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Mechanical Prototype Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Physical Intelligence

Prototype Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$42 - $47.25/hr

Rapidly design and fabricate mechanical, electrical, and sensor prototypes to support research experiments and engineering development. * Partner directly with researchers to understand experimental ...

Observable Space

Prototype Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$95K - $130K/yr

We combine precision opto-mechanical hardware, embedded compute, cloud orchestration, and developer ... We're building a state of the art prototyping facility to machine some of the world's most ...

Physical Intelligence

Prototype Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$42 - $47.25/hr

Rapidly design and fabricate mechanical, electrical, and sensor prototypes to support research experiments and engineering development. * Partner directly with researchers to understand experimental ...

Ampa Inc.

Sr. Prototype Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$75K - $90K/yr

We're looking for someone with roughly 3 years of hands‑on mechanical/hardware experience ... for prototype testing, troubleshooting, lab execution, and follow‑through on open engineering ...

Ampa, Inc.

Sr. Prototype Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$75K - $90K/yr

Role Overview: We're seeking a hands-on Sr. Prototype Engineer to support prototype testing, San ... Background in biomedical, mechanical, mechatronics, electrical, robotics, product development ...

JTEKT North America

Prototype Engineer - PLY

Plymouth, MI · On-site

$34 - $38/hr

The Prototype Manufacturing Engineer will help lead and perform all activities for building ... Education and Experience: * BS in Mechanical, Automotive, Electrical or Materials Engineering ...

jtekt

Prototype Engineer - PLY

Plymouth, MI

$34 - $38/hr

The Prototype Manufacturing Engineer will help lead and perform all activities for building ... Education and Experience: * BS in Mechanical, Automotive, Electrical or Materials Engineering ...

Jtekt Na

Prototype Engineer - PLY

Plymouth, MI · On-site

$34 - $38/hr

The Prototype Manufacturing Engineer will help lead and perform all activities for building ... Education and Experience: * BS in Mechanical, Automotive, Electrical or Materials Engineering ...

New

jtekt

Prototype Engineer - PLY

Plymouth, MI · On-site

$34 - $38/hr

The Prototype Manufacturing Engineer will help lead and perform all activities for building ... Education and Experience: * BS in Mechanical, Automotive, Electrical or Materials Engineering ...

Brightwing

Prototype Build Engineer

Auburn Hills, MI · On-site

$35 - $38/hr

The Prototype Build Engineer will be responsible for managing all prototype build activities ... Bachelor's degree in engineering (Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics) 0-3 years engineering ...

Jtekt Na

$26.25 - $29.50/hr

The Prototype Manufacturing Engineer will help lead and perform all activities for building ... Education and Experience: * BS in Mechanical, Automotive, Electrical or Materials Engineering ...

New

The Consensus

Prototype Engineering Lead

San Jose, CA · On-site

$2.0K/mo

Partner daily with mechanical, electrical, and thermal engineering teams to close design-for ... Experience standing up a machine shop, prototype lab, or manufacturing line from an empty floor ...

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All JobsMechanical Prototype Engineer Jobs

Mechanical Prototype Engineer information

See salary details

$45.5K

$102.9K

$166.5K

How much do mechanical prototype engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average yearly pay for mechanical prototype engineer in the United States is $102,878.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,500.00 and $126,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a mechanical prototype engineer do?

A Mechanical Prototype Engineer designs, builds, and tests physical prototypes of mechanical systems or products. They work closely with design teams to turn conceptual ideas into working models, often using CAD software, 3D printing, machining, and other fabrication techniques. Their role is essential for identifying design flaws, evaluating functionality, and making improvements before full-scale production. They also document their processes and collaborate across engineering, manufacturing, and quality assurance departments to ensure the final product meets specifications.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a mechanical prototype engineer, and why are they important?

A Mechanical Prototype Engineer needs strong mechanical design skills, hands-on fabrication experience, and a degree in mechanical engineering or a related field. Proficiency with CAD software (such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD), rapid prototyping tools like 3D printers, and familiarity with manufacturing processes are typically required. Excellent problem-solving abilities, creativity, and effective communication help engineers iterate designs quickly and collaborate with cross-functional teams. These skills ensure innovative prototypes are developed efficiently, meeting both technical requirements and project timelines.

What are some common challenges mechanical prototype engineers face during the prototyping process?

Mechanical Prototype Engineers often encounter challenges such as tight project timelines, limited budgets for materials, and the need to quickly iterate designs based on test results or stakeholder feedback. Balancing the precision required for functional prototypes with the speed of development is a frequent hurdle. Additionally, collaboration with cross-functional teams—like design, manufacturing, and electronics—can introduce communication challenges, making strong teamwork and adaptability essential for success in this role.

What is the difference between Mechanical Prototype Engineer vs Mechanical Design Engineer?

AspectMechanical Prototype EngineerMechanical Design Engineer
Primary FocusDeveloping and testing physical prototypes to validate designsCreating detailed design concepts and specifications for manufacturing
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, prototyping workshops, testing facilitiesDesign studios, CAD environments, engineering offices
Required SkillsPrototyping, testing, CAD, materials knowledgeCAD, design analysis, manufacturing processes
Common UsageUsed in product development stages to validate conceptsUsed in designing products for production

While both roles involve engineering skills and CAD proficiency, Mechanical Prototype Engineers focus on building and testing physical models to validate designs, whereas Mechanical Design Engineers concentrate on creating detailed design plans for manufacturing. Both roles are essential in the product development process but serve different stages and objectives.

What cities are hiring for Mechanical Prototype Engineer jobs?

Cities with the most Mechanical Prototype Engineer job openings:

What states have the most Mechanical Prototype Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Mechanical Prototype Engineer jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Mechanical Prototype Engineer jobs?

For Mechanical Prototype Engineer jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Mechanical Prototype Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $102,878 per year, or $49.5 per hour.

Prototype Engineer

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Physical Intelligence
Education Programs Administration • 1 - 10 employees
Learn more about Physical Intelligenceexternal

$42 - $47.25/hr

Full-time

Re-posted 7 days ago

Key responsibilities

  • Rapidly design, build, and iterate on mechanical, electrical, and sensor prototypes to support research and engineering development.

  • Collaborate with researchers and engineers to translate experimental requirements into buildable hardware systems and integrate hardware with control software.

  • Perform hands-on assembly, troubleshooting, and debugging of electromechanical and robotic systems, and document designs and test procedures.

Job description

Physical Intelligence is bringing general-purpose AI into the physical world. We are a group of engineers, scientists, roboticists, and company builders developing foundation models and learning algorithms to power the robots of today and the physically-actuated devices of the future.
We're looking for a Prototype Engineer, an engineering generalist who sits at the intersection of enabling research and deloying into real-world applications. You'll work closely with our research and engineering teams to rapidly design, build, and iterate on concept mechanical, electrical, and sensor prototypes that push the boundaries of what our robots can do.
This role is uniquely positioned between R&D and hardware engineering. You'll translate research ideas into physical systems, build end-to-end prototypes from scratch, and ensure our hardware performs reliably when interacting with real-world objects. You're the person both the hardware team and researchers come to when they need something built and rapidly iterated on. When successful, you'll be responsible for turning these into scalable solutions that support multiple hardware platforms in our fleet.
In this role you will
  • Rapidly design and fabricate mechanical, electrical, and sensor prototypes to support research experiments and engineering development.
  • Partner directly with researchers to understand experimental requirements and translate them into buildable hardware systems.
  • Build end-to-end prototype systems: from concept sketches through CAD, fabrication, wiring, sensor integration, and validation.
  • Develop quick-turn PCBs, wiring harnesses, and cable assemblies for prototype electronics.
  • Evaluate and select sensors, actuators, and off-the-shelf components for integration into prototype systems.
  • Design and iterate on fixtures, jigs, test rigs, and custom tooling to enable research workflows.
  • Perform hands-on assembly, troubleshooting, and debugging of electromechanical and robotic systems.
  • Collaborate with electrical and robot software engineers to integrate hardware with control systems, firmware, and runtime software.
  • Identify and address failure modes specific to hardware operating in unstructured, real-world environments (contact forces, wear, thermal effects, cable management, etc.).
  • Document designs, test results, and build procedures to support knowledge transfer and design iteration.

What we hope you'll bring
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field.
  • 2-5 years of experience in prototyping, R&D engineering, or hardware development, ideally preferably in robotics, automotive, consumer electronics, or research lab environments.
  • Proficiency in CAD software (Onshape, SolidWorks, or Fusion 360) with strong 3D modeling and drafting skills.
  • Working knowledge of PCB design, electronics and comfortable soldering, wiring, reading schematics, and integrating sensors (force/torque, IMUs, cameras, encoders, etc.).
  • Hands-on expertise with rapid prototyping methods: 3D printing (FDM/SLA), laser cutting, CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, and manual machining.
  • Familiarity with the robotics domain, with an understanding of kinematics, actuation, compliant mechanisms, and the challenges of hardware interacting with unstructured real-world environments.
  • Ability to build full first-pass systems end-to-end, from mechanical structure through electrical integration to basic software scripting.
  • Strong communication skills, with the ability to speak the language of both researchers and engineers. Translating abstract research needs or engineering requests into tangible concepts.
  • Comfort working in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment where requirements evolve quickly and scrappiness is valued.
  • Experience with basic scripting (Python) for test automation, data collection, or hardware interfacing is a plus.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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