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Prototype Engineer Intern Jobs in Birmingham, AL

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Prototype Engineer Intern information

See Birmingham, AL salary details

$8

$15

$22

How much do prototype engineer intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 23, 2026, the average hourly pay for prototype engineer intern in Birmingham, AL is $15.97, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.51 and $18.03 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a prototype engineer intern do?

A Prototype Engineer Intern assists in designing, building, and testing early versions of products or components. They work closely with engineering teams to turn concepts into physical models, often using tools like 3D printers, CNC machines, and hand tools. Their role may involve troubleshooting, documenting results, and suggesting improvements based on testing. This internship provides hands-on experience in the product development process and helps interns develop practical engineering skills.

What types of projects and responsibilities can a prototype engineer intern expect during their internship?

As a Prototype Engineer Intern, you can expect to work on hands-on projects that may include designing, building, and testing prototypes for new products or features. You'll likely collaborate closely with engineers, designers, and sometimes manufacturing teams to bring concepts to life quickly. Typical responsibilities include CAD modeling, assembling physical prototypes, running experiments, and documenting results. This role often requires adaptability and problem-solving, as you'll need to iterate designs based on feedback and test outcomes. It's a great opportunity to gain experience with rapid prototyping tools and processes while working in a collaborative, innovative environment.

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

To thrive as a Prototype Engineer Intern, you need a solid background in engineering fundamentals, hands-on fabrication skills, and experience with prototyping processes, typically supported by coursework in mechanical or electrical engineering. Familiarity with CAD software (such as SolidWorks or AutoCAD), 3D printing technology, and basic laboratory or workshop tools is often required. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication help interns excel in collaborative and fast-paced development environments. These skills are crucial for efficiently transforming design concepts into functional prototypes that support innovation and product development.

What is the difference between Prototype Engineer Intern vs Mechanical Engineering Intern?

AspectPrototype Engineer InternMechanical Engineering Intern
Required CredentialsEnrolled in Mechanical, Electrical, or related engineering programsEnrolled in Mechanical Engineering or related programs
Work EnvironmentHands-on prototyping, product development labs, manufacturing settingsDesign, analysis, testing in labs or office settings
Industry UsageProduct design, hardware development, R&D teamsDesign, analysis, manufacturing, and testing teams

Prototype Engineer Interns focus on creating and testing physical prototypes, often working closely with hardware and manufacturing teams. Mechanical Engineering Interns typically engage in design, analysis, and testing of mechanical systems. While both roles require engineering knowledge and may overlap in industry settings, Prototype Engineer Interns are more hands-on with prototyping processes, whereas Mechanical Engineering Interns may have broader design responsibilities.

What are popular job titles related to Prototype Engineer Intern jobs in Birmingham, AL?

For Prototype Engineer Intern jobs in Birmingham, AL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Prototype Engineer Intern jobs in Birmingham, AL look for?

The top searched job categories for Prototype Engineer Intern jobs in Birmingham, AL are:

What cities near Birmingham, AL are hiring for Prototype Engineer Intern jobs?

Cities near Birmingham, AL with the most Prototype Engineer Intern job openings:

Prototype Engineer Intern jobs near you
Infographic showing various Prototype Engineer Intern job openings in Birmingham, AL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 90% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $33,210 per year, or $16 per hour.

Director of Research & Development

EBSCO Information Services

Birmingham, AL • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 6 days ago

Job description

Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Moultrie (www.moultrie.com) is the leader in game feeders and cellular camera innovation, building products used by hunters, property owners, and others for real-time remote monitoring. We take pride in developing deep user understanding, obsessing about the details, and going the extra mile to show our users we love them. Moultrie is customer-driven - hardware, software, marketing, and customer success teams collaborate to deliver a quality user experience.

We are guided by the following principles: Customer Obsession.; Excellence is the Standard.; Bias for Action.; Act Boldly.; Deliver Results.; Hire and Develop the Best.; Be Curious and Learn.; Win as a Team

Job Summary

We're looking for a Director of R&D to lead the integration of Mechanical, Electrical, and Firmware development into a shippable product. This role builds and runs the process that keeps all three disciplines moving in sync, from concept through EVT/DVT/PVT to mass production. You'll be responsible for delivering documentation and phase-gate exit presentations, with the help of program management.

You'll work closely with the Director of Validation to make sure test plans deliver real coverage on functionality, performance, and stability, and you'll plan resourcing and deliverables so programs get built efficiently. You'll define the standards, checkpoints, and review cadences that Mechanical, Electrical, and Firmware all work within, and you'll be the one who spots where theprocess is breaking down between disciplines before it turns into a missed milestone or a production problem.

You'll also own the process side of our JDM/ODM manufacturing relationships: how design intent gets handed off, tracked, and verified through every development phase.

Job Responsibilities

ENGINEERING PROCESS OWNERSHIP

Define and maintain the review process for hardware programs (concept, prototyping, EVT/DVT/PVT, production ramp), working with the program manager on milestones.

Set documentation standards and keep PLM records and engineering change processes current and consistent across Mechanical, Electrical, and Firmware.

Build in checkpoints (design reviews, tolerance analysis, risk assessments, validation planning) so issues surface early, not at production.

Maintain full traceability from design intent to shipped product.

CROSS-DISCIPLINE COORDINATION

Spot where Mechanical, Electrical, and Firmware processes are out of sync and fix the process, not just the individual issue.

Facilitate the tradeoff conversations between disciplines (hardware vs. firmware, cost vs. performance) so decisions get made and documented, without inserting yourself as the sole technical authority.

Establish shared engineering standards and design guidelines that all three teams work from.

VALIDATION & TEST COVERAGE

Partner with the Director of Validation to ensure test plans cover functionality, performance, and stability on every program.

Feed validation findings back into the review process and make sure they get documented.

JDM/ODM PROCESS MANAGEMENT

Own the process for how design intent, tooling strategy, and production readiness get communicated to and verified with our JDM/ODM manufacturing partners.

Build in the audit steps that check offshore partners' firmware and electrical designs are ready for high-volume production.

Director, R&D 

Support factory builds by making sure the right process and documentation travel with the program.

PROGRAM & RISK PROCESS

Plan resourcing and deliverables across concurrent programs so products get developed and produced efficiently.

Run the process for tracking milestones, risk mitigation, and escalation paths.

Own root cause analysis and corrective action process when issues surface in validation or production.

Report program health and process gaps to leadership.

Job Requirements

10+ years in hardware product development for complex, connected electronics, with real depth in engineering process and documentation/PLM systems.

Experience building or running engineering processes that span Mechanical, Electrical, and Firmware disciplines.

Working knowledge of Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and scaling from prototype to high-volume production.

Experience with JDM/ODM manufacturing partners, specifically the handoff and verification process, not just the relationship.

Enough technical fluency across Mechanical Design, Electrical/PCBA layout, and embedded firmware architecture to understand where cross-discipline tradeoffs happen and design a process that catches them early.

Experience with PLM systems and engineering change processes.

Strong background in engineering documentation and drawing standards.

Experience developing outdoor consumer or industrial electronic products.

Willingness to travel to offshore manufacturing sites (Asia) for tool trials, line audits, and production ramp-up support.

Essential Job Function

Formal project management experience or certification.

Experience supporting international manufacturing builds.

Knowledge of environmental and reliability testing standards for outdoor products.

Familiarity with FMEA, GD&T, and tolerance stack analysis.

We are an equal opportunity employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. We strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, sex, pregnancy status, age, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, training, promotion, discipline, compensation, benefits, and termination of employment.

We comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act, and all applicable state or local law.

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