Senior Design Engineer

Job Title: Principal Design Engineer

Job Description

The Principal Design Engineer role focuses on system-level architecture, design, integration, and validation of complex electronic and optoelectronic systems. You will lead high-speed electronic hardware design while working across embedded, electrical, mechanical, thermal, and optical domains to deliver robust, manufacturable products such as optical transceivers, test boards, and validation platforms. This position is ideal for a broad, multi-domain engineer who can own system architectures, drive best practices, and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and own system architecture for complex electronic and optoelectronic systems, including optical transceivers, test boards, benches, and validation platforms.

• Design and develop high-speed electronic circuits and complex multi-layer PCBs (including HDI and micro-vias) for advanced applications.

• Perform system-level trade studies, architecture definition, and design analysis across electrical, embedded, mechanical, thermal, and optical domains.

• Collaborate with firmware and software engineers to ensure proper hardware and embedded system integration, supporting cross-competency efforts within a small, multi-skilled team.

• Execute detailed design activities such as schematic capture, circuit analysis, component selection, and design validation to meet performance and reliability targets.

• Support system-level testing, debugging, and performance validation in lab environments, including test architecture development and execution.

• Translate customer requirements into scalable, manufacturable design solutions that meet stringent technical and operational specifications.

• Conduct design risk analysis and DFMEA, and develop mitigation strategies throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Support manufacturing and productization efforts, including design for manufacturability (DFM) and preparation for production readiness.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, quality, manufacturing, and customer teams to ensure alignment, smooth handoffs, and successful product delivery.

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers, promoting engineering best practices and documentation standards.

• Document architectures, designs, and processes thoroughly, and actively spread good design practices and standards across the engineering organization.

• Engage in embedded, firmware, and software system design activities as needed to ensure cohesive system behavior and performance.

• Support customers on technical subjects, providing clear explanations, guidance, and problem-solving for complex system issues.

• Contribute to continuous improvement of product development processes and tools, including eCAD workflows and system integration methodologies.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.

• At least 8 years of experience in electronic product design and development.

• Experience in electrical and electronic design, with hands-on experience in high-speed digital or RF systems.

• Proven experience designing complex multi-layer PCBs, including HDI boards and micro-via technologies.

• System-level design experience, including architecture definition, subsystem integration, and understanding of interactions between electrical, mechanical, thermal, and optical domains.

• Familiarity with embedded systems and firmware interaction, including working knowledge of C, C++, or Python for embedded or system-level tasks.

• Proficiency with eCAD tools for schematic capture, PCB layout, and design analysis, along with familiarity with structured product development processes.

• Demonstrated capability in system integration, lab-based testing, debugging, and performance validation of complex electronic systems.

• Experience conducting design risk analysis and DFMEA, and implementing mitigation strategies in development projects.

• Ability to translate customer and stakeholder requirements into practical, manufacturable design solutions.

• Strong technical communication skills for cross-functional collaboration with R&D, quality, manufacturing, and customer-facing teams.

• Comfort working under ITAR/CUI export control constraints and handling sensitive technical information appropriately.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in defense, aerospace, or medical device industries, particularly in board design, system architecture, or embedded system engineering roles.

• Knowledge of microelectronics or fiber optics, especially in relevant industries such as defense or medical applications; experience with optical components (e.g., lasers, fiber optics) is a plus but not required.

• Familiarity with high-speed communication protocols and environments, including Ethernet, high-speed serial interfaces above 10 Gbps, and RapidIO.

• Experience with RF and high-speed electronic design for challenging mechanical or operating environments.

• Embedded system engineering, including microcontroller-based designs and hardware-firmware co-design.

• Ability to work broadly across hardware, embedded systems, and system-level engineering rather than focusing narrowly on a single discipline.

• Experience supporting manufacturing and productization, including design for manufacturability and production readiness activities.

• Strong documentation skills and a commitment to spreading good engineering and design practices across teams.

• Experience mentoring junior engineers and contributing to a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement.

• Familiarity with Python and C++ for test automation, system validation, or firmware interaction is beneficial.

Work Environment

This role is based on-site in Wallingford, CT, working in a hands-on engineering environment that includes lab-based testing, validation benches, and collaboration spaces. You will work closely with a small, multi-disciplinary team of hardware, firmware, and system engineers, using modern eCAD tools and test equipment to develop and validate high-speed electronic and optoelectronic systems. The organization offers strong benefits, annual bonuses, and opportunities for growth in a company that is actively expanding. The culture emphasizes cross-competency collaboration, technical leadership, and rigorous engineering practices in industries where performance, reliability, and compliance are critical.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Wallingford, CT.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $120000.00 - $170000.00/yr.

Medical insurance (with strong employer contribution, 95%) Dental insurance Vision insurance 401(k) retirement plan Paid time off (PTO) Life insurance Disability insurance (short/long-term)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Wallingford,CT.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 14, 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 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 View email address on click.appcast.io 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.