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Prototype Design Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

Metso Outotec

Senior Design Engineer

Cudahy, WI · On-site

In this role, you will lead design projects from concept through design, prototyping, manufacturing, and commissioning, while ensuring solutions meet internal quality standards and customer ...

Metso Outotec

Senior Design Engineer

Cudahy, WI · On-site

In this role, you will lead design projects from concept through design, prototyping, manufacturing, and commissioning, while ensuring solutions meet internal quality standards and customer ...

Promega

Product Design Engineer, IoT

Madison, WI · On-site

$130K - $156K/yr

... on hardware prototyping, fabrication, iterative testing, and validation aligned with product and regulatory requirements to meet product development timelines. 4. Conduct design iterations ...

Promega

Product Design Engineer, IoT

Madison, WI · On-site

$130K - $156K/yr

... on hardware prototyping, fabrication, iterative testing, and validation aligned with product and regulatory requirements to meet product development timelines. 4. Conduct design iterations ...

Promega

Product Design Engineer, IoT

Madison, WI · On-site

$130K - $156K/yr

... on hardware prototyping, fabrication, iterative testing, and validation aligned with product and regulatory requirements to meet product development timelines. 4. Conduct design iterations ...

Promega

Product Design Engineer, IoT

Madison, WI

$130K - $156K/yr

... on hardware prototyping, fabrication, iterative testing, and validation aligned with product and regulatory requirements to meet product development timelines. 4. Conduct design iterations ...

IEA

Senior Design Engineer

Kenosha, WI

The Sr. Design Engineer will be responsible for carrying out the duties of the Design Engineering department, including design, research, prototyping, engineering documentation, estimating and ...

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Prototype Design information

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 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 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.

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.
Prototype Design jobs near you
Innovation Product Design Engineer III

Innovation Product Design Engineer III

Springs Window Fashions

Middleton, WI • On-site

$132K - $159K/yr

Other

Posted 5 days ago

New

Springs Window Fashions rating

5.3

Company rating: 5.3 out of 10

Based on 6 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Description
Product Design Engineer III - Innovation (Machine Elements & Plastics Focus)
Job Summary
Springs Window Fashions is a leader in the custom window treatment industry since 1939. Headquartered in Middleton WI, we have 6,000 associates with locations in North America, Europe, and Asia. Our custom window treatments are available under the Bali, Graber, SunSetter and Mecho brands in nearly every major retailer, in thousands of designer showrooms, and showcased in large commercial buildings.
Our company has made significant investments to become a leader in product innovation. As North America's premier window covering company, we're committed to creating a "Best Experience" for our consumers, channel partners and associates. We are bringing new innovations to the market at an accelerated pace and have a variety of offerings to consumers who want to improve their home décor.
Springs Window Fashions is seeking a highly creative and technically strong Product Design Engineer III - Innovation to join our Innovation organization. This role is focused on early-stage concept creation and mechanical innovation, with a strong emphasis on machine elements, plastic parts, gears, and mechanisms used in consumer products.
This position plays a critical role in feeding and shaping the innovation portfolio, transforming unmet customer needs into differentiated, manufacturable product concepts. The ideal candidate combines deep mechanical engineering fundamentals with hands-on creativity, strong consumer intuition, and comfort working in ambiguous, early-phase development environments.
Key Responsibilities
Concept Creation & Early Innovation
  • Identify unmet consumer needs and opportunity areas through collaboration with Innovation, Marketing, and Voice-of-Customer insights
  • Generate innovative mechanical concepts and system architectures, including machine elements (springs, gears, linkages, clutches, dampers, drives), injection-molded plastic parts, and cost-efficient mechanisms.
  • Translate early hypotheses about customer needs into functional requirements through rapid consumer testing, prototyping, and tight feedback loops, while applying engineering first principles such as FBDs, kinematics, and trigonometry-based geometry to derive custom motion and force relationships.
  • Build and evaluate early-stage prototypes and proof-of-concept models.
  • Assess concepts early for performance, durability, cost, manufacturability, and scalability.
Mechanical Design & Development
  • Develop mechanical designs using 3D CAD tools (SolidWorks preferred), including tolerancing and design-for-assembly principles.
  • Lead material and process selection for plastic parts, gears, and mechanical subsystems.
  • Design components with focus on safety, reliability, value, and durability.
  • Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing partners to evaluate tooling and cost tradeoffs.

Requirements
Education & Experience
  • BS in Engineering with a minimum of 6+ years of relevant engineering experience.
  • Must be flexible with assignments, able to work independently, and collaborate effectively in a team environment.
  • Must be organized, methodical, able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and capable of meeting established timelines.
  • Receives direction from the Engineering Manager. Expected to manage multiple large or medium scope projects and must document testing and communicate results clearly.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Strong creative and conceptual thinking skills
  • Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
  • Ability to work effectively with ambiguity and rapidly iterate on concepts.
  • Working understanding of basic business cases, including preliminary revenue projections and concept-level value propositions.
  • Experience participating in consumer testing activities such as focus groups, clinics, interviews, usability tests, competitive and product benchmarking, or observational research.
  • Hands-on, DIY / maker mindset with ability to prototype and build concepts quickly.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills.

How We Work to Deliver a Best Experience: Our Culture
  • Our Core Value: We do the right thing, always
  • Our Seven Cultural Behaviors
    • Empowerment - We trust our people.
    • Ownership - We take 100% responsibility for our roles actions, and results.
    • Leadership - We all lead by example and talk direct with respect (DWR).
    • One Team - We are One Springs Team.
    • Customer First - We consider our customers' needs before every decision.
    • Continuous Innovation - We are constantly learning, innovating, and improving.
    • Speed - We define priorities and operate with a sense of urgency and agility.

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