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Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer Jobs in Renton, WA

General Robotics

Systems Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$155K - $205K/yr

We aspire to become the starting point for AI-powered autonomous systems across a diverse set of scenarios. Position Overview We are seeking a Systems Engineer to join our team in Redmond, WA. We ...

Overland AI

Systems Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

$140K - $190K/yr

Our OverDrive autonomy stack enables ground vehicles to navigate and operate off-road in any ... Role Summary Overland AI is hiring a Systems Engineer to support engineering execution and grow ...

1 point system

Systems Engineer III

Bellevue, WA · On-site

An autonomous self-starter personality with a culture of collaboration. * Detail-oriented with ... Engineering, Systems Engineering, or other technical or science disciplines. * 5 - 8+ years of ...

Blue Origin

Mission Systems Engineer

Seattle, WA

You will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy and provide technical leadership to ... Provide systems engineering support to a multidisciplinary team to ensure a cohesive and robust ...

RADAR

Systems Engineer

Seattle, WA

The System Engineer will own cross-functional features to ensure that performance and quality ... You are comfortable operating autonomously in ambiguity * You have experience working across ...

Leidos

Firmware Systems Manager

Lynnwood, WA · On-site

$131K - $237K/yr

Master's degree in a relevant engineering discipline. * Experience developing software for autonomous systems, robotics, or maritime platforms. * Familiarity with safety-critical or high-reliability ...

Leidos

Firmware Systems Manager

Lynnwood, WA · On-site

$131K - $237K/yr

... autonomous maritime systems to life. In this role, you will guide engineers working at the boundary between silicon, sensors, and mission software, delivering reliable, deterministic, and resilient ...

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Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer information

See Renton, WA salary details

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$53

$148

How much do freelance autonomous systems engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for freelance autonomous systems engineer in Renton, WA is $53.66, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $27.31 and $69.47 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 job categories do people searching Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer jobs in Renton, WA look for? The top searched job categories for Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer jobs in Renton, WA are:
What cities near Renton, WA are hiring for Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer jobs? Cities near Renton, WA with the most Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer job openings:
Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Freelance Autonomous Systems Engineer job openings in Renton, WA as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 5% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 90% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $111,617 per year, or $53.7 per hour.

Systems Engineer

General Robotics

Redmond, WA • On-site

$155K - $205K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Posted yesterday

Job description

General Robotics is an AI research and deployment company building a platform for general robot intelligence. Our mission is to enable rapid, robust, and safe deployment of general intelligence for autonomous systems and robotics. We aspire to become the starting point for AI-powered autonomous systems across a diverse set of scenarios.
Position Overview
We are seeking a Systems Engineer to join our team in Redmond, WA. We build and optimize the infrastructure that powers generalized robotics foundation models - spanning edge devices to cloud GPU clusters - with a focus on low latency, high throughput, and efficient resource utilization across form factors such as aerial, ground, manipulation, and others.
We are looking for strong candidates who have a background in systems engineering and AI/ML infrastructure, with experience in areas like systems programming; distributed systems architecture; GPU-accelerated computing; containerized deployments; and ML training and inference optimization. By applying to this role, you will be considered for multiple teams, such as platform infrastructure, ML systems, and edge deployment.
Systems Engineer Responsibilities
  • Design, build, and optimize systems infrastructure spanning edge devices to cloud GPU clusters for robotics workloads.
  • Develop and maintain low-latency, high-throughput pipelines for ML model training and inference.
  • Architect and manage distributed systems for efficient resource utilization across heterogeneous compute environments.
  • Optimize GPU/CUDA workloads and accelerate ML frameworks (PyTorch, JAX, TensorFlow) for robotics applications.
  • Build and maintain containerized deployment pipelines using Kubernetes and Docker.
  • Collaborate with research teams to translate model requirements into scalable, production-grade systems.
  • Design monitoring, profiling, and benchmarking tools to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks.
  • Contribute to infrastructure tooling and open-sourcing efforts.

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Robotics, relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience. Master's degree preferred.
  • 1+ years of experience in systems engineering, software engineering, robotics, or AI/ML systems.
  • Strong systems programming skills in one or more of: C++, Rust, Go, Python.
  • Solid understanding of operating systems, networking, and distributed systems fundamentals.
  • Experience with ML frameworks (PyTorch, JAX, TensorFlow) and cloud infrastructure (Kubernetes, Docker).
  • Experience with GPU programming and CUDA optimization for ML workloads.
  • Experience designing and scaling distributed training infrastructure for large foundation models.
  • Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and infrastructure-as-code tooling.
  • Familiarity with real-time systems, embedded platforms, or edge deployment for robotics.
  • Experience with high-performance networking, storage systems, or scheduler design (e.g., Slurm, Ray).
  • Good understanding of ML model architectures and the ability to factor systems constraints into research decisions.
  • Must obtain work authorization in the country of employment at the time of hire, and maintain ongoing work authorization during employment.

Base Salary Range
The anticipated base salary for this position is $155,000 - $205,000. Your actual pay will be based on factors such as skills, experience, and location. In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for benefits including medical, 401K and other health benefits.
Work Authorization
This role is open to candidates currently based in and authorized to work in the US.
Equal Opportunity Employer
General Robotics is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the
basis of any status protected by applicable law.
Accommodations
If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview
process, please contact: HR@GeneralRobotics.company

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