For Clients
Practical engineering support for prototypes, fixtures, embedded devices, and weird hardware problems.
This path is for founders, small teams, and operators who need hands-on engineering help with a product, subsystem, prototype, or failure that has started crossing disciplines.
Good project fit
The best client work usually sits between disciplines.
Schwimmflugel is most useful when a job needs real engineering depth but not a full internal team for every specialty. That can mean prototype hardware, fixture development, embedded troubleshooting, test automation, or a product issue that has reached the point where someone needs to trace it through the whole stack.
Typical clients are startups, product teams, or operators with a clear technical problem and a need for direct, practical help.
Prototype systems
Mechanical packaging, electronics integration, fixture thinking, and practical iteration for early hardware that needs to get to a useful prototype state.
Embedded and controls
ESP32 and FreeRTOS firmware, sensor and motor interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART, USB), BLE and Wi-Fi connectivity, and bring-up support when hardware and firmware are both in motion.
Test and diagnostics
Benchtop diagnostics, measurement rigs, automated checks, and instrumentation (oscilloscope, logic analyzer, data acquisition) that make system behavior visible enough to debug with confidence.
Failure analysis
Structured root-cause work for field failures, unreliable prototypes, board-level issues (ground loops, soldering defects, PCB corrosion), and product problems where “it just stopped working” is not enough.
Vendor and build support
Documentation, BOM alignment, prototype sourcing, PCBA coordination, and conversations with external vendors across injection molding, sheet metal, and precision machining when the technical handoff needs tightening.
Focused engineering sprints
Good fit for startups and small teams that need focused help for a prototype sprint, recovery effort, or one stubborn subsystem that keeps blocking momentum.
Platform-backed procurement
Upwork profile is live for teams that hire through the platform.
Direct contracts through Schwimmflugel usually provide more flexibility around scope and working arrangements. If your team requires Upwork procurement, my project history and recent client feedback are available there too.
Perfect Freelancer. Kevin was everything you hope for with a platform like this. Good communication, a great skill set and a pleasure to work with. I have already submitted another…
Kevin did a great job and is very knowledgeable.
Recent client work
A few projects that illustrate the shape of the work.
Door Slam Test Fixture
Repeatable door-slam endurance rig for a consumer hardware QA program. Mechanical design, sensor integration, and test automation around an ESP32 controller.
Read the writeup →Automated Card Scanner
3D surface scanner that digitizes printed cards at bench scale. Optics, motion control, and a Python pipeline that turns captures into clean CAD traces.
Read the writeup →ESP32-Based Controller
BLE- and Wi-Fi-capable embedded controller board and firmware for a connected product. Multi-layer PCB bring-up, FreeRTOS firmware, and field-ready revisioning.
Read the writeup →Working together