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Wire Harness Design Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Koch Industries

Product Design Engineer

Lisle, IL · On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

... cable harness assembly * Knowledge in developing engineering documentation including DFMEAs ... Proficiency in CAD, preferably in NX, Team Center What Will Put You Ahead * Six Sigma training ...

Actalent

Electrical Design Engineer

Naperville, IL

$40 - $60/hr

Electrical Design Engineer We're looking for an Electrical Design Engineer to support the design, development, and testing of microprocessor- and PLC-based control systems for automated equipment.

Actalent

Electrical Design Engineer

Palatine, IL · On-site

$40 - $60/hr

Electrical Design Engineer We're looking for an Electrical Design Engineer to support the design, development, and testing of microprocessor- and PLC-based control systems for automated equipment.

New

Marmon

Senior Hardware Engineer

Carol Stream, IL · Hybrid

$114K - $152K/yr

... supplies, wire harness, converters, inverters, gauges, switches, etc. * Strong knowledge and ... design improvements for EMC performance. Required Qualifications * Bachelor's or Master's in ...

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All JobsWire Harness Design Engineer JobsWire Harness Design Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL

Wire Harness Design Engineer information

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$11

$51

$80

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

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average hourly pay for wire harness design engineer in Chicago, IL is $51.47, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $42.12 and $58.94 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 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.

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 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.

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Wire Harness Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Wire Harness Design Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, and 11% Contract. Highlights an 90% In-person, 5% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,067 per year, or $51.5 per hour.

Wire Harness Drafter

Des Plaines, IL • On-site

Kranze Technology Solutions, Inc
Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing • 11 - 50 employees
Learn more about Kranze Technology Solutions, Incexternal

$65K - $90K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 8 hours ago

Job description

KTS is seeking an experienced drafter / designer to support the wire harness team in creating new designs and maintaining existing products. This is a full-time position at the KTS facility in Des Plaines, IL.
Responsibilities:
  • Create and revise wire harness drawings, installation drawings, and schematics using CAD tools.
  • Develop 2D and 3D CAD models of harness routing within assemblies based on engineering input.
  • Generate detailed drawing packages including:
    • Harness formboard drawings
    • Wire lists and connection tables
    • Installation views and routing paths
  • Design minor components or portions of major systems and modify existing designs to develop or improve products and facilitate manufacturing operations
  • Work from engineering notes, sketches, redlines, and/or preliminary drawings to create or modify designs
  • Work with multiple organizations in the company to include, but not limited to, engineering, quality and operations/manufacturing

Required Qualifications:
  • Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Drafting, Engineering Technology, or related field
  • Ability to obtain Security Clearance, for which the United States Government requires United States citizenship
  • Minimum of four years of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) experience with wiring in the defense/commercial aviation or automotive files
  • Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and system diagrams
  • Proficiency in CAD tools such as Zuken, Siemens NX, Creo, or other related tools
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Familiarity with aerospace/military standards such as SAE AS50881
  • Experience with wire harness routing in electromechanical designs
  • IPC/WHMA-A-620 certified

We recognize that attracting the best talent is key to our strategy and success as a company. As a result, we aim for flexibility in structuring competitive compensation offers to ensure we are able to attract the best candidates. As required by law in this state, the estimated salary range for this position is $65,000-$90,000 and represents our good faith estimate as to what our ideal candidates are likely to expect. We tailor our offers within the range based on organizational needs, internal equity, market data, geographic zone, and the selected candidate's experience, education, industry knowledge, location, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the selection process.
Benefits
Kranze Technology Solutions is proud to provide extremely competitive benefits to all full time employees including:
  • Comprehensive Leave Plan (Paid Time Off)
  • Comprehensive Health Care package including Medical, Vision, Dental, Health Savings Account (HSA), and more
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • Paid Overtime
  • Flex Time and Flexible Scheduling
  • Opportunities to travel
  • Tuition Reimbursement options
  • Casual work environment

About Kranze Technology Solutions
We are part of SPX Technologies' Communication Technologies platform in the Detection & Measurement business segment. KTS is focused in the defense industry specializing in Infrared Countermeasures (IRCM) systems, digital interoperability and networking, and program support for the US Navy, US Marine Corps, and Special Operations Command. We provide hardware and software product development, systems integration, system test and evaluation support, modeling and simulation analysis, and other engineering services to support the Warfighter.
Each team member has significant opportunities to solve a variety of complex technical challenges in small teams while working hand in hand with our defense customers.
KTS is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. All applicants will be considered for employment without regards to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, or any other segmenting characteristics protected by law.
If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to:
Human Resources
847-737-7299
[email protected]

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