Freelance 5G Network Engineer Jobs in Rochester, NY

Hardware Engineer

As a Hardware Engineer, you design and develop industry-leading solutions for industrial-grade wired and wireless communications products. You take products from concept through production, applying strong circuit-level design and troubleshooting skills in a laboratory environment. You work across the full product lifecycle, collaborating with an international engineering organization to meet design goals, manage trade-offs, and deliver reliable, standards-compliant hardware. This role requires clear written and verbal communication to explain complex technical solutions to cross-functional teams with varying levels of technical expertise.

Responsibilities

• Lead and contribute to the hardware development of industrial-grade communications equipment by applying principles and techniques of electrical engineering, circuit design, and analysis.
• Complete the analysis and design of digital and mixed-signal communications circuitry, including MCU, CPU, flash, Ethernet, and USB, while considering EMC, thermal, mechanical, and electrical safety constraints.
• Develop and finalize schematic designs and PCB layouts containing digital, analog, and RF circuitry.
• Create new electronic components within the ECAD environment and maintain the component database to ensure accurate and up-to-date records.
• Prepare and maintain production documentation, including top-level bills of material and label specifications.
• Perform sustaining engineering activities for legacy products by mitigating component shortages, qualifying alternative parts, and redesigning circuits and sub-assemblies to address obsolescence.
• Translate product-level requirements into detailed technical requirements, estimate scope of work, and develop hardware concept designs to meet project deadlines.
• Work onsite with a team of Electrical and Embedded Firmware Engineers in an office and laboratory environment to drive hardware development activities.
• Perform circuit-level validation testing, document test plans and results, and use findings to refine and improve designs.
• Ensure compliance with product safety, emissions, and performance standards, and support third-party certification laboratories as needed.
• Support and troubleshoot existing product design issues reported by customers and manufacturing, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
• Conduct MTBF and reliability analysis for individual product subsystems and incorporate findings into design improvements.
• Provide detailed specifications and technical support to Manufacturing and Test Engineering teams to facilitate smooth production and testing processes.
• Collaborate effectively with an international development team, sharing design information, resolving technical issues, and aligning on product objectives.
• Produce Hardware Design Specifications and other relevant design documentation that clearly convey architecture, requirements, and implementation details.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a closely related discipline.
• At least 3 years of prior hardware design experience, preferably in communications or embedded systems products.
• At least 3 years of experience with circuit design and ECAD tools.
• 2–3 years of experience with wireless or embedded development.
• Practical circuit-level design and troubleshooting experience in a laboratory environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work both autonomously and collaboratively to resolve technical issues.
• Demonstrated capability to participate in the full product lifecycle, from concept through production.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Altium Designer or similar ECAD software.
• Familiarity with emissions standards such as FCC, IC, ETSI, Anatel, or ACMA.
• Experience with communication interfaces and protocols, including Ethernet, USB, I2C, and SPI.
• Familiarity with safety standards such as EN62368-1 and EN6095-1.
• Proven knowledge of EMC and environmental standards required for CE Mark certification of telecommunications products.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize work, and quickly adapt in a fast-paced engineering environment.
• Ability to solder and desolder surface-mount and through-hole components using a soldering station and heat gun.
• Experience using laboratory equipment such as signal generators, network analyzers, and spectrum analyzers.
• Ability to work collaboratively with an international development team across multiple sites.
• Familiarity with MCU, SoC, and modem integration for 4G LTE, 5G, and Wi-Fi technologies.
• Experience producing Hardware Design Specifications and other detailed design documentation.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to provide technical leadership within project teams.

Work Environment

You work primarily onsite in an office and laboratory environment alongside Electrical and Embedded Firmware Engineers. The role involves hands-on use of ECAD tools, soldering equipment, and test instruments such as signal generators, network analyzers, and spectrum analyzers. You engage in both design and validation activities, support manufacturing and test engineering, and collaborate regularly with colleagues at multiple international locations. The environment is fast-paced and engineering-focused, requiring adaptability, clear communication, and a professional, safety-conscious approach to lab work and hardware handling.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Rochester, NY.

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $53.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Rochester,NY.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 21, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.