Hardware Design Engineer

Actalent; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Hardware Design Engineer – Electronics to develop and sustain complex circuit board assemblies for industrial controllers. You will handle mixed‑signal designs, high‑speed memory interfaces, and regulatory compliance across FCC/UL/CE standards.

Responsibilities include board layout, component lifecycle management, and cross‑functional collaboration to support new products and production‑line needs.

Qualifications

• ABET‑accredited Electrical Engineering degree is required.
• 4+ years designing circuit boards for industrial controllers with regulatory approvals (FCC/UL/CE).

Responsibilities

• Design and layout electronic circuit boards for industrial controllers.
• Ensure compliance to FCC, UL, CSA, CE and related standards.
• Collaborate on cross‑functional HW design reviews and improvements.
• Manage component changes and obsolescence to maintain supply continuity.
• Document test data, design decisions and risk assessments clearly.
• Maintain and update electrical drawings and BOMs for production.

Skills

Circuit board design

EMC/EMI knowledge

High‑speed digital design

Component obsolescence management

Regulatory comprehension (FCC/UL/CE)

Documentation & traceability

Education

B.S. in Electrical Engineering (ABET)

Tools

Oscilloscope

Spectrum Analyzer

Digital Multimeter

PCB layout tools

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Hardware Design Engineer – Electronics

Job Description

The Hardware Design Engineer – Electronics develops and maintains complex electronic circuit board assemblies for industrial controllers, ensuring they meet stringent regulatory, electrical, and mechanical requirements. This role combines hands‑on circuit board layout, component selection and lifecycle management, and cross‑functional collaboration to support new product development, production line needs, and long‑term reliability of industrial generator controllers.

Responsibilities

• Develop electronic circuit board assembly designs of moderately broad scope, including mixed‑signal, microcontroller‑based controllers, power converters, and radio frequency applications.
• Create circuit board layouts that meet electrical, mechanical, and environmental requirements, including compliance with third‑party certifications and applicable industry standards.
• Develop and maintain department subject matter expertise and best practices in circuit board design and assembly technologies.
• Participate in electronics hardware design peer reviews and provide constructive feedback to improve design quality and compliance.
• Analyze and resolve vendor component change and obsolescence notifications, and implement design updates to ensure continuity of supply.
• Maintain production drawings, electronic circuit board design files, and data for all electronic circuit board assemblies to support manufacturing and lifecycle management.
• Maintain and update the database of electronic components and circuit board footprints, including approved vendor part numbers and alternatives.
• Use and refine circuit board assembly design best practices, including risk assessment, design for environment, and design for manufacturability and serviceability.
• Work in a cross‑functional team environment to analyze and mitigate component change and obsolescence issues affecting existing products and new designs.
• Use standard electronics laboratory tools, such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and digital multimeters, to analyze, debug, and document proper operation of electronic circuits and systems.
• Support cross‑functional teams in analyzing and resolving electronics circuit board assembly production issues, including electromagnetic compatibility and signal integrity concerns.
• Meet with vendors and internal customers to discuss, document, and resolve technical issues related to electronic circuit board assemblies and components.
• Optimize circuit board layouts to meet EMC test performance and regulatory requirements, including FCC, UL, CSA, and CE standards.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of hardware designs to reduce warranty issues and improve robustness, particularly in the areas of electromagnetic noise and high‑speed digital design.
• Demonstrate strong abstract reasoning and problem‑solving by documenting problem‑solving processes, test data, and design decisions in a clear and traceable manner.

Essential Skills

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering from an ABET‑accredited program.
• 4+ years of experience designing circuit boards for industrial controllers that meet FCC, UL, CSA, and CE requirements, including standards such as UL6200, UL1010, and UL2200.
• Proven experience designing and laying out electronic circuit boards for industrial control applications.
• Hands‑on experience with circuit board layout for mixed‑signal, microcontroller‑based controllers, power converters, and radio frequency circuits.
• Strong knowledge of electronic components, circuit board technologies, and industrial control electronics.
• Ability to develop circuit board layouts that meet electrical, mechanical, and environmental requirements, as well as third‑party certification standards.
• Experience optimizing EMC performance of high‑speed circuits to meet regulatory and design requirements.
• Experience laying out high‑speed memory buses, such as DDR3, in controlled‑impedance designs to meet timing tolerances of high‑speed microprocessors and memory devices.
• Familiarity with EMC, FCC, UL, CSA, and CE compliance requirements for electronic hardware.
• Proficiency using standard electronics laboratory equipment, including oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and digital multimeters, for debugging and validation.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze and mitigate component obsolescence and vendor change issues in a production environment.
• Strong abstract reasoning and problem‑solving skills with the ability to clearly document analysis, data, and design decisions.
• Experience with multilayer circuit boards, including designs with eight or more