Electronics Engineer / Freelance

RKS Design; United States; Remote; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Paid Holidays

401(k) plan

Sick Leave

Vacation

Job summary

RKS Design is looking for a Freelance Electronics Engineer to join their interdisciplinary team. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience in hands-on electronics design, collaborating closely with mechanical and software engineers to create functional products.

The role involves developing electronic systems, creating schematics, and debugging hardware throughout the product development lifecycle.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on experience designing electronics for commercial or industrial products.
• Strong understanding of micro-controller systems and low-power design.
• Knowledge of safety, EMI/EMC, and regulatory standards like FCC and CE.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop electronic systems for various products.
• Create schematics and develop PCB layouts.
• Collaborate with teams to integrate electronics into product design.

Skills

Hands-on electronics design

Prototyping

Communication protocols

Problem-solving

Collaboration

Circuit debugging

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree in related discipline

Tools

Altium Designer

Eagle

KiCad

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