Hardware Engineer

Actalent; Willoughby (OH); On-site; USD 87,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Hardware Engineer in Willoughby, OH to design and develop advanced power conversion and power supply systems for industrial applications, including AC/DC and AC/AC supplies, DC/DC regulators and electronic loads. You’ll work with firmware and embedded engineers across the product lifecycle.

The role emphasizes hands-on design verification, testing, and documentation, with emphasis on safety standards (UL/CE/EMI) and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• At least 6 years in power electronics design and validation, incl. 3+ years developing power supplies.
• Proficiency in analog circuit design and PDN/hot-swap concepts.
• Experience with DSP-based control including MCU/SoC/ASIC/FPGA platforms.
• Strong understanding of rectification, inversion, regulation and common topologies.
• Experience with power electronics and topologies, amplifiers, and instrumentation.
• Hands-on design verification, troubleshooting and bench work with power electronics.
• Familiarity with Altium or Cadence for schematic capture and PCB CAD.
• Experience with circuit and system simulation tools (SIMPLIS, SIMULINK, SPICE, etc.).
• Ability to ensure UL/CE/EMI/EMC and military standards compliance.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop power electronics circuits with detailed analysis and PCB layout.
• Research and direct fabrication/testing of power supplies for industrial and technical applications.
• Benchmark designs, build breadboards, refine for performance and reliability.
• Record/test data, recommend modifications, and validate improvements.
• Create test plans and fixtures for design verification.
• Document detailed test procedures for V&V reports.
• Collaborate with firmware/embedded engineers to integrate analog with DSP/MCU control.
• Advance SMPS designs using SiC and GaN devices.
• Provide analog electrical design solutions across project lifecycles.
• Ensure designs comply with safety and regulatory standards.

Skills

Power electronics design

PCB design

Schematic capture

DSP/MCU control

FPGA/SoC/ASIC

Analog circuit design

Power distribution network

Bench testing

Regulatory compliance

Design verification

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Altium

Cadence

SPICE

SIMPLIS

SIMULINK

ANSYS SIwave

Job description

Job Title: Hardware Engineer

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Hardware Engineer to design and develop advanced power conversion and power supply systems for commercial, industrial, research laboratory, and military applications. In this hands‑on role, you will focus on the design, analysis, testing, and development of AC/DC and AC/AC power supplies, DC/DC regulators, electronic loads, and related power electronics products. Working as part of a multidisciplinary engineering team, you will contribute throughout the full product development lifecycle, including electrical analysis, detailed circuit design, testing, troubleshooting, and control system development.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop power electronics circuits, including performing detailed design analysis, schematic capture, and PCB design for power supplies, special assemblies, and electronic loads.

• Research, develop, and direct the fabrication and testing of power supplies and related power electronics hardware for demanding industrial and technical applications.

• Perform benchmarking on similar designs, build and troubleshoot breadboard concepts and prototypes, and refine designs based on performance and reliability criteria.

• Record, analyze, and interpret test data, recommend and implement necessary product modifications, and conduct retests to validate improvements.

• Generate comprehensive test plans and design test fixtures to support design validation and verification activities.

• Produce detailed test procedures and provide specifications for design validation and verification reports to ensure robust documentation and traceability.

• Collaborate closely with firmware and embedded engineers to integrate analog electrical designs with DSP and MCU‑based digital control systems.

• Drive innovation in switch‑mode power supplies (SMPS) by leveraging the latest materials and technologies, including SiC and GaN devices, in SMPS and power supply designs.

• Create analog electrical design solutions and provide technical support for a variety of novel and complex projects across all stages of the product lifecycle.

• Ensure all designs comply with relevant safety and regulatory standards, including UL, CE, EMI/EMC, and military standards, and incorporate these requirements into the design process.

• Contribute to the technology roadmap by proposing and implementing advanced power conversion architectures and control strategies.

• Participate in hands‑on design verification, troubleshooting, and bench work to resolve technical issues and optimize product performance.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.

• At least 6 years of experience in power electronics design and validation, including a minimum of 3 years developing power supplies.

• Proficiency in designing analog circuits and familiarity with digital electronics applied to power supply control, hot‑swap circuitry, and power distribution network (PDN) design.

• Experience with low‑voltage, high‑current power subsystems using DSP‑based control, including MCU, SoC, ASIC, or FPGA platforms.

• Thorough understanding of power conversion principles such as rectification, inversion, and regulation, and familiarity with basic converter topologies including buck, boost, and flyback.

• Experience designing power electronics or power supply systems and their associated topologies, with knowledge of operational, instrumentation, and power amplifiers.

• Hands‑on experience in design verification, troubleshooting, and bench work with power electronics hardware.

• Familiarity with schematic capture and PCB CAD tools such as Altium and Cadence.

• Experience with circuit and system simulation tools such as SIMPLIS, SIMULINK, ANSYS SIwave, Multisim, SPICE, or equivalent platforms.

• Ability to ensure compliance with relevant safety and regulatory standards, including UL, CE, EMI/EMC, and military specifications.

Work Environment

You will work in a standard manufacturing environment with attached offices, collaborating closely with a team of approximately eight engineers across hardware, firmware, PCB, and packaging disciplines. The setting combines hands‑on lab and manufacturing floor activities with office‑based design, analysis, and documentation work. You will work with advanced power electronics, thermal systems, and industrial power supply technologies that support demanding applications in sectors such as semiconductor, aerospace, automotive, medical, solar, PCB manufacturing, electroplating and surface finishing, and flat‑panel displays. The environment encourages cross‑functional collaboration, innovation in power conversion and control, and involvement across the full product lifecycle from concept through production.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Willoughby, OH.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $63.00 - $67.00/hr.

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.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre‑tax and Roth post‑tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long‑term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Willoughby, OH.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 30, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Willoughby,OH.

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 without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall 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 applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.