ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Prototype Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

INSTALILY.AI

Design Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$100K - $120K/yr

Design engineers bring "taste" into engineering. They ship high-craft UI while building the systems ... Turn concepts, prototypes, and product ideas into polished, production-ready interfaces. * Bring ...

Moment

Design Engineer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

They are seeking a Design Engineer to help define the product experience, prototyping quickly and delivering polished UI while collaborating closely with design, product, and engineering teams.

Industrious Ventures

CAD Design Engineer

El Segundo, CA · On-site

The CAD Design Engineer will design and build prototypes for Space Kinetic's core technology to achieve our mission of a flight demo within the next 2 years in a fast-paced startup environment. You ...

SCCI

Embedded Design Engineer

King George, VA · On-site

Minimum of three (3) years of experience demonstrating the ability to concept, prototype, design, code, and engineer embedded software solutions * Knowledge of C#, Java, or C++ * Knowledge of ...

TiltEdge Solutions LLC

Design Engineer

Edgewater, FL · On-site

$55/hr

Design Engineer Work Location: Edgewater, FL 32141 Duration: Contract & Skill Requirement ... Prototype support: * Candidate must be able to handle prototype life cycles from design to proto ...

Watlow

Senior Product Design Engineer

Hillsboro, OR · On-site

You will still own hands-on design, prototyping, testing, and design modification recommendations ... In the role of Sr. Product Design Engineer you would be located at our Hillsboro,OR facility. Your ...

ConRes IT Solutions

Design Engineer

Exeter, NH · On-site

... prototype models (may include fabricating , testing, troubleshooting, and repairing analog and digital analog circuits) • Testing product models whether actual or prototype (bead board) to ...

ConRes IT Solutions

Design Engineer

Exeter, NH · On-site

... prototype models (may include fabricating , testing, troubleshooting, and repairing analog and digital analog circuits) • Testing product models whether actual or prototype (bead board) to ...

Swoon Technology Resources LLC

Design Engineer

Akron, PA · On-site

$80K - $120K/yr

Support prototype development, testing, and new product introduction activities. * Partner with ... Electrical Engineering, or a related field. * 3+ years of mechanical design experience within a ...

previous pagenext page

Showing results 21-40

All JobsBusiness JobsProduct Development JobsProduct Developer JobsPrototype Design Engineer Jobs

Prototype Design Engineer information

See salary details

$29

$36

$38

How much do prototype design engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for prototype design engineer in the United States is $36.48, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $34.38 and $38.46 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a prototype design engineer do?

A Prototype Design Engineer is responsible for creating early models or prototypes of new products to test and refine their design and functionality. They work closely with product development teams to turn concepts into physical or digital prototypes, using specialized tools and materials. Their role often involves problem-solving, rapid iteration, and collaboration with engineers, designers, and manufacturers to ensure the prototype meets project requirements and can be successfully scaled for production.

What are some common challenges a prototype design engineer faces when transitioning concepts to functional prototypes?

Prototype Design Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing innovative design with real-world manufacturability, meeting tight project deadlines, and iterating quickly based on testing feedback. They must frequently collaborate with cross-functional teams—including product designers, engineers, and manufacturing specialists—to solve problems and refine prototypes. Effective communication and adaptability are key, as priorities may shift rapidly based on testing results or stakeholder input. Successfully navigating these challenges is crucial for delivering prototypes that meet both technical and user requirements.

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

To thrive as a Prototype Design Engineer, you need strong skills in mechanical design, 3D modeling, and materials selection, typically supported by a degree in engineering or industrial design. Proficiency with CAD software (such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD), rapid prototyping tools, and familiarity with manufacturing processes are essential. Creativity, problem-solving, and effective communication are vital soft skills that distinguish top performers in this role. These competencies are crucial for turning concepts into functional prototypes efficiently, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and driving product innovation.

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

AspectPrototype Design EngineerMechanical Design Engineer
Primary FocusDeveloping and testing prototypes to validate conceptsDesigning mechanical components and systems for production
Skills & CertificationsCAD, prototyping tools, engineering principlesCAD, mechanical engineering certifications, materials knowledge
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, workshops, R&D departmentsDesign offices, manufacturing plants
Industry UsageProduct development, R&D projectsMass production, mechanical systems design

While both roles require strong CAD skills and engineering knowledge, Prototype Design Engineers focus on creating and testing prototypes to validate new ideas, whereas Mechanical Design Engineers concentrate on designing mechanical parts for manufacturing. The roles often overlap in industries like automotive, aerospace, and consumer electronics, but their core responsibilities differ in the development process.

More about Prototype Design Engineer jobs

What states have the most Prototype Design Engineer jobs?

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

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

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

Prototype Design Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Prototype Design Engineer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 88% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 81% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $75,868 per year, or $36.5 per hour.

Design Engineer

New York, NY • On-site

INSTALILY.AI
See more jobs at INSTALILY.AIexternal

$100K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 29 days ago

Job description

What's Design Engineering?

Design engineers bring "taste" into engineering. They ship high-craft UI while building the systems, tooling, and workflows that help teams move faster and build better products in an AI-native environment. At InstaLILY, design engineers own production UI quality, design systems as infrastructure, and prototyping workflows that turn emerging ideas into shipped experiences.

What You'll Be Doing

Shape AI-native product experiences

  • Design and build customer-facing experiences across chat, voice, copilots, and agentic workflows.
  • Turn concepts, prototypes, and product ideas into polished, production-ready interfaces.
  • Bring strong front-end craft to interaction design, responsiveness, and implementation detail.

Build design systems as infrastructure

  • Build and evolve a design system in code as shared product infrastructure, across core components, tokens, patterns, and documentation.
  • Help make the system machine-consumable, so both humans and AI-assisted tools can generate consistent interfaces from shared foundations.

Bring taste to what ships

  • Bring strong judgment to UI craft and implementation quality, making thoughtful decisions around interaction design, accessibility, performance, and maintainability.
  • Help ensure what ships feels clear, cohesive, and intentional, with the discernment to refine details, uphold standards, and know what elevates the product experience.

Improve tooling and team workflows

  • Build internal tools that support teams across engineering, design, and functions like sales, operations, marketing, and recruiting.
  • Evaluate and integrate modern AI tools, then turn those learnings into secure, repeatable workflows the broader team can build on.
Qualification
  • 1+ years of experience in front-end engineering, design engineering, or product design with code.
  • Strong foundation in React, TypeScript, HTML, and CSS.
  • Sharp eye for visual quality, interaction detail, and product craft.
  • Experience building with design systems, reusable UI, and modern prototyping workflows.
  • Interest in AI-native product experiences and how AI tools are changing the way products are built.
  • Strong collaboration skills across design and engineering.
  • Builder mindset: proactive, thoughtful, and excited to learn by making.
  • A portfolio that demonstrates strong UI craft, prototyping ability, and thoughtful implementation in code.
Compensation and Benefits
  • Salary Range: $100,000 - $120,000 per year, commensurate with experience
  • Equity: Generous stock options awards, and refreshers for top performers
  • Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, in-office Lunch reimbursement, Wellbeing Stipend, Generous Parental leave, PTO and 10 US Federal Holidays, and more!

Apply