Hardware Engineer IV

$80-$120 per hour

Redmond, WA

Contract

12+ months

Client is seeking a Prototyping Engineer to join our Advanced Development Team. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who thrives in ambiguity, takes initiative to identify gaps in systems and processes, and builds solutions from the ground up. They are someone who is naturally curious and fine tinkering with a number of components. This role requires a versatile engineer with a working understanding of mechanical, electrical, and software systems who can smoothly integrate various subsystems into functional prototypes.

The position involves hands‑on building, working together with AI tools, debugging, and iterating on prototype hardware systems for next‑generation AR/VR devices. A portion of the role will also involve developing, maintaining, and refining AI workflows that improve efficiency and increase impact.

• Independently identify technical gaps and take initiative to design, build, and integrate multi‑disciplinary prototype systems spanning mechanical, electrical, and software domains.
• Integrate and validate subsystems (optical, electrical, mechanical, firmware) into cohesive prototype assemblies, ensuring proper communication and functionality across interfaces.
• Debug hardware and firmware issues using lab instrumentation including multimeters, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and power supplies to isolate root causes at the electrical level.
• Perform software‑level debugging through tools such as adb, serial consoles, and log analysis to troubleshoot embedded systems and device firmware.
• Develop GUIs and streamline bring‑up processes with AI practices.
• Develop and maintain test fixtures, jigs, and custom tooling to support prototype builds, alignment, and validation.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with optical, mechanical, electrical, and software engineers to translate research concepts into working prototype hardware.
• Develop and document assembly processes, integration procedures, and debug workflows to enable repeatable prototype builds.
• Proactively identify risks and propose solutions during prototype bring‑up, driving issues to resolution with minimal oversight.
• Support AR display system hardware integration and process development, including optical alignment, metrology, and functional testing.
• Leverage AI methods for data analysis, data visualization, and process development.
• Develop AI model skills and recipes.
• Design, develop, and maintain multi‑agent AI infrastructure and automated data pipelines.
• Integrate AI agents with enterprise platforms using APIs and serverless platforms.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (product, design, operations, infrastructure) to build innovative AI‑native application experiences.
• Build and integrate LLM / generative AI capabilities into product surfaces, including prompt engineering, structured prompting, and context management.
• Troubleshoot display hardware and firmware/software issues.

• 6 years of hands‑on experience in hardware prototyping, systems integration, or lab engineering, OR a relevant advanced degree 3 years equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a self‑starter: identifying problems, proposing solutions, and driving projects forward with minimal direction.
• Working knowledge across multiple engineering disciplines (mechanical, electrical, and software) with the ability to understand how subsystems interact.
• Proficiency with electrical debug tools including multimeters, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers for signal integrity and power analysis.
• Experience with embedded systems debugging using tools such as adb, UART/serial consoles, JTAG, or similar interfaces.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience collaborating cross‑functionally with hardware, firmware, and software teams to deliver integrated prototype systems.

• Experience with AR/VR or display system prototyping, including optical alignment and metrology.
• Familiarity with PCB design review, schematic reading, and basic…