Prototyping Engineer IV

Job Title: Prototyping Engineer IV
Location: Onsite in Redmond, WA
Duration: 12 Months 

Client is seeking a Prototyping Engineer to join our Advanced Development Team. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who thrives in ambiguity, takes initiative to identify gaps in systems and processes, and builds solutions from the ground up. They are someone who is naturally curious and fine tinkering with a number of components. This role requires a versatile engineer with a working understanding of mechanical, electrical, and software systems who can smoothly integrate various subsystems into functional prototypes. The position involves hands-on building, working together with AI tools, debugging, and iterating on prototype hardware systems for next-generation AR/VR devices. A portion of the role will also involve developing, maintaining, and refining AI workflows that improve efficiency and increase impact.

Must-Have Skills 

• Hands-on hardware prototyping and systems integration experience with demonstrated ability to independently build and debug multi-disciplinary systems. 
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, or equivalent practical experience. 
• Proficiency with electrical debugging tools (multimeter, oscilloscope, logic analyzer) and software debugging tools (adb, serial consoles, log analysis). 
• Cross-disciplinary knowledge spanning mechanical, electrical, and software systems with ability to integrate subsystems and troubleshoot interface issues. 
  
  Nice-to-have Skills 
• Experience with AR/VR display systems, optical alignment, or metrology.
• Scripting/programming ability (Python, C/C++, shell) for test automation, data collection, or embedded systems work. 
• Experience with PCB rework, schematic reading, and firmware debugging environments. 
  
  Years of overall experience required - 6+

Responsibilities

• Independently identify technical gaps and take initiative to design, build, and integrate multi-disciplinary prototype systems spanning mechanical, electrical, and software domains.
• Integrate and validate subsystems (optical, electrical, mechanical, firmware) into cohesive prototype assemblies, ensuring proper communication and functionality across interfaces.
• Debug hardware and firmware issues using lab instrumentation including multimeters, oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and power supplies to isolate root causes at the electrical level.
• Perform software-level debugging using tools such as adb, serial consoles, and log analysis to troubleshoot embedded systems and device firmware.
• Develop GUIs and streamline hardware bring-up processes using AI-assisted workflows and tooling.
• Develop and maintain test fixtures, jigs, and custom tooling to support prototype builds, alignment, and validation.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with optical, mechanical, electrical, firmware, and software engineering teams to translate research concepts into working prototype hardware.
• Develop and document assembly processes, integration procedures, and debug workflows to enable repeatable prototype builds.
• Proactively identify risks and propose solutions during prototype bring-up, driving issues to resolution with minimal oversight.
• Support AR display system hardware integration and process development, including optical alignment, metrology, and functional testing.
• Leverage AI methods for data analysis, data visualization, and process development.
• Develop AI model skills, workflows, and prompt engineering recipes.
• Design, develop, and maintain multi-agent AI infrastructure and automated data pipelines.
• Integrate AI agents with enterprise platforms using APIs and serverless platforms.
• Collaborate with product, design, operations, and infrastructure teams to build innovative AI-native application experiences.
• Build and integrate LLM / generative AI capabilities into product surfaces, including structured prompting, prompt engineering, and context management.
• Troubleshoot display hardware and firmware/software integration issues.

Minimum Qualifications

• 6+ years of hands-on experience in hardware prototyping, systems integration, or lab engineering, OR a relevant advanced degree with 3+ years of equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a self-starter by identifying problems, proposing solutions, and driving projects forward with minimal supervision.
• Strong cross-disciplinary understanding of mechanical, electrical, and software systems and how subsystems interact.
• Proficiency with electrical debug tools including multimeters, oscilloscopes, and logic analyzers for signal integrity and power analysis.
• Experience with embedded systems debugging using adb, UART/serial consoles, JTAG, or similar debugging interfaces.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience collaborating cross-functionally with hardware, firmware, and software teams to deliver integrated prototype systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with AR/VR or display system prototyping, including optical alignment and metrology.
• Familiarity with PCB design review, schematic reading, and basic soldering/rework for prototype modification.
• Experience with scripting or automation using Python, shell scripting, or similar languages for test automation, data collection, or process automation.
• Experience with automated test and debug environments.
• Familiarity with AI development tools such as Claude, Codex, Gemini, or similar platforms.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical assembly, including torque-sensitive and precision-alignment operations.
• Familiarity with firmware development environments, embedded Linux, or RTOS-based systems.
• Experience building and maintaining lab infrastructure, custom instrumentation, or test systems.
  
   

 

 

 
 
At SPECTRAFORCE, we are committed to maintaining a workplace that ensures fair compensation and wage transparency in adherence with all applicable state and local laws. This position’s starting pay is: $ 70.00/daily.