Prototype Engineer

Prototyping Engineer

Redmond, WA

12 months contract

Responsibilities:

• 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.
• Integrate AI agents with enterprise platforms using APIs and serverless platforms.
• 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.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with AR/VR or display system prototyping, including optical alignment and metrology.
• Familiarity with PCB design review, schematic reading, and basic soldering/rework for prototype modification.
• Experience with scripting or automation (Python, shell scripting) to support test, data collection, or process automation.
• Experience with test/debug automation
• Experience with latest AI tooling (eg: Claude, Codex, Gemini, etc.)
• Hands-on experience with mechanical assembly, including torque-sensitive and precision-alignment operations.
• Familiarity with firmware development environments, embedded Linux, or RTOS-based systems.