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Prototype Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Lucid Motors

Prototype Build Technician

Newark, CA

$42 - $58/hr

In Lucid Air and Lucid Gravity, we have designed and built vehicles that have redefined their ... As a Prototype Build Technician, you will help develop and commercialize state-of-the-art electric ...

ACCD

Interaction Designer

Pasadena, CA · On-site

Create and craft the product storyboards, flow and prototypes * Conduct research and continuously ... Min. 1 year experience in designing user interaction for mobile based product * Bachelor degree ...

42dot

Senior Prototype Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$167 - $231/hr

This is a high-impact role designed for a "T-shaped" professional who thrives in a fast-paced ... Prototype Engineer: Act as a rapid execution hub, adapting to new technologies and tools at high ...

ACCD

Interaction Designer

Pasadena, CA

Create and craft the product storyboards, flow and prototypes * Conduct research and continuously ... Min. 1 year experience in designing user interaction for mobile based product * Bachelor degree ...

Apple

Senior Designer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$125K - $134K/yr

Interaction Architecture (IA) is a design and prototyping team within the larger Apple Design Team. We are a diverse team of designers, hardware engineers, software engineers, and makers who explore ...

42dot Inc.

Senior Prototype Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$167 - $231/hr

This is a high-impact role designed for a "T-shaped" professional who thrives in a fast-paced ... Prototype Engineer: Act as a rapid execution hub, adapting to new technologies and tools at high ...

Apple

Senior Designer

Cupertino, CA

$125K - $134K/yr

Interaction Architecture (IA) is a design and prototyping team within the larger Apple Design Team. We are a diverse team of designers, hardware engineers, software engineers, and makers who explore ...

Renesas Electronics

Product Designer

La Jolla, CA · On-site

$145K - $165K/yr

We are looking for a Product Designer who excels at understanding complex user workflows and ... This role blends user research, workflow design, interaction design, and prototyping, with the ...

Renesas Electronics

Product Designer

La Jolla, CA

$145K - $165K/yr

We are looking for a Product Designer who excels at understanding complex user workflows and ... This role blends user research, workflow design, interaction design, and prototyping, with the ...

Outset.ai

Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$170K - $220K/yr

Create wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity visuals for new and existing features - and build ... Experience designing digital products (or equivalent depth of experience), ideally in startup or ...

Rox

Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

We prototype fast (Figma, Windsurf/Cursor, LLMs), ship faster, and have a seat at every product decision. About the Role You'll be reporting to our Founding Designer, but the expectation for you to ...

AGI Inc

Product Designer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

You'll sketch a concept at 9 AM, prototype in Figma by lunch, and user-test by dinner. You'll pair ... Proven experience designing AI-powered or data-rich experiences * Mastery of Figma and interactive ...

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Prototype Designer information

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How much do prototype designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 18, 2026, the average hourly pay for prototype designer in California is $40.16, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $29.18 and $52.21 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a prototype designer do?

A Prototype Designer creates early models or drafts of products to test functionality, aesthetics, and feasibility before mass production. They work with engineers, designers, and stakeholders to refine concepts using sketches, 3D modeling, or physical prototypes. Their role requires knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and design principles to bring ideas to life efficiently.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a prototype designer?

To thrive as a Prototype Designer, you need a solid background in industrial design, engineering principles, and rapid prototyping techniques, often supported by a relevant degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with CAD software, 3D modeling tools, and sometimes certifications in design or product development are commonly required. Strong problem-solving abilities, creativity, and effective teamwork and communication skills set outstanding candidates apart. These abilities are crucial for quickly iterating on functional models that address design challenges and support cross-functional product development.

What kind of projects and teams do prototype designers typically work with?

Prototype Designers often collaborate with product managers, engineers, and designers to transform ideas into workable prototypes for testing and feedback. Projects can range from early-stage conceptual designs to refined models that closely mimic the final product, requiring adaptability and creative problem-solving. You’ll typically work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, encouraging open communication and quick iteration. The work environment is usually dynamic, with shifting priorities based on project needs and development cycles. This role provides a great opportunity to influence final product designs and work closely with a diverse group of professionals.

What is a prototype designer?

A prototype designer creates preliminary models of products, interfaces, or systems to test and refine ideas before full development. They often use design tools like Sketch or Figma and collaborate with engineers and stakeholders to ensure functionality and usability. This role requires strong visual and technical skills to translate concepts into tangible prototypes.

What are the most commonly searched types of Prototype Designer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Prototype Designer jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Prototype Designer jobs in California?

For Prototype Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Prototype Designer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Prototype Designer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Prototype Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Prototype Designer job openings:

Prototype Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Prototype Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $83,540 per year, or $40.2 per hour.

Senior Product Designer (AI & Prototyping)

Nace AI

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago

Job description

About The Role
We are dealing with high-stakes financial environments where clarity and precision are paramount. We need a designer who loves untangling complexity. You are defining the architecture of how humans interact with an autonomous AI workforce.
You will own the design process from the whiteboard to the final pixel. You will work to define the system architecture, map out intricate user flows, and build a scalable design library. While we value high-fidelity visuals, we value clear thinking and strong information architecture even more.
What You'll Achieve
  • Translate complexity into clarity. You will take dense audit requirements and ambiguous AI capabilities and turn them into clear, linear, and logical user flows.
  • Own the Design System. You will build and maintain a robust component library that ensures consistency and speed as we scale our product surface.
  • Define Product Architecture. You will work with product and engineering to define the "physics" of the application, how objects relate to one another and how users navigate through large datasets.
  • Prototype to validate. You will bridge the gap between static design and reality by building prototypes (using AI tools) to test interactions before engineering builds them.
  • Collaborate on the vision. You will act as a strategic partner, visualizing the future roadmap and helping us make trade-off.

Skills You'll Need To Bring
  • 5+ years of product design experience. You have a portfolio showcasing end-to-end projects, ideally in complex B2B, SaaS, or enterprise software. Please include a link to your portfolio, it's the first thing we review, and we're unable to consider applications without one.
  • Strong Systems Thinking. You can hold the entire product architecture in your head. You understand how a change in one part of the flow impacts the rest of the system.
  • AI & Prototyping Fluency (Vibe Coding). You are comfortable using modern AI tools (Cursor, Claude, Codex) to rapid-prototype ideas or write basic code to communicate interaction details to engineers.
  • Visual Craft. You have a sharp eye for typography, spacing, and visual hierarchy. You can create interfaces that feel professional and trustworthy.
  • Effective Communication. You can articulate the "why" behind your design decisions and align stakeholders around a shared vision.

Nice To Haves
  • Experience designing for data-heavy interfaces (dashboards, spreadsheets, fintech).
  • Basic frontend knowledge (HTML/CSS/React) that helps you communicate better with developers.
  • Interest in how LLMs work and how to design for probabilistic outcomes (dealing with AI latency, errors, and confidence levels).

Location
  • Location: Palo Alto, CA.
  • Collaboration: We work in-person to move fast. We believe the best ideas happen when we are together at the whiteboard.

Apply