Freelance Embedded Hardware Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

About Us:
RKS has been at the forefront of Industrial Design in the United States for the last 40 years. We have built a reputation for delivering full-spectrum product design and development services-creating meaningful innovation across industries, from medical devices and consumer electronics to wearables and home goods. Our cross-functional approach integrates design, engineering, and human-centered thinking to produce award-winning products that drive emotional connection and market success.
Job Summary:
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Electronics Engineer to consult on a freelance basis with our interdisciplinary team. This role requires a hands-on, systems-level thinker who can architect and implement electronic subsystems within a variety of product categories. The ideal candidate will collaborate closely with mechanical, software, and industrial design teams to develop elegant, functional, and manufacturable products from concept through prototyping.
Key Responsibilities:

• Design and develop electronic systems for consumer, medical, and industrial products.
• Create schematics, select components, and develop PCB layouts using tools such as Altium or Eagle.
• Develop, debug, and test analog and digital circuits including micro-controllers, power supplies, sensors, and wireless modules.
• Build and program proof-of-concept electronics prototypes (e.g., Arduino, Raspberry Pi, custom boards).
• Work with mechanical engineers to ensure seamless integration of electronics into the physical product design.
• Collaborate with firmware and software developers to ensure hardware compatibility and performance.
• Perform troubleshooting, testing, and debugging of hardware systems throughout the development lifecycle.
• Contribute to documentation for design intent, testing procedures, compliance, and production hand-off.
• Provide insight into design-for-manufacturing (DFM), regulatory compliance, and BOM cost optimization.
• Participate in brainstorming sessions, technical reviews, and product refinement workshops.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies and component innovations relevant to product development.

Requirements
Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or a related discipline; Master's degree is a plus.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience designing electronics for commercial or industrial products.
• Proficiency with electronic design tools (Altium Designer, Eagle, KiCad, or similar).
• Strong understanding of micro-controller systems, low-power design, sensor integration, and communication protocols (I2C, SPI, UART, BLE).
• Experience with embedded systems and basic firmware development is preferred.
• Ability to rapidly prototype and iterate on electronic subsystems.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Knowledge of safety, EMI/EMC, and regulatory standards (FCC, CE, IEC, ISO 60601, etc.) is a strong advantage.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in client-facing or cross-disciplinary team environments.
• Prior consulting or agency-based product development experience.
• Familiarity with medical device development cycles and documentation practices is a plus.

Benefits

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Paid Holidays
• 401(k) as defined in the employee handbook
• Sick Leave
• Vacation

Let me know if you'd like this adapted for a full-time role, revised for a specific sector (e.g., wearables, medical), or turned into a formatted PDF or job board post.
You said:
10 years exp, no benefits
ChatGPT said:
Here is the revised Electronics Engineer job posting reflecting 5+ years of experience and no benefits, suitable for a freelance/contract role:
Job Description
About Us:
RKS has been a leader in Industrial Design for over 40 years, delivering innovation that transforms everyday life across industries-from medical devices and consumer electronics to mobility solutions and lifestyle products. Our multidisciplinary team combines creativity, engineering, and human-centered thinking to produce emotionally resonant, market-winning designs.
Job Summary:
We are looking for a highly experienced Freelance Electronics Engineer to consult with our product development team on a project-by-project basis. This role is ideal for a senior-level engineer with 10+ years of experience who can independently lead the design and integration of electronic systems across a range of complex product categories. You will collaborate with mechanical, firmware, and industrial designers to create fully integrated, production-ready solutions.
Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, development, and testing of electronic hardware for consumer, medical, and industrial products.
• Develop circuit schematics, select components, and design PCB layouts using tools like Altium, Eagle, or KiCad.
• Build and program hardware prototypes using micro-controller platforms such as Arduino, STM32, or Raspberry Pi.
• Collaborate with mechanical and firmware teams to ensure tight system integration and reliable operation.
• Define electrical architecture, power budgets, and communication protocols (e.g., I2C, SPI, BLE, USB).
• Troubleshoot and debug circuits across development stages-from bread-boarding to final PCBA.
• Evaluate and specify off-the-shelf components, sensors, and modules to meet performance, cost, and compliance targets.
• Prepare documentation including BOMs, test reports, and production handoff materials.
• Advise on design for manufacturability (DFM), regulatory compliance, and lifecycle risk.
• Contribute to design reviews and help drive technical decision-making across projects.

Requirements
Qualifications:

• Bachelor'sdegree in Electromechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or arelated field; a Master's degree is a plus.
• Provenexperience in designing and integrating electronics into mechanicalsystems.
• Proficiencyin CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD) and electronic designautomation (EDA) tools (e.g., Altium SW, Eagle).
• Strongunderstanding of circuit design, micro-controllers, sensors, and actuators.
• Experiencewith embedded systems and firmware development is a plus.
• Excellentproblem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Strongcommunication and teamwork abilities.
• Abilityto manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Familiaritywith regulatory standards and certification processes for consumer,medical, and industrial products.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Client-facing,project management experience is highly preferred
• Consulting/ Agency experience is highly preferred
• Experiencewith medical product development a plus

Benefits
Benefits

• MedicalInsurance
• DentalInsurance
• Paidholidays
• 401 Kas defined in the employee handbook
• Sickleave
• Vacation