Job Title: Senior Electrical Engineer / Electrical Designer
Job Description
This role focuses on the design and ownership of industrial control panels, electrical subsystems, and supporting documentation while closely coordinating with mechanical, manufacturing, and electrical stakeholders. You will primarily perform electrical design and project coordination (80-90%) with limited hands-on build support (10-20%) alongside an experienced technician who leads physical build-outs. The position offers the opportunity to work in a fast-paced startup and R&D environment, contribute to a major transition from AutoCAD Electrical to SolidWorks Electrical, and grow into ownership of multiple complex subsystems.
Responsibilities
Design industrial control panels, remote I/O cabinets, PLC-connected systems, and AC power distribution systems, including 480VAC installations.
Produce, review, and maintain detailed electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, cable harness designs, and panel layouts that technicians use to execute build work.
Work extensively in AutoCAD Electrical initially and actively contribute to the team's transition to SolidWorks Electrical, including updating and re-creating drawings as needed.
Create clear, complete, and accurate drawings and documentation that support repeatable and high-quality builds.
Take ownership of one or two smaller electrical subsystems at the start and progressively assume responsibility for additional subsystems as proficiency and familiarity grow.
Manage electrical design updates that result from mechanical design changes, ensuring seamless communication and alignment between electrical and mechanical teams.
Coordinate closely with mechanical engineering teams to incorporate design changes into electrical systems and documentation.
Collaborate with manufacturing teams, including supporting production kickoff activities, to ensure designs are manufacturable and correctly implemented.
Partner with electrical technicians who build proto@types and final assemblies, providing clear guidance, clarifications, and design intent.
Maintain, update, and organize existing electrical documentation as the project evolves, ensuring all changes are accurately reflected and traceable.
Provide hands-on support to panel build efforts when needed, while allowing the technician to handle the majority of the physical build work.
Assist in proto@type builds and troubleshooting activities to validate electrical designs and resolve issues that arise during assembly or testing.
Utilize Excel for bill of materials (BOM) creation, maintenance, and documentation, ensuring accuracy and consistency across projects.
Support and participate in workflow improvements related to the transition from AutoCAD Electrical to SolidWorks Electrical, including drafting standards and best practices.
Ensure drafting accuracy and adherence to electrical drawing best practices, including proper symbols, labeling, and documentation standards.
Apply a solid understanding of PLC fundamentals such as I/O, wiring practices, logical connectivity, and basic control concepts to ensure robust integration.
Collaborate with PLC programming teams by providing accurate I/O lists, wiring information, and design intent, even though PLC programming is handled by another team.
Work cross-functionally within a fast-paced engineering team environment, contributing to R&D and proto@type-heavy projects.
Independently manage workload, prioritize tasks, and drive design work forward with minimal oversight while meeting project deadlines and quality expectations.
Essential Skills
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, preferably in Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
8+ years of experience in electrical design, ideally within industrial, automation, R&D, or proto@type environments.
Hands-on experience designing industrial control panels, including layout, component selection, and wiring considerations.
Experience designing industrial wiring systems, including both AC power distribution and low-voltage circuits.
Experience designing remote I/O cabinets and associated wiring and connectivity.
Experience designing cable harnesses for both AC and low-voltage applications.
Proficiency with AutoCAD Electrical and/or SolidWorks Electrical for creating and maintaining electrical schematics and layouts.
Strong understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals, including power distribution, control circuits, and safety considerations.
Familiarity with industrial standards such as UL and NFPA and the ability to design in accordance with these standards.
Demonstrated experience producing accurate electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and panel layouts.
Experience working cross-functionally with mechanical, manufacturing, and electrical teams in fast-paced engineering environments.
Ability to self-manage and prioritize tasks effectively, driving design work independently with minimal supervision.
Strong drafting skills and a thorough understanding of electrical drawing best practices.
Working knowledge of PLC fundamentals, including I/O, wiring practices, logical connectivity, and basic control concepts.
Proficiency using Excel for BOM work and documentation management.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience with SolidWorks Electrical is highly desired, especially given the planned transition from AutoCAD Electrical.
Experience working in startup, R&D, or proto@type-heavy engineering environments.
Familiarity with ribbon cable and micro-connector systems to support future functionality.
Experience managing bills of materials (BOMs), including creation, maintenance, and coordination with manufacturing.
Exposure to PLC programming concepts and the ability to collaborate effectively with PLC programmers, even if not directly responsible for coding.
Experience supporting proto@type builds and troubleshooting activities in an engineering lab or production environment.
Strong communication skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams and clearly conveying design intent to technicians and engineers.
Work Environment
The role is based in a fast-paced startup and R&D environment that supports cross-functional mechanical and manufacturing teams. You will work closely with engineers, technicians, and production staff to bring complex electrical systems from concept through proto@type and into production. The work involves extensive use of AutoCAD Electrical and a planned transition to SolidWorks Electrical, along with frequent use of Excel for BOM and documentation tasks. The environment emphasizes rapid iteration, hands-on collaboration, and clear communication across disciplines. You will split your time primarily between office or desk-based design work and occasional hands-on support on the shop floor or in lab areas to assist with panel builds, proto@types, and troubleshooting. The culture values growth, stability, and performance, with the potential to convert to a full-time permanent role for those who perform well.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Austin, TX.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $55.00 - $75.00/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 Austin,TX.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Aug 10, 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 actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.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.
