1

Design Prototyping Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

You will take projects from unclear requirements through design, prototyping, fabrication, testing ... Experience independently managing multiple hardware projects with competing priorities. * Bachelor ...

Showing results 21-40

Design Prototyping Manager information

See salary details

$42K

$114.5K

$201.5K

How much do design prototyping manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for design prototyping manager in the United States is $114,491.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $83,500.00 and $144,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are popular job titles related to Design Prototyping Manager jobs?

For Design Prototyping Manager jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Design Prototyping Manager job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 11% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $114,491 per year, or $55 per hour.

Mechanical Engineer - Drone Development, Design & Test

San Diego, CA • On-site

$80K - $109K/yr

Other

Posted 5 days ago


Job description

  • Lead the technical maturation of Locust, an advanced unmanned aircraft system, from demonstrated prototype to a DoD fieldable LRIP platform
  • Design mechanical components, assemblies, structures, enclosures, mounts, and mechanisms for unmanned aerial systems
  • Develop concepts and detailed designs using 3D CAD
  • Own mechanical designs from initial requirements through prototype, test, iteration, and production release
  • Build and assemble prototype vehicles and subsystems
  • Work directly with machine shops, fabrication vendors, and suppliers to rapidly produce prototype hardware
  • Develop engineering drawings, tolerances, interfaces, and manufacturing documentation
  • Perform structural, load, thermal, vibration, tolerance, and basic mechanical analyses
  • Design lightweight structures balancing strength, stiffness, manufacturability, cost, and weight
  • Develop and execute mechanical test plans
  • Conduct structural, vibration, environmental, durability, and system-level testing
  • Diagnose mechanical failures and implement design improvements
  • Support flight testing and vehicle-level integration
  • Collaborate with electrical, embedded, autonomy, controls, manufacturing, and test engineers
  • Design for manufacturability, assembly, serviceability, and field repair
  • Participate in vehicle builds, troubleshooting, test campaigns, and engineering validation
  • Serve as primary technical authority for Locust production readiness
  • Work with manufacturing partners, government customers, and cross-functional engineering teams to keep production on schedule and within budget
Requirements
  • BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline
  • 3+ years of mechanical product development experience
  • Strong 3D CAD and mechanical design experience
  • Demonstrated experience taking hardware from concept through prototype and testing
  • Hands-on experience assembling, modifying, troubleshooting, and testing electromechanical systems
  • Strong understanding of mechanical design fundamentals including materials, fasteners, tolerancing, structures, and manufacturing processes
  • Experience designing parts for CNC machining, sheet metal, composites, additive manufacturing, or similar fabrication processes
  • Experience developing test fixtures and executing mechanical validation testing
  • Ability to independently troubleshoot hardware failures and drive design changes
  • Must be a US Citizen
  • Eligible for a US security clearance
  • Preferred: Direct experience designing or developing UAVs, drones, UAS, aircraft, robotics, or autonomous vehicles
  • Preferred: Experience with small or Group 1–3 unmanned aircraft
  • Preferred: Experience with airframes, propulsion integration, payload integration, landing systems, or flight-control hardware
  • Preferred: Experience with composite structures
  • Preferred: Experience transitioning prototype designs into low-rate or production manufacturing
Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in mechanical design and product development for unmanned aerial systems, with a strong focus on 3D CAD, prototyping, and testing. Capable of leading cross-functional teams and managing production readiness while ensuring compliance with engineering standards.

Highest-signal resume keywords
  • Mechanical Design Experience
  • 3D CAD Proficiency
  • Prototype Development
  • UAV Design Experience
  • Mechanical Testing Execution
ATS Optimization KeywordsHard Skills
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • 3D CAD
  • Prototype Development
  • Mechanical Analysis
  • CNC Machining
  • Additive Manufacturing
  • Test Fixture Development
  • Troubleshooting
  • Design for Manufacturability
  • Structural Analysis
Soft Skills
  • Collaboration
  • Problem-Solving
  • Communication
  • Leadership
Certifications & Qualifications
  • BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering
  • US Citizenship
  • US Security Clearance Eligibility
Industry Keywords
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems
  • UAV
  • Drones
  • Robotics
  • Flight-Control Hardware
  • Composite Structures
  • Production Manufacturing
Tools & Technologies
  • Mechanical CAD Software
  • Fabrication Tools
  • Testing Equipment
#J-18808-Ljbffr