What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Prototype Systems Engineer position at PRI Global?
Senior Prototype Systems Engineer
Redmond, WA
12months contract
Qualifications:
- 6 years of hands-on experience in hardware prototyping, systems integration, or lab engineering, OR a relevant advanced degree 3 years equivalent experience.
- 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.
- Experience building and maintaining lab infrastructure, test systems, or custom instrumentation.
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.