Job Title: Senior / Staff Electrical Design Engineer PCBA & Battery Management Systems Job Site location Weirton WV, commutable from Pittsburgh PA Job DescriptionWe are seeking a Senior or Staff Electrical Design Engineer with deep experience in printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) design and development to support a Battery Management System (BMS) Hardware and Electrical Systems Engineering team. In this role, you will own the full PCBA development lifecyclefrom requirements definition and component selection through schematic and layout development, vendor DFM, board bring-up, verification, configuration management, production release, and sustaining engineering. You will collaborate closely with systems, mechanical/electromechanical, firmware/software, manufacturing, and test/verification teams to deliver reliable, safe, and compliant electronics for advanced battery technology and high-power, potentially hazardous systems.Responsibilities
- Own the complete PCBA development lifecycle from initial requirements and architecture definition through component selection, schematic capture, PCB layout, design release, vendor design-for-manufacturing (DFM), board bring-up, verification, configuration management, and sustaining support.
- Develop and document electrical requirements, DFMEA/CFMEA, electrical block diagrams, simulations, analyses, schematics, layouts, bring-up and test plans, and 8D reports to ensure robust design and thorough validation.
- Ensure all PCBA designs meet applicable safety, reliability, and compliance requirements, with particular focus on high-power and hazardous electrical systems.
- Collaborate closely with Systems Engineering, Mechanical/Electromechanical, Firmware/Software, Manufacturing, and Test/Verification teams to define, develop, and validate PCBAs and resolve system-level electrical issues.
- Conduct board bring-up activities, including initial power-on, functional testing, troubleshooting, and root-cause investigations for design and manufacturing issues.
- Plan and execute testing and validation of PCBAs, including performance, reliability, and compliance testing, and drive corrective actions when issues arise.
- Support maintenance and continuous improvement of released PCBA designs, including implementation of design changes, cost and reliability improvements, and manufacturability enhancements.
- Create and maintain clear and comprehensive technical documentation, including design concepts, architecture documentation, block diagrams, bring-up and test results, root-cause investigation reports, decision matrices, and configuration records.
- Work with external vendors and internal stakeholders to ensure manufacturability, quality, and consistency of PCBAs throughout the product lifecycle.
- Contribute technical expertise in design reviews, risk assessments, and cross-functional problem-solving sessions to ensure robust and scalable hardware solutions.
Essential Skills
- Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field with 7+ years of relevant experience, or a Masters degree with 5+ years of relevant experience for the Staff-level position.
- Strong, hands-on experience designing and developing PCBAs using Altium Designer or equivalent ECAD software.
- Demonstrated ability to take PCBAs from requirements definition through design, bring-up, validation, and production release.
- Proven experience developing electrical requirements, block diagrams, schematics, and PCB layouts for complex electronic systems.
- Experience creating and executing bring-up and test plans for new PCBAs, including troubleshooting and root-cause analysis.
- Hands-on experience with sensors and their integration into PCBA designs.
- Hands-on experience with high-voltage and high-power electronics, including safety and reliability considerations.
- Experience with AC power circuits and associated protection and control circuitry.
- Experience designing with switching mode power supplies (SMPS) and low-dropout (LDO) power supplies.
- Experience with MCU, MPU, or SOM-based processing architectures and their supporting circuitry.
- Experience with Ethernet-based communication interfaces on PCBAs.
- Experience with CAN-FD communication interfaces.
- Experience with isoSPI communication interfaces.
- Experience with SPI, UART, I2C, and JTAG communication interfaces.
- Experience with ADC/DAC circuitry and data acquisition systems.
- Experience with gate drivers, motor drivers, and high-side drivers in power electronics applications.
- Experience working in cross-functional environments involving hardware, firmware, mechanical, and test teams.
- Ability to ensure PCBA designs comply with safety, reliability, and regulatory requirements, particularly for high-power and hazardous systems.
- Strong documentation skills, including the ability to produce detailed design documentation, test reports, and investigation summaries.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience with battery systems or energy storage systems, including Battery Management Systems (BMS), is a strong plus.
- Experience performing DFMEA and CFMEA for electronic hardware.
- Familiarity with 8D reporting and structured problem-solving methodologies.
- Experience collaborating with manufacturing and vendors on DFM and production readiness.
- Comfort working in a fast-paced, cross-functional engineering environment.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on root-cause analysis and continuous improvement.
- Effective communication skills for presenting design decisions, trade-offs, and investigation results to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Work EnvironmentYou will work in a collaborative, cross-functional engineering environment focused on advanced battery technology and high-power electronic systems. The role involves close interaction with systems engineering, mechanical/electromechanical, firmware/software, manufacturing, and test/verification teams to bring complex PCBAs from concept to production. You will use professional ECAD tools such as Altium Designer or equivalent, along with lab equipment for board bring-up, testing, and validation. The work includes both office-based design activities and hands-on lab work with high-voltage and high-power electronics, requiring careful adherence to safety procedures and best practices. The environment emphasizes rigorous design reviews, thorough documentation, structured problem-solving, and continuous improvement throughout the product lifecycle. Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Pittsburgh, PA. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $80.00 - $85.00/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 & LocationThis is a Contract to Hire position based out of Pittsburgh, PA. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 24, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a fully onsite position in Pittsburgh,PA.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.
