Freelance Robotic Simulation Engineer Jobs in Arizona

Exponent is the only premium engineering and scientific consulting firm with the depth and breadth of expertise to solve our clients’ most profoundly unique, unprecedented, and urgent challenges.  

Our vision is to engage multidisciplinary teams of science, engineering, and regulatory experts to empower clients with solutions that create a safer, healthier, more sustainable world. For over five decades, we've connected the lessons of past failures with tomorrow's solutions to advise clients as they innovate technologically complex products and processes, ensure the safety and health of their users, and address the challenges of sustainability.  

Join our team of experts with degrees from top programs at over 500 universities and extensive experience spanning a variety of industries. At Exponent, you’ll contribute to the diverse pool of ideas, talents, backgrounds, and experiences that drives our collaborative teamwork and breakthrough insights. Plus, we help you grow your career through mentoring, sponsorship, and a culture of learning. Thanks for your interest in joining our team! 

Key statistics: 

• 950+ Consultants 
• 640+ Ph.D.s 
• 90+ Disciplines 
• 30+ Offices globally 

We are currently seeking a Robotics Cybersecurity Engineer for our Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Practice in Phoenix, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA; or another U.S. location. In this role you will work as part of a team to help clients design, evaluate, and improve the cybersecurity of robotic and autonomous systems used in safety- and mission-critical environments. You will support clients throughout the lifecycle of robotic systems, from early architecture and threat modeling through development, testing, deployment, and assurance.

You will help clients build security into robots they are developing, assess the security and fitness-for-purpose of existing robotic systems, and establish practical cybersecurity assurance programs for robotic platforms operating in industrial, transportation, medical, and defense environments.

• Delivering highly technical consulting services to help clients design, build, evaluate, and operate secure robotic and autonomous systems used in safety- and mission-critical applications
• Assessing the cybersecurity posture of robotic systems, including embedded software, sensors, actuators, communications, autonomy stacks, cloud or edge infrastructure, operator interfaces, and supporting development environments
• Leading or supporting threat modeling, security architecture reviews, vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and risk assessments for robotic and autonomous systems
• Helping clients define, implement, and evaluate DevSecOps practices for robotics development, including secure software development, secure CI/CD pipelines, automated security testing and simulation, SBOM generation, vulnerability management, and secure release processes
• Developing cybersecurity assurance practices, frameworks, and evidence packages for robotic systems
• Advising clients on secure system architecture, including identity and access management, secure communications, encryption, key management, secure boot, trusted execution, software update mechanisms, logging, monitoring, and incident response
• Leading or collaborating on all phases of the client engagement lifecycle, including identifying client needs, framing and scoping business problems, developing project and sprint plans, building and evaluating secure robotics solutions, and translating insights into actionable recommendations
• Advising clients on both technical and strategic business solutions, identifying new technology-driven opportunities, and helping clients plan scalable, sustainable, and efficient systems
• Supporting business development by proactively building relationships with clients, identifying new project opportunities, and helping craft and execute business and technical solutions, either independently or collaboratively with firm leadership

• Ph.D. in Robotics, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or an M.S. with at least 3 years of relevant work experience after the completion of the M.S. degree
• Our contracts with the United States Government for this position require proof of U.S. citizenship and the possession of, or ability to obtain, a DoD security clearance
• Experience securing robotic, autonomous, embedded, cyber-physical, operational technology, or safety-critical systems
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity engineering principles, including threat modeling, secure architecture, vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, secure software development, and risk management
• Familiarity with robotics software and systems, such as ROS/ROS 2, real-time operating systems, embedded Linux, microcontrollers, sensors, actuators, perception systems, autonomy stacks, or robotic communications protocols
• Experience with one or more relevant programming languages, such as C, C++, Python, Rust, Java, or similar languages used in robotics, embedded systems, or cybersecurity tooling
• Familiarity with secure software development practices, DevSecOps, CI/CD pipelines, code analysis, dependency management, SBOMs, container security, and vulnerability management
• Strong communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to translate complex technical, scientific, and business concepts for diverse audiences
• Business acumen and entrepreneurial mindset with a track record of identifying value for clients, framing business plans, and driving business development
• Strong project management and organizational skills; ability to thrive independently and as a collaborative team member in fast-paced, multidisciplinary settings

Applicants are encouraged to submit a CV (Curriculum Vitae) with publications (feel free to include publications that are in review or pending) [not restricted to 1 page].

To learn more about life at Exponent and our impact, please visit the following links:
https://www.exponent.com/careers/life-exponent
https://www.exponent.com/company/our-impact

Attracting, inspiring, developing, and rewarding exceptional people with diverse backgrounds and expertise are central to our corporate culture. Our diverse team allows us to provide better value to our clients and enjoy an enriched work environment.  

Our firm is committed to offering a variety of programs and resources to support health and well-being. We believe that providing competitive benefits as well as compensation and recognition programs empowers our staff to do work that makes a difference. 

At Exponent, we have found that in-person interactions deepen employee engagement and are crucial for development, for realizing the full potential of our talented and diverse teams, and for building a more inclusive workplace where all have a sense of belonging. In our offices, you can expect a supportive culture and a collaborative, dynamic, multi-disciplinary work environment. Our consultants engage in-person in the office unless they are traveling for client work or other business activities.

We value the rich lives our colleagues enjoy outside of work and understand that work/life balance is critical to our employees and their well-being. Consultants have the autonomy to balance their work and personal schedules so you can meet with clients, visit inspection sites, attend conferences, and make time for priorities outside of work, too. It is this flexible, agile work style and working hours that allow our teams to drive innovation and results in their own ways, while meeting the needs of clients. #LI-Onsite

Our consultants are rewarded for their technical and business contributions and have an opportunity to plan for future success and career growth. Exponent's total compensation plan is consistent with its expectations of the quality and quantity of work performed and with the professional standards set by Exponent. At the Associate and Senior Associate level, total compensation includes base salary, bi-weekly bonuses for high-intensity efforts, annual bonus and 401(k) employer contribution of 7% of base salary.

The base salary range for this position is dependent on experience and capabilities which will be assessed during the interview process.