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Wire Harness Design Engineer Jobs in Portland, OR

Van's Aircraft, Inc.

Wire Harness Technician

Aurora, OR · On-site

$19.75 - $26.50/hr

Take your career to the next level with Van's Aircraft! We're looking for a Wire Harness Production ... Work closely with production engineers to develop, document, and implement new processes for ...

New

Actalent

Electrical Technician

Happy Valley, OR · On-site

$36 - $40/hr

... engineering, build, and validation teams to ensure high-quality, safe, and reliable electrical ... Plan and implement wire harness updates and fixes per design specifications. * Drive alignment and ...

Altitude

Senior Electrical Engineer

Portland, OR · On-site

$115 - $145/hr

Design and analyze power distribution, circuit designs, and wiring/harness installations for ... Generate bills of materials, wire lists, and connector pin assignments for production and ...

Posted today

Quanta Services

Design Engineer - Substation

Portland, OR

$104K - $133K/yr

We use in-house talent, expertise and resources to plan, design, engineer, manage, conduct maintenance on and construct projects. Our turnkey service capabilities provide our customers with ...

A-dec, Inc.

Supplier Quality Engineer

Newberg, OR · On-site

... wire harness assemblies, electro-mechanical devices, sensors, power components, and related ... Collaborates with design engineering on first article review/approval, fit/form/function testing ...

A-dec, Inc.

Supplier Quality Engineer

Newberg, OR · On-site

... wire harness assemblies, electro-mechanical devices, sensors, power components, and related ... Collaborates with design engineering on first article review/approval, fit/form/function testing ...

A-dec, Inc.

Supplier Quality Engineer, Sr.

Newberg, OR · On-site

... wire harness assemblies, electro-mechanical devices, sensors, power components, and related ... Collaborates with design engineering on first article review/approval, fit/form/function testing ...

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All JobsWire Harness Design Engineer JobsWire Harness Design Engineer Jobs in Portland, OR

Wire Harness Design Engineer information

See Portland, OR salary details

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

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for wire harness design engineer in Portland, OR is $52.99, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43.32 and $60.67 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 Portland, OR as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $110,223 per year, or $53 per hour.

Sr Mechanical Engineer - Cable & Harness Design -100% Remote (Anywhere in the US)

Encore Semi, Inc.

Hillsboro, OR • On-site, Remote

$135K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

Sr Mechanical Engineer – Cable & Harness Design -100% Remote (Anywhere in the US)
Job Type: Full-Time & Contract Options Available
Requirements: US Citizenship Required
Compensation: $135,000 – $160,000 / year + Comprehensive Benefits
We are seeking a detail-oriented and experienced Mechanical Engineer (Cable & Harness Design) to join our engineering team. In this role, you will be responsible for the mechanical design, 3D routing, documentation, and lifecycle management of complex wire harnesses and interconnect assemblies.
The ideal candidate brings strong expertise in PTC Creo, a solid foundation in electromechanical packaging, and proven experience working within rigorous Configuration Management (CM) workflows.
Basic Qualifications
Education: Bachelor of Science (BS) or Master of Science (MS) in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related technical field.
Experience: 10+ years of professional engineering experience with a direct focus on cable and wire harness mechanical design.
CAD Expertise: Demonstrated hands-on proficiency with PTC Creo (including Creo Parametric and Creo Cabling extensions).
Configuration Management: Solid experience operating within a formal Configuration Management / PLM environment
Standards & Practices: Familiarity with industry drafting standards (ASME Y14 series) and wiring/harness assembly standards (e.g., IPC/WHMA-A-620).
Preferred Qualifications
RF Cable Design: Prior experience designing RF/microwave cable assemblies (semi-rigid, conformable, and flexible coaxial lines, phase-matched assemblies, and high-frequency shielding).
Spaceflight Hardware Experience: Background designing harnesses for space applications, satellites, or launch vehicles (including familiarity with outgassing limits, thermal-vacuum environments, and NASA-STD-8739.4 / ECSS standards).
PLM Software: Experience using PTC Windchill for data and configuration management.
Environmental Testing: Experience supporting qualification testing for shock, random vibration, thermal cycling, and EMI/RFI shielding effectiveness.
Full-Time Benefits:
• 15 days of PTO per calendar year
• 10 paid Holidays per calendar year
• Comprehensive Medical Benefits: Company covers 80% of premiums for Employee and Dependents
• Dental & Vision: Company covers 50% of premiums for Employee and Dependents
• Voluntary Benefits: Life Insurance, FSA (Health and Dependent, Limited Purpose), HAS, and Gap Insurance
• Employee Assistant Program (EAP)
• 401k - Traditional & Roth
• Life/AD&D and Long-Term Disability
• Tuition reimbursement
Equal Opportunity Policy Statement
Encore Semi, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetics, ancestry, marital status, civil union status, medical condition, disability (mental and physical), military and veteran status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.
Encore Semi is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.
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