Physical Design Engineer Jobs in Madison, WI
Physical Design Engineer jobs in Madison concentrate on the west side and in the University Research Park corridor, with semiconductor, defense electronics, and EDA tooling firms anchoring most openings. Employers currently hiring include Kapur and Associates, Ayres Associates, and Bock Water Heaters. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find Physical Design Engineer JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 30+ Physical Design Engineer jobs
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)Environmental Conditions
OfficeJob Description
LOCATION: This is a fully onsite position based at our Madison, WI site. Unfortunately, relocation assistance is NOT provided.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.
- Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, which includes a drug screen.
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you'll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world's toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.
Description
We are seeking a motivated Firmware Engineer to join our engineering team. This role focuses on the development, testing, and maintenance of embedded software for cutting-edge analytical instrumentation in the spectroscopy field. The ideal candidate has a solid foundation in embedded systems, enjoys working close to hardware, and is eager to grow technical depth while solving real-world problems.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform all phases of embedded software development, including design, implementation, testing, integration, and maintenance for scientific instruments
- Develop reliable firmware in C for ARM microprocessors and TI DSPs used in FTIR, Raman, and microscopy instruments
- Design and implement programmable logic using VHDL for FPGAs and CPLDs
- Develop manufacturing and support utilities using C#/.NET
- Ensure timely delivery of high-quality products by working closely with project teams, SQA, and cross-functional engineering groups
- Participate in design and architecture reviews
- Develop and maintain technical documentation, including specifications, test plans, and user documentation
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. MS preferred.
- 2–4 years of hands-on experience in embedded software or firmware development.
- Strong programming skills in C; experience with C++ is a plus.
- Experience developing embedded software across the full lifecycle, including design, implementation, testing, integration, and maintenance.
- Proficiency working with microcontrollers and embedded systems, including ARM-based processors and/or DSPs.
- Strong understanding of low-level embedded concepts (e.g., interrupts, DMA, memory management) and ability to interpret hardware schematics.
- Experience developing firmware for scientific or instrumentation-based systems is preferred.
- Familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and/or bare-metal embedded systems.
- Experience with programmable logic design (e.g., VHDL for FPGAs or CPLDs); experience debugging FPGA-based implementations is a plus.
- Knowledge of common communication interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, and USB.
- Experience with debugging tools such as JTAG debuggers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers.
- Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and modern development workflows (e.g., CI/CD).
- Exposure to embedded Linux or higher-level system integration is a plus.
- Experience developing utilities or applications using C#/.NET is a plus.
- Understanding of low-level system components such as bootloaders, device drivers, and power management is desirable.
- Ability to contribute to embedded software architecture and communication protocol design.
- Experience with data acquisition, signal processing, or motor control systems is a plus.
- Exposure to AI/ML tools used to support embedded systems development (e.g., code generation, debugging, test automation, or data analysis).
- Awareness of how AI/ML techniques may be applied to instrument data processing, signal analysis, or system optimization.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including hardware, systems, and quality engineering.
- Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to debug complex system-level issues.
- Experience working in regulated development environments (e.g., medical devices, automotive, aerospace) is a plus.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to contribute to technical documentation and design reviews.
- Ability to manage individual tasks with moderate guidance while contributing to team deliverables.
- Willingness to learn new technologies and take on evolving technical challenges.
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)Environmental Conditions
OfficeJob Description
LOCATION: This is a fully onsite position based at our Madison, WI site. Unfortunately, relocation assistance is NOT provided.
- Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.
- Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, which includes a drug screen.
As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you'll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world's toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.
Description
We are seeking a motivated Firmware Engineer to join our engineering team. This role focuses on the development, testing, and maintenance of embedded software for cutting-edge analytical instrumentation in the spectroscopy field. The ideal candidate has a solid foundation in embedded systems, enjoys working close to hardware, and is eager to grow technical depth while solving real-world problems.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform all phases of embedded software development, including design, implementation, testing, integration, and maintenance for scientific instruments
- Develop reliable firmware in C for ARM microprocessors and TI DSPs used in FTIR, Raman, and microscopy instruments
- Design and implement programmable logic using VHDL for FPGAs and CPLDs
- Develop manufacturing and support utilities using C#/.NET
- Ensure timely delivery of high-quality products by working closely with project teams, SQA, and cross-functional engineering groups
- Participate in design and architecture reviews
- Develop and maintain technical documentation, including specifications, test plans, and user documentation
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field. MS preferred.
- 2–4 years of hands-on experience in embedded software or firmware development.
- Strong programming skills in C; experience with C++ is a plus.
- Experience developing embedded software across the full lifecycle, including design, implementation, testing, integration, and maintenance.
- Proficiency working with microcontrollers and embedded systems, including ARM-based processors and/or DSPs.
- Strong understanding of low-level embedded concepts (e.g., interrupts, DMA, memory management) and ability to interpret hardware schematics.
- Experience developing firmware for scientific or instrumentation-based systems is preferred.
- Familiarity with real-time operating systems (RTOS) and/or bare-metal embedded systems.
- Experience with programmable logic design (e.g., VHDL for FPGAs or CPLDs); experience debugging FPGA-based implementations is a plus.
- Knowledge of common communication interfaces such as SPI, I2C, UART, Ethernet, and USB.
- Experience with debugging tools such as JTAG debuggers, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers.
- Familiarity with version control systems (e.g., Git) and modern development workflows (e.g., CI/CD).
- Exposure to embedded Linux or higher-level system integration is a plus.
- Experience developing utilities or applications using C#/.NET is a plus.
- Understanding of low-level system components such as bootloaders, device drivers, and power management is desirable.
- Ability to contribute to embedded software architecture and communication protocol design.
- Experience with data acquisition, signal processing, or motor control systems is a plus.
- Exposure to AI/ML tools used to support embedded systems development (e.g., code generation, debugging, test automation, or data analysis).
- Awareness of how AI/ML techniques may be applied to instrument data processing, signal analysis, or system optimization.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including hardware, systems, and quality engineering.
- Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to debug complex system-level issues.
- Experience working in regulated development environments (e.g., medical devices, automotive, aerospace) is a plus.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to contribute to technical documentation and design reviews.
- Ability to manage individual tasks with moderate guidance while contributing to team deliverables.
- Willingness to learn new technologies and take on evolving technical challenges.
See All 30 Physical Design Engineer Jobs in Madison
Find roles in Madison that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Physical Design Engineer JobsPhysical Design Engineer Job Market in Madison
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Energy
- Education
- Manufacturing
- Accounting & Auditing
Physical Design Engineer Jobs in Madison: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a physical design engineer job in Madison?
Target the semiconductor IP, defense electronics, and FPGA-focused firms clustered in University Research Park and the west-side tech corridor. Hands-on experience with place-and-route flows, timing closure, and low-power design constraints gives a strong edge in Madison's market. Candidates who can demonstrate tape-out experience or familiarity with common EDA toolchains stand out with the hardware-focused employers that dominate local hiring.
Which companies hire physical design engineers in Madison?
Companies currently hiring physical design engineers in Madison include Kapur and Associates, Ayres Associates, and Bock Water Heaters, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Madison's hiring mix leans toward semiconductor IP developers, defense and aerospace electronics contractors, and university-affiliated research spinoffs rather than large consumer-chip fabs.
Are there remote physical design engineer jobs in Madison?
Yes, though with limits: physical design engineering is largely hands-on work tied to EDA tool licenses, secure lab environments, and tapeout collaboration, so fully remote roles are less common than in purely software-focused disciplines. About 29% of physical design engineer openings tied to Madison are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, with hybrid arrangements most common at research-oriented and IP licensing firms in the University Research Park area.
How can I get a physical design engineer job in Madison with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is through the University of Wisconsin-Madison's electrical and computer engineering programs, which have direct recruiting pipelines into west-side semiconductor and defense electronics firms. Entry-level roles like physical design verification engineer, layout engineer, or EDA tool support engineer are common first steps locally. A senior design project with VLSI or FPGA content, or a research position in UW-Madison's chip design labs, gives Madison employers a concrete signal of hands-on capability.
Which industries hire the most physical design engineers in Madison?
Most physical design engineer openings in Madison sit in Consulting & Professional Services, Energy, and Education, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Madison's concentration of defense contractors, semiconductor IP companies, and university research commercialization activity keeps those sectors consistently active for hardware engineering talent.
Related Jobs in Wisconsin
See All 30 Physical Design Engineer Jobs in Madison
Find roles in Madison that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Physical Design Engineer Jobs