Embedded Software Contractor Jobs in Seattle, WA

Simplifying the Complex. Simplexity is a product development engineering firm, hired by leading technology companies to design their next generation products. In an industry of overly-complex design and production, we strive for simplicity, reducing product cost and improving reliability for our clients through our Product Development Process.

Simplexity is seeking a hands-on senior mechanical engineer to work embedded with our team at a Seattle-area client on a cutting-edge robotics product. You will own mechanical subsystems from requirements through working hardware, validation, and release-quality documentation.

This is a technical individual contributor role, not a people-management position. You will lead subsystem decisions, coordinate interfaces, communicate risks, and personally perform design, analysis, drawing, prototype, and test work. The role is best suited to an engineer who can execute effectively when requirements and priorities are still evolving.

JOB DUTIES

• Convert system requirements into mechanical subsystem requirements, architecture, interfaces, and trade studies.
• Size and select motors, gearboxes, encoders, bearings, and related drivetrain or transmission components.
• Perform torque-speed, duty-cycle, inertia, efficiency, life, force, energy, structural, vibration, thermal, and tolerance analyses as appropriate to the design.
• Design linkages, gear trains, belts, pulleys, cables, and other moving mechanisms, including kinematic and dynamic analysis.
• Package sensors, wiring, PCBs, and related electronics within constrained mechanical envelopes, including practical thermal paths and serviceability considerations.
• Create, manage, and release complex SolidWorks assemblies, configurations, BOMs, and ASME Y14.5 drawings through a PDM-controlled revision workflow.
• Design custom and semi-custom parts for machining, sheet metal, injection molding, 3D printing, and other prototype or production processes.
• Build and instrument prototypes, define tests, diagnose failures, perform root-cause analysis, and iterate rapidly to working hardware.
• Perform structural finite element analysis, thermal simulation, or other relevant analyses.
• Present design tradeoffs, technical risks, decisions, and project status directly to client stakeholders.
• Coordinate mechanical interfaces with electrical, firmware, software, systems, suppliers, industrial design, and contract manufacturing partners.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 6+ years of applicable product-development experience. Demonstrated subsystem ownership is more important than a specific tenure threshold.
• Owned at least one robotics or complex electromechanical subsystem from requirements and architecture through detailed design, hardware implementation, validation testing, and design release.
• Extensive hands-on experience in robotic actuation and mechanisms, including motor/transmission selection and kinematic or dynamic analysis.
• Recent hands-on SolidWorks experience with complex assemblies, configurations, production drawings, and PDM-controlled revision workflows.
• Strong GD&T (ASME Y14.5), tolerance analysis, DFM/DFA, and practical knowledge of low-volume and production manufacturing methods.
• Hands-on prototype assembly, instrumentation, test, troubleshooting, and system-level root-cause analysis.
• Experience integrating complex mechanical designs with electrical, firmware, software, and systems engineering disciplines.
• Experience leading technical discussions with clients or demanding external stakeholders while remaining a hands-on individual contributor.
• Ability to work on-site at the Seattle-area client site.

PLUSES TO HAVE

Experience in any of the following areas is a strong plus:

• Experience moving robotic hardware through EVT/DVT or an equivalent product-development lifecycle.
• Experience designing test fixtures, test instruments, or automated mechanical test equipment.
• Experience using SolidWorks PDM to manage CAD files.
• Experience developing custom actuator or drivetrain solutions with external vendors.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Two types of contractor roles will be considered:

W-2 contractor (employee of Simplexity):

• Hourly rate $70- $95/hr, depending on experience
• Excellent Healthcare plan (Medical, Dental, and Vision) fully paid for by the company for the employee; partial payment for dependents
• 401(k) plan with company match after 1,000 hours of service
• Long-term and short-term disability, AD&D and Life Insurance
• 11 paid holidays
• 15 days of paid-time-off (PTO) accrued each year

1099 contractors (have your own registered consulting/contracting business):

• Hourly rate $95- $125/hr, depending on experience
• No benefits, holidays, or paid time off (PTO) included

Job location is in the Seattle, WA metro region at a Simplexity client site. Initial ~6 month contract with expectation of multi-year engagement.

Simplexity is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.