Electrical Hardware Development Engineer

Job Title:

Hardware Development Engineer Job Description

We are seeking a Hardware Development Engineer to support and innovate within our electro‑mechanical product lines, including switches, joysticks, trackballs, and keyboards. The role involves developing hardware specifications tailored for the defense, industrial, commercial, and medical industries.

• Support existing electro‑mechanical product lines including switches, joysticks, trackballs, and keyboards.
• Develop hardware specifications for new and improved switches, joysticks, trackballs, and HMI keyboards for various industries.
• Engineer sealed, IP‑rated keyboards for harsh environments and sterilization‑compatible designs for medical use.
• Design electro‑mechanical assemblies, sensor integration, and electronic circuits ensuring precision, reliability, and durability.
• Ensure designs meet medical device standards and industrial safety certifications.
• Implement EMC shielding, biocompatible materials, and IP‑rated enclosures for environmental protection.
• Build and validate prototypes for high‑precision control and operator safety.
• Conduct stress testing, life‑cycle analysis, and sterilization validation for medical‑grade components.
• Perform environmental testing for industrial keyboards.
• Work closely with clinical engineers, industrial automation teams, and software & firmware developers for seamless integration.
• Coordinate with manufacturing teams for cleanroom assembly and industrial‑scale production.
• Explore advanced sensor technologies for enhanced control accuracy.
• Investigate haptic feedback systems for surgical robotics and fail‑safe designs for industrial machinery.
• Develop custom HMI layouts for operator efficiency and touchscreen‑keyboard hybrid solutions.
• Maintain detailed design documentation, risk assessments, and compliance reports for regulatory audits.

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in hardware design for medical or industrial input devices.
• Proficiency in PCB design tools such as Altium and KiCad, and CAD software like Solid Works and AutoCAD.
• Knowledge of sensor technologies, signal processing, embedded systems, PCB development, soldering, testing, and manufacturing techniques.
• Familiarity with ISO, IEC, AS9100, UL, CSA, and industrial safety standards.

• Experience with medical robotics, diagnostic equipment, industrial automation controllers, and HMI keyboards.
• Understanding of sterilization processes, biocompatible materials, and IP‑rated enclosures.
• Certifications in medical device compliance and industrial safety are a plus.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.

This position operates in a fast‑paced, regulated, manufacturing environment, offering an opportunity to lead a new product line with significant autonomy to innovate and create the roadmap.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Raleigh, NC.

The pay range for this position is $38.46 - $57.69/hr.

• 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)

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.

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 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

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 due to a disability, please email actalentaccom for other accommodation options.