Senior Design Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Sr. Design Engineer (System-Level Hardware and Embedded Systems)

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Job Description

This Sr. Design Engineer role focuses on system-level architecture, design, integration, and validation of complex high-speed electronic and optoelectronic systems. You will lead the development of advanced hardware platforms, including optical transceivers, test boards, and validation platforms, while working across electrical, embedded, mechanical, thermal, and optical domains. The position is ideal for a broad, multi-domain engineer who combines deep high-speed hardware expertise with strong systems thinking and the ability to collaborate closely with firmware and software teams.

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Responsibilities

• Define and own the system architecture for complex electronic and optoelectronic systems such as optical transceivers, test boards, benches, and validation platforms.
• Design and develop high-speed electronic circuits and complex multi-layer PCBs, including HDI and micro-via technologies, for advanced applications.
• Perform system-level trade studies, architecture definition, and design analysis across electrical, embedded, mechanical, thermal, and optical domains.
• Collaborate closely with firmware and software engineers to ensure robust hardware and embedded system integration, including microcontroller-based designs.
• Execute detailed design activities such as schematic capture, circuit analysis, component selection, and design validation.
• Support and lead system-level testing, debugging, and performance validation in laboratory environments.
• Translate customer and application requirements into scalable, manufacturable, and reliable design solutions.
• 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-facing teams to ensure alignment, timely delivery, and high product quality.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers and promote engineering best practices and documentation standards.
• Create and maintain clear technical documentation, design guides, and best-practice references, and actively spread good design practices across the team.
• Participate in test architecture definition for systems and platforms, including high-speed interfaces and challenging operating environments.
• Support customers on technical topics, helping to resolve complex system issues and clarify requirements.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of product development processes, eCAD workflows, and system integration methodologies.

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Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.
• 8+ years of experience in electronic product design and development.
• Strong 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 and micro-via technologies.
• System-level design experience, including architecture definition, subsystem integration, and understanding of interactions between multiple engineering domains.
• Practical familiarity with embedded systems and firmware interaction, including working knowledge of C, C++, or Python.
• Proficiency with eCAD tools for schematic capture and PCB layout, as well as established product development processes.
• Demonstrated capability in hardware design for high-speed interfaces such as Ethernet, high-speed serial links above 10 Gbps, and similar protocols.
• Experience in system integration, including bringing up new boards, debugging hardware/firmware interactions, and validating performance.
• Ability to perform and interpret DFMEA and design risk analyses, and to implement effective mitigation strategies.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work across electrical, mechanical, thermal, and optical considerations at a system level.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and support customers on technical subjects.

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Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in defense, aerospace, or medical device industries, particularly in roles such as board design engineer, system architect engineer, or embedded system engineer.
• experience or knowledge in microelectronics or fiber optics, especially in relevant industries outside of general telecommunications.
• Experience with RF and high-speed electronic design beyond standard digital circuitry.
• Familiarity with high-speed communication protocols such as Ethernet, high-speed serial links above 10 Gbps, and RapidIO.
• Understanding of challenging mechanical and operating environments and their impact on electronic design and reliability.
• Experience supporting design for manufacturability (DFM) and working closely with manufacturing teams during productization.
• Ability to mentor junior engineers and contribute to the development of engineering standards and best practices.
• Comfort working in small, multi-disciplinary teams where cross-competencies and flexibility are highly valued.
• Knowledge of Python or C++ for test automation, validation scripts, or basic embedded firmware tasks is a plus.
• Exposure to optoelectronic systems, lasers, or fiber-optic components is beneficial but not required.

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Work Environment

This role is based on-site in either Connecticut or Tualatin, with the potential for some remote flexibility depending on project needs and team collaboration requirements. You will work closely with a small, highly collaborative design team that values broad, multi-domain expertise and cross-functional problem solving. The environment includes hands-on work in laboratory settings for system bring-up, high-speed testing, and validation, alongside office-based activities for architecture definition, design, and documentation. You will regularly interact with R&D, quality, manufacturing, and customer-focused teams, contributing to products that operate in demanding mechanical and environmental conditions. The culture emphasizes technical excellence, knowledge sharing, and mentoring, with a strong focus on robust engineering practices and end-to-end ownership of system-level solutions.

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Use the following link to book time with a recruiter and learn more: click here

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This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Tualatin, OR.

The pay range for this position is $57.00 - $76.00/hr.

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)

This is a fully onsite position in Tualatin,OR.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 3, 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 ziprecruiter.com 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.