Entry Level Prototyping Engineer Jobs in Rochester, NY

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Consults or leads engineering projects, programs, or services
• Assists in problem definition, planning, design, development, consultation, and analysis
• Documents research results. Drafts and writes reports to sponsors, technical articles, white papers, publications, and presentations
• Drafts, writes, and advises on grants and project proposals to generate funding
• Supports senior researchers/engineers in execution of their projects
• Promotes research activities
• Other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of engineering principles, system design, and applied technologies across relevant domains
• Knowledge of safety standards, compliance requirements, and quality assurance protocols in technical environments
• Skill in applying analytical methods to evaluate system performance and solve engineering problems
• Skill in documenting technical specifications, project updates, and operational procedures
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement technical solutions
• Ability to support planning, execution, and continuous improvement of engineering projects and processes

Minimum Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in related field
• No experience required
• Equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered

Job Level Overview

Specialized Contributor Level 1 - A developing, entry-level role focused on acquiring skills and knowledge to perform more advanced work. Responsibilities are well defined and limited in scope. Identifies, defines, and addresses problems and issues which are not immediately evident but are of limited complexity. Problems are typically solved through drawing from standard procedures and analysis.

Additional Details

Key Responsibilities:

• Support battery research, development, and prototype manufacturing activities, including slurry mixing, electrode coating, drying, calendaring, pouch and cylindrical cell assembly, electrochemical testing, process development, and laboratory process optimization.
• Contribute to sponsored research programs and client-focused prototype manufacturing projects by executing technical work plans, supporting externally funded initiatives, and advancing laboratory-scale innovations toward scalable manufacturing solutions.
• Design, execute, analyze, and document experiments to evaluate materials, manufacturing processes, equipment parameters, and battery cell performance, recommending process improvements based on data-driven findings.
• Troubleshoot process and equipment issues, perform root-cause analysis, implement corrective actions, and support the design of tooling, fixtures, and workflow enhancements to improve quality, repeatability, safety, and operational efficiency.
• Develop, refine, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), technical workflows, and laboratory documentation to support consistent, safe, and efficient operations.
• Prepare technical reports, sponsor deliverables, white papers, presentations, publications, and other project documentation to communicate research findings and project outcomes.
• Support and maintain laboratory readiness within dry room and automated prototyping environments, ensuring equipment, processes, and workspaces meet operational, safety, and quality standards.
• Assist with training and mentoring students, technicians, and laboratory users on equipment operation, laboratory procedures, and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with laboratory safety requirements, quality standards, documentation practices, and project-specific protocols.
• Apply standard engineering and scientific methods to solve complex technical challenges, independently analyzing results and implementing practical solutions under limited supervision.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to support research programs, sponsored projects, and prototype manufacturing efforts focused on advancing emerging battery technologies.

FLSA Category

Work Location

Compensation

Application Materials

When you are ready to complete an application for this position please be prepared to submit the below requested information. This will be required to ensure your application is processed in a timely manner.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

Additional Details

In compliance with NYS's Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is listed above. Rochester Institute of Technology considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. The hiring process for this position may require a criminal background check and/or motor vehicle records check. Any verbal or written offer made is contingent on satisfactory results, as determined by Human Resources. RIT provides equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, veteran status or disability in its hiring, admissions, educational programs and activities. RIT provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities under the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the New York Human Rights Law, or similar applicable law.

If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact the Human Resources office at 585-475-2424 or email your request tocareers@rit.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.