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Freelance Prototype Build Engineer Jobs in California

Freeform

Opto-Mechanical Build Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

$90K - $200K/yr

OPTO-MECHANICAL BUILD ENGINEER Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software ... Develop procedures for scaling in-house opto-mechanical build processes from prototype to volume ...

Intuitive

Staff Software Build Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · Remote

This role is for an experienced engineer who writes code, debugs real build failures, prototypes infrastructure, and scales systems through direct technical contribution. You will own core build ...

Freeform

Opto-Mechanical Build Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$90K - $200K/yr

OPTO-MECHANICAL BUILD ENGINEER Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software ... Develop procedures for scaling in-house opto-mechanical build processes from prototype to volume ...

Freeform

Opto-Mechanical Build Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$90K - $200K/yr

OPTO-MECHANICAL BUILD ENGINEER Freeform builds AI-native manufacturing systems that unify software ... Develop procedures for scaling in-house opto-mechanical build processes from prototype to volume ...

Ampa, Inc.

Sr. Prototype Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$75K - $90K/yr

You'll work closely with engineering teams to build, troubleshoot, test, and improve early-stage ... Prototype Development & Testing: Build, troubleshoot, and iteratively test biomedical and ...

Etched

Prototype Engineering Lead

San Jose, CA · On-site

$2.0K/mo

Job Summary We are standing up an in-house prototyping division at our 80,000 square foot Milpitas ... build that capability with a strong process engineer * Experience with liquid-cooled systems ...

Etched

Prototype Engineering Lead

San Jose, CA · On-site

$2.0K/mo

Job Summary We are standing up an in-house prototyping division at our 80,000 square foot Milpitas ... build that capability with a strong process engineer * Experience with liquid-cooled systems ...

Relativity Space

Moonshot Engineer

Long Beach, CA · On-site

... deep-tech prototyping, and bold moonshot thinking. We're a small team of hands-on builders ... Moonshot Engineers will be wearing many different hats, from technical leadership, detailed design ...

SoloPoint Solutions

Be Seen First

Junior Electrical Engineer

South San Francisco, CA · On-site

$35 - $45/hr

Qualifications * 2-4 years of hands-on hardware engineering experience, or a new engineering grad ... Experience taking a hardware design from prototype to repeatable production build a plus * Strong ...

New

Ducommun

NPI Engineer

Carson, CA

$107K - $141K/yr

NPI Engineer The NPI Execution Lead owns the execution ofprototype and new product builds from ... Owns end-to-end of prototype and tooling build execution for new products. * Acts as the single ...

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All JobsPrototype Build Engineer JobsFreelance Prototype Build Engineer JobsFreelance Prototype Build Engineer Jobs in California

Freelance Prototype Build Engineer information

What is the difference between Freelance Prototype Build Engineer vs Mechanical Design Engineer?

AspectFreelance Prototype Build EngineerMechanical Design Engineer
CredentialsRelevant technical skills, certifications in prototyping or manufacturingDegree in Mechanical Engineering, CAD certifications
Work EnvironmentFreelance, project-based, often on-site or remoteFull-time, in-house or design firm offices
Industry UsageProduct startups, hardware companies, prototyping firmsManufacturing, product design, engineering firms

The Freelance Prototype Build Engineer focuses on creating physical prototypes for various projects, often working independently on short-term contracts. In contrast, Mechanical Design Engineers primarily develop detailed mechanical designs and specifications for products within a company or design team. While both roles require technical skills and engineering knowledge, the freelance prototype builder emphasizes hands-on prototyping, whereas the mechanical designer emphasizes design development and CAD work.

What are the most commonly searched types of Prototype Build Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Prototype Build Engineer jobs in California are:
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Freelance Prototype Build Engineer jobs near you

Electronics Engineer / Freelance

RKS Design, Inc.

Westlake Village, CA • On-site

Contractor

Medical, Dental, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 23 days ago

Job description


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

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