practices, documentation quality, and overall product reliability.
• Work closely with fabrication and shop personnel to ensure designs are practical, manufacturable, and aligned with production capabilities.
• Support the development and maintenance of standard design templates, libraries, and best practices for relay panels, substation systems, and related equipment.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, and Google Workspace.
• Working knowledge of CAD software such as AutoCAD and/or MicroStation for creating electrical schematics and drawings.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for collaborating with internal teams and external customers.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and consistently meet project deadlines.
• Ability to operate a computer frequently and perform keyboarding and other office-related tasks.
• Ability to regularly stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout office and manufacturing environments.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, or move materials weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Comfort working in typical manufacturing and production-related environments with associated hazards.
• Foundational knowledge of electrical engineering principles as applied to power systems, substation design, and electrical schematics.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience designing relay protection and control systems for utility, power generation, transmission, or distribution applications.
• Familiarity with electrical protection, control, and power system principles, including substation and relay panel applications.
• Hands-on experience with electrical design for substation systems, relay panels, and control enclosures.
• Experience collaborating with project management, fabrication, and testing teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Interest in expanding capabilities across power generation, transmission, distribution, protection, and control systems.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail in documentation and drawing management.
• Ability to contribute ideas and feedback to continuous improvement initiatives in engineering processes and product design.

Work Environment

This role operates in a combination of office and manufacturing/shop floor environments, with approximately 90% of the time spent at a desk and 10% on the shop floor. The position is fully onsite, with a standard work schedule of a 40-hour work week from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM. There are no off-hour calls for troubleshooting or after-hours support. You will interact regularly with engineering, project management, fabrication, and testing personnel, as well as customers and external partners as needed. The environment includes typical manufacturing and production-related conditions and hazards, and you will move between office spaces and the shop floor to support design reviews, inspections, and collaboration with production teams. Dress expectations align with a professional office setting when at the desk and appropriate safety and shop-appropriate attire when on the manufacturing floor.

This is a Permanent position based out of Des Moines, IA.

The pay range for this position is $90000.00 - $100000.00/yr.

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.

Paid Time Off10 HolidaysBereavementVeteran’s Day (if qualified)bonus position

This is a fully onsite position in Des Moines,IA.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 28, 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.