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Prototype Design Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

Create detailed engineering drawings, specifications, bills of materials (BOM), and technical documentation required for prototyping, manufacturing, and testing, as required. * Use product design and ...

Manager, UX & UI Design

Milwaukee, WI · On-site

$114K/yr

Create user flows, wireframes, storyboards, and low- to mid-fidelity prototypes using Figma and other UX tools. * Facilitate design thinking workshops, discovery sessions, and collaborative ideation ...

Create detailed engineering drawings, specifications, bills of materials (BOM), and technical documentation required for prototyping, manufacturing, and testing, as required. * Use product design and ...

CREO Design Engineer

Wauwatosa, WI · On-site

$73K - $100K/yr

Knowledge on phases of the design process and development process for Automotive components including drafting| dimensioning| tolerancing| prototyping| ECN| PPAP and documenting results would be an ...

Lead in-house prototype assembly and testing * Drive new product transfer to manufacturing ... Experience with sheet metal design and advanced GD&T * Medical device design experience

Conduct design reviews of new prototype components and systems. * Document all design activity with CAD models, design drawings, analysis results, and design review presentation materials. * Provide ...

Showing results 21-40

Prototype Design information

What is prototype design?

Prototype design is the process of creating an early sample, model, or release of a product to test concepts and functionalities before full-scale production. It allows designers, engineers, and stakeholders to visualize and interact with a product, identify potential issues, and gather feedback for improvements. Prototyping helps reduce risks, save costs, and ensure that the final product meets user needs and expectations. It is an essential step in product development across various industries, including technology, manufacturing, and design.

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

To thrive as a Prototype Designer, you need strong skills in product design, 3D modeling, and rapid prototyping, usually supported by a degree in industrial design, engineering, or a related field. Proficiency with CAD software (such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD), 3D printers, and prototyping tools is essential. Creative problem-solving, attention to detail, and effective collaboration with cross-functional teams are valuable soft skills in this role. These abilities are crucial for efficiently transforming concepts into tangible models that guide product development and innovation.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals in prototype design, and how are they typically addressed?

Professionals in Prototype Design often encounter challenges such as tight project timelines, evolving client requirements, and the need to balance functionality with aesthetics. Effective communication with cross-functional teams—including engineers, product managers, and clients—is crucial to quickly iterate and refine designs. Utilizing rapid prototyping tools and maintaining flexibility in their approach helps designers adapt to feedback and unforeseen technical constraints, ensuring that prototypes meet both user needs and project goals.

What is the difference between Prototype Design vs UI Designer?

AspectPrototype DesignUI Designer
Primary FocusCreating interactive prototypes to test functionality and user flowDesigning visual interface elements and layouts
Skills & ToolsWireframing, prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Adobe XD), user experienceVisual design, color theory, typography, graphic tools
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with UX/UI teams, developers, product managersWorks closely with UX designers, developers, and stakeholders
Common UsageUsed in early-stage product development to validate conceptsUsed to craft the visual look and feel of the product

Prototype Design and UI Designer roles often overlap but serve different purposes. Prototype Design focuses on creating interactive models to test functionality, while UI Designers concentrate on visual aesthetics. Both roles are essential in the product development process and frequently collaborate to deliver a seamless user experience.

Senior Design Engineer, Head Protection

Milwaukee Tool

Milwaukee, WI • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted yesterday


Job description

Sr Design Engineer
Job Description:
Senior Design Engineer, Advanced Engineering
Front End Head Protection Development
Summary
Bring first-principles rigor and evidence-backed decisions to deliver production-ready innovations that raise the bar for performance, reliability, and manufacturability. In this role, you will be developing innovative technologies and designs to push the boundaries of safety, comfort, and performance for head protection products. You will lead design maturation by setting performance targets, generating and analyzing data (tests + models), and reducing technical risk to ensure confident launches. You own validation and analysis, turn data into clear decisions, and collaborate across manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and product teams from early exploration through transfer to production.
Key Responsibilities
  • Develop innovative solutions that industry leading safety performance in a head protection product.
  • Define performance objectives and validation strategies; develop and execute test plans for functional, durability, and environmental requirements.
  • Instrument prototypes/fixtures for high-fidelity data capture; analyze results with DOE, regression, and reliability models to quantify trade-offs.
  • Collaborate with simulation engineers to develop FEA/CFD/thermal models to lab/field data; update models based on findings; drive root-cause analysis and reliability growth.
  • Utilize high speed video, python tools, and other advanced data analysis techniques to synthesize test results into actionable findings
  • Partner with manufacturing and suppliers on process capability, materials, and tooling; feed cost/quality/takt insights into design iterations and risk mitigation.
  • Plan and execute prototyping-from proof-of-feasibility through production-representative builds-and capture lessons learned to inform downstream development.
  • Document technical decisions, assumptions, and test outcomes in clear reports; present findings and recommendations to cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Cultivate curiosity toward AI: proactively explore and run small proofs-of-concept where machine learning, generative design, and intelligent automation can improve analysis, prototyping, and test design
  • Mentor engineers in test design, analysis, and modeling; foster first-principles thinking and measurable outcomes.

Typical Advanced Engineering Workflow
Discovery: Clarify user and business needs; benchmark performance; define success metrics and initial risk hypotheses.
Definition: Translate needs into engineering targets; select validation methods; outline modeling/analysis and prototype plans.
Exploration & Prototyping: Execute tests and simulations; iterate designs; quantify trade-offs; down-select solution paths.
Validation: Confirm performance, reliability, and manufacturability against targets; refine design and process risks.
Transfer to Production: Provide documentation, test methods, critical features/tolerances, and known risks; support ramp as subject-matter expert.
Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Product, or Material Engineering (or related); advanced degree a plus.
  • 2+ years experience with energy absorption technologies and/or head protection products
  • 5+ years of product development experience in automotive, industrial, consumer/durable goods, or adjacent industries.
  • Demonstrated expertise in test planning/execution, data analysis, and modeling/simulation (FEA/CFD/thermal).
  • Proficiency in CAD; experience with DFMA, prototyping methods, and supplier collaboration.
  • Hands-on with instrumentation/DAQ and statistical tools (e.g., JMP/Minitab); familiarity with reliability methods (e.g., accelerated life testing, Weibull).
  • Excellent communication skills-able to synthesize complex data into clear design recommendations; strong cross-functional collaboration.
  • Practical experience applying ML/AI to guide mechanical design and integrate proven tools into standard engineering workflows
  • Self-starter comfortable learning beyond core discipline; able to manage ambiguous design tasks.
  • Willingness to travel ~10% (domestic/international).

Milwaukee Tool is an equal opportunity employer.