Electrical Engineer

Electrical Engineer

This Electrical Engineer role focuses on legacy electronics management within a hardware-centric environment, with a strong emphasis on component sustainment and obsolescence. You will act as a technical lead and problem-solver for electronic hardware systems, supporting sustainment efforts while closely interfacing with new product introduction (NPI) teams and suppliers. The position is 100% focused on sustainment and obsolescence rather than NPI execution and is ideal for a hardware-focused electrical engineer with deep technical expertise and strong leadership capability.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership on hardware-related issues and develop robust sustainment solutions for legacy electronic systems.
• Lead and support component obsolescence and sustainment activities across a broad range of electronic hardware.
• Identify, assess, and manage risks associated with electronic components, including chips such as FPGAs, memory devices, and oscillators; sensors; actuators; switches; operator controls; electronic control modules (ECMs); and telematics devices.
• Develop, evaluate, and recommend technical solutions to component-related issues, ensuring continuity and reliability of existing products.
• Execute tasks aligned with NPI-driven priorities and structured checklists, while not owning overall NPI execution.
• Engage directly with suppliers, interpret technical discussions and data, and translate supplier information into actionable engineering decisions.
• Support validation and testing activities, including electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing, environmental testing, and laboratory-based evaluations in web lab and EMC lab environments.
• Perform or support hands-on testing, including detailed component comparisons and validation workflows to confirm performance and compatibility.
• Work with hardware assemblies such as wiring, harnesses, enclosures, and related systems to ensure proper integration and functionality.
• Participate in project coordination activities for approximately one quarter of your time, helping to align technical work with program needs and schedules.
• Contribute to validation efforts for approximately 20–25% of your time, ensuring that sustainment solutions meet performance and regulatory requirements.
• Travel domestically to supplier locations approximately once per month to support technical reviews, testing, and coordination.
• Balance deep technical execution with effective communication and collaboration across cross-functional teams and supplier organizations.

Essential Skills

• Strong understanding of electronic hardware systems and components, with a hardware-first mindset and minimal emphasis on software (approximately 5–10%).
• Hands-on experience with component-level electronics, including chips, sensors, actuators, switches, operator controls, ECMs, ECUs, telematics devices, control modules, and related subsystems.
• Proven ability to analyze technical supplier information, interpret complex data, and translate findings into clear, actionable engineering solutions.
• Practical familiarity with testing environments and validation processes, including EMC testing, environmental testing, and lab-based evaluation.
• Proficiency with hardware debugging and laboratory tools such as oscilloscopes and multimeters.
• Knowledge of EMC testing standards and lab regulations applicable to electronic hardware.
• Capability to prioritize work based on structured checklists, program requirements, and sustainment priorities.
• Strong technical leadership and problem-solving skills, with the ability to guide decisions on legacy hardware and component obsolescence.
• Comfort working directly with suppliers and cross-functional teams in an electrical and electronics engineering context.
• Background focused on hardware engineering rather than software-heavy experience.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Exposure to hardware simulation tools such as PSPICE is a valuable plus.
• CAD or hardware design experience, including schematic capture, PCB design, and tools such as Altium, is preferred but not required.
• Experience with component obsolescence and lifecycle management, including planning and executing replacement strategies for end-of-life components.
• Familiarity with regulatory and certification requirements for electronic hardware, including electromagnetic and safety considerations.
• Prior experience with similar systems, tools, or processes used in large-scale electronics and control module environments is a strong advantage.
• Knowledge of microcontrollers, sensors, Bluetooth, infotainment systems, and related electronic subsystems is beneficial.
• Understanding of ECMs, ECUs, control modules, telematics, and other complex embedded hardware systems.
• Ability to balance detailed technical execution with project coordination responsibilities, ensuring alignment with program timelines and objectives.

Work Environment

You will work in a hardware-focused engineering environment that centers on legacy electronics, sustainment, and component obsolescence rather than new product execution. The role involves regular collaboration with cross-functional teams and suppliers, with frequent technical discussions and data reviews. You will spend significant time in laboratory settings, including EMC labs and web labs, using equipment such as oscilloscopes, multimeters, and other hardware debugging tools to support validation and testing activities. Work includes hands-on interaction with wiring, harnesses, enclosures, printed circuit boards, and electronic control modules, as well as engagement with EMC standards and regulatory requirements. The position typically involves project coordination and validation work as part of your weekly responsibilities, along with approximately one domestic trip per month to supplier facilities for onsite technical support and collaboration. Dress code expectations align with professional engineering and lab safety standards appropriate to office and laboratory environments.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Chillicothe, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $33.00 - $41.00/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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Chillicothe, IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 15, 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.