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Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer Jobs in Oregon

Merlin Labs

OR · On-site

About you You are a versatile software engineer with a passion for aviation, robotics, and autonomous systems. You are comfortable working across technical domains, from perception and understanding ...

Merlin Labs

OR

You are an experienced engineer with a background in autonomous systems, aviation, and robotics who wants to lead Merlin's direction when it comes to decision making and behaviors for mission ...

Merlin Labs

Staff Systems Engineer, Integration

OR · On-site +1

$166K/yr

... autonomy today to solve some of aviation's biggest challenges. About you: You are a very ... Managing systems engineering tasking and aligning disciplines to support their successful and ...

Merlin Labs

Staff Systems Engineer, Integration

OR · On-site +1

$166K/yr

... autonomy today to solve some of aviation's biggest challenges. About you: You are a very ... Managing systems engineering tasking and aligning disciplines to support their successful and ...

onsemi

Industrial Systems Engineer

Gresham, OR

$73K - $99K/yr

The Industrial Systems Engineer at onsemi's premier 200mm manufacturing facility operates with a high-level of autonomy and brings an entrepreneurial spirit for developing analytics and programs that ...

onsemi

Industrial Systems Engineer

Gresham, OR · On-site

$73K - $99K/yr

The Industrial Systems Engineer at onsemi's premier 200mm manufacturing facility operates with a high-level of autonomy and brings an entrepreneurial spirit for developing analytics and programs that ...

Collabera

Infrastructure Systems Engineer 4

Portland, OR · On-site

$114K - $149K/yr

... Systems/Infrastructure Engineer with emphasis on Websphere and/or JBOSS Strong experience with ... acquire new skills autonomously. Secondary skills with products in the Identity and Access ...

Waabi

OR · On-site

$165K - $260K/yr

With a world-class team, we're unlocking the next era of autonomous transportation with technology ... Simulation, Systems Engineering, Safety, and Commercial teams to define product requirements ...

Nvidia

Technical Marketing Engineer - Omniverse

OR · On-site +1

... autonomous systems, and real-time 3D collaboration, the demand for advanced simulation ... Own the planning, creation, and execution of developer-facing technical materials for NVIDIA ...

DZYNE Technologies

Electrical Hardware Lead

Portland, OR · On-site

$130K - $170K/yr

About DZYNE DZYNE Technologies is leading the future of autonomous defense. Based in Irvine ... Collaborate closely with mechanical, software, GNC, and systems engineering teams to ensure ...

Natera

Staff Machine Learning Scientist, Agentic AI

OR · On-site +1

Architect systems that autonomously translate complex, multi-modal data into diagnostic and ... Establish production-grade machine learning engineering standards and reproducible architectures ...

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Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer, you need a solid background in robotics, control systems, and programming (such as Python, C++, or ROS), usually supported by a degree in engineering or computer science. Familiarity with simulation tools (e.g., Gazebo, MATLAB/Simulink), sensor integration, and experience with machine learning frameworks or embedded systems is highly valued. Effective problem-solving, self-motivation, and strong communication are essential soft skills for managing projects independently and collaborating with diverse clients. These skills ensure the successful design, deployment, and troubleshooting of autonomous solutions in dynamic environments.

What is a Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer?

A Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer is a professional who designs, develops, and maintains autonomous systems—such as robots, drones, or self-driving vehicles—on a contract or project basis rather than as a full-time employee. They often work with various clients to develop intelligent systems that can operate independently using software, sensors, and machine learning. This role typically involves tasks like programming, integrating hardware and software, testing, and troubleshooting. Freelancers in this field enjoy flexibility and the opportunity to work on diverse projects across different industries. They must stay updated with the latest advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation technologies.

What is the difference between Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer vs Autonomous Vehicle Software Developer?

AspectFreelance Autonomous Systems EngineerAutonomous Vehicle Software Developer
CredentialsRelevant engineering degrees, certifications in robotics or AIComputer science or software engineering degrees, specialized in autonomous systems
Work EnvironmentIndependent projects, client sites, remote workCompany offices, R&D labs, remote development teams
Industry UsageConsulting, freelance projects across multiple industriesAutomotive manufacturers, tech companies focused on autonomous vehicles
Search & Comparison IntentFreelance autonomous systems roles, consulting opportunitiesAutonomous vehicle software roles, in-house development

The main difference is that a Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer works independently on various projects across industries, often consulting or contracting. In contrast, an Autonomous Vehicle Software Developer typically works within a company developing software specifically for autonomous vehicles. Both roles require similar technical skills and certifications but differ mainly in work environment and employment structure.

What are some common challenges faced by freelance autonomous systems engineers when working with clients remotely?

Freelance autonomous systems engineers often encounter challenges such as aligning with a client’s technical expectations, managing communication across different time zones, and ensuring seamless integration with existing engineering teams. Since projects can vary widely in scope and complexity, it’s important to set clear milestones, maintain detailed documentation, and regularly update clients on progress. Building trust and maintaining transparency are key to successful long-term collaborations, especially when working independently or with distributed teams.
What are the most commonly searched types of Autonomous Systems Engineer jobs in Oregon? The most popular types of Autonomous Systems Engineer jobs in Oregon are:
What are popular job titles related to Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer jobs in Oregon? For Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer jobs in Oregon, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer jobs in Oregon look for? The top searched job categories for Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer jobs in Oregon are:
What cities in Oregon are hiring for Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer jobs? Cities in Oregon with the most Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer job openings:
Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer jobs near you
Autonomy Software Engineer

Autonomy Software Engineer

Merlin Labs

OR • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 22 days ago

Job description

About Merlin:
Merlin is a venture backed aerospace startup building a non-human pilot to enable both reduced crew and uncrewed flight. Backed by some of the world's leading investors, Merlin is scaling alongside our customers to begin leveraging autonomy today to solve some of aviation's biggest challenges.
About you
You are a versatile software engineer with a passion for aviation, robotics, and autonomous systems. You are comfortable working across technical domains, from perception and understanding to decision making and human-machine teaming. You take pride in delivering high-quality, maintainable code, collaborate well with other engineers and teams, and like to independently dig into new problems. You're excited to see your code fly in the real world.
Responsibilities:

  • Develop software across the stack of an aircraft autonomy system, contributing to lower level embedded systems and higher level autonomy function areas as needed.

  • Implement and integrate algorithms for perception, reasoning, decision making, planning, and execution in support of autonomous airborne operations. 

  • Collaborate with domain leads to understand architecture, requirements, and design intent for specific capabilities.

  • Contribute to simulation, integration, and flight test activities to validate autonomy software in relevant environments.

  • Write, test, document and review code according to Merlin's development standards.

  • Collaborate across Merlin to develop novel, certifiable systems to solve the toughest problems in aviation and autonomy.

Qualifications:

  • Degree in computer science, aerospace engineering, robotics, or a related field.

  • BS and 1+ or MS and 2+ years of experience developing software for robotic or autonomous systems.

  • Experience with Linux and open-source development tools.

  • Experience with overall product development cycle, including design, testing, and troubleshooting at the system level as well as at the software component level.

  • Experience with both Python and C++.

  • Experience with ROS, DDS or similar robotics middleware.

  • Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to learn and contribute across different technical domains.

Nice to Have:

  • Experience developing autonomy software for aircraft, drones, or other high-integrity systems.

  • Experience with state machines, behavior trees, or task planning algorithms.

  • Experience with route, path and trajectory planning.

  • Experience with perception systems, sensor fusion, or world modeling concepts.

  • Experience with multi-agent collaboration and human-machine interfaces.

  • Experience with system integration, simulation, or flight testing of autonomous platforms.

  • Experience with hardware and software integration and debugging.

  • Pilot license and flight experience is a plus.

Merlin Labs offers an innovative, entrepreneurial, and team-focused startup environment. We also offer a top-notch benefits package (health, dental, life, unlimited vacation, and 401k with match) and work/life integration. Being part of the Merlin team allows you to become part of a small team that supports professional development while working together to achieve our mission.

Merlin Labs is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, military service or obligation or disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. All job offers are contingent upon the candidate passing background and reference checks.

At this time, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship or consider candidates who require visa transfers. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or in the future. 

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to: [email protected]

Merlin Labs does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates.
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