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Prototype Engineer Intern Jobs in Naperville, IL

Product Development Intern Schedule: (Hybrid) Monday and Friday are remote, while Tuesday-Thursday ... Engineer after graduation. Examples of Projects: * New product development; concept/prototype work.

... Intern and gain hands-on experience creating web applications that support business operations. Work alongside experienced designers and developers to understand employee needs, develop prototypes ...

... intern/coop for a career as a Packaging Engineer after graduation. Examples of Projects: * New product development; concept/prototype work. * Cost savings initiatives; Optimization, quality ...

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Prototype Engineer Intern information

See Naperville, IL salary details

$8

$17

$24

How much do prototype engineer intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average hourly pay for prototype engineer intern in Naperville, IL is $17.01, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $19.18 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 cities near Naperville, IL are hiring for Prototype Engineer Intern jobs?

Cities near Naperville, IL with the most Prototype Engineer Intern job openings:

GTG Intern - User Experience Design

Grainger Businesses

Chicago, IL • Hybrid

$33/hr

Internship

Posted 18 days ago


Grainger rating

8.2

Company rating: 8.2 out of 10

Based on 182 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

36th of 366 rated logistics


Job description

 Work Location Type: Hybrid

About Grainger:

W.W. Grainger, Inc., is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom. At Grainger, We Keep the World Working by serving more than 4.5 million customers worldwide with products and solutions delivered through innovative technology and deep customer relationships. Known for its commitment to service and award-winning culture, the Company had 2024 revenue of $17.2 billion across its two business models. In the High-Touch Solutions segment, Grainger offers approximately 2 million maintenances, repair and operating (MRO) products and services, including technical support and inventory management. In the Endless Assortment segment,Zoro.comoffers customers access to more than 14 million products, andMonotaRO.comoffers more than 24 million products. For more information, visitwww.grainger.com. 

Compensation:

This position is hourly, and the starting pay rate is $33/hour. 

The rate of pay provided above is not a guarantee of compensation. The rate reflects the expected base pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. 

Grainger reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate its compensation and benefit programs in its sole discretion at any time, consistent with applicable law.  

Internship Overview:

The Grainger Technology Group (GTG) internship is a 10-week, paid program based in our downtown Chicago office where interns work across teams such as Product Engineering, Cybersecurity, Applied Machine Learning, User Experience, Digital Experience Analytics, and more to help build the technology that keeps Grainger and its customers moving. As a GTG intern, you will be treated as a member of the team and contribute to meaningful work tied to real customer and business outcomes, not a separate side project. You will gain hands-on exposure to modern technology stacks, digital platforms, AI-enabled workflows, and enterprise systems while learning from experienced team members. Throughout the summer, you will also participate in networking, social, and professional development events and present the work you accomplished to senior leadership.


Position Details:

As a User Experience Design Intern, you will work closely with a Lead UX Designer on executing designs and learn about both customer-facing experiences and employee-facing tools that the UX team supports. You will grow both your technical and soft skills and be exposed to how a UX team operates and partners with cross-functional teams to deliver valuable experiences.

This role is ideal for someone who is curious about how people use technology, enjoys turning messy problems into clear experiences, and wants to understand how design decisions create customer and business impact.


You Will: 

  • Work alongside UX designers on design deliverables for customer-facing experiences and employee-facing tools.
  • Participate in discussions with users, stakeholders, product managers, researchers, and engineers to gather requirements and understand user needs.
  • Participate in user feedback sessions to understand how tools are being used and identify opportunities to improve the experience.
  • Translate insights into wireframes, prototypes, design concepts, flows, or other design artifacts.
  • Explore how modern design tools, prototyping methods, AI-enabled workflows, and more can help teams move faster while maintaining quality and judgment.
  • Communicate design rationale clearly through critiques, presentations, documentation, and stakeholder conversations.
  • Network and build relationships with the broader UX team, product managers, engineering partners, and business stakeholders.
  • Demonstrate ownership, curiosity, adaptability, and thoughtful decision-making while contributing as part of the team.
  • Present your work, impact, and key learnings to technology leaders at the end of the internship.


You Have:

  • Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Human-Centered Design, Design Methods, Human-Computer Interaction, Visual Design, UX Design, Product Design, Interaction Design, or a related field.
  • Expected graduation with a bachelor's degree between December 2027 and June 2028
  • Understanding of design, usability, accessibility, user-centered design, and research best practices.
  • Interest in designing internal tools that help Grainger customers and team members.
  • Proficiency with common wireframing, prototyping, or design tools; Figma preferred.
  • Strong written, verbal, visual communication, and presentation skills.
  • Initiative to proactively plan and execute work, make thoughtful decisions, and explain rationale to others.
  • Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with designers, researchers, product managers, engineers, and more.
  • Curiosity about modern product development, design systems, AI-enabled design workflows, and the tradeoffs behind scalable digital experiences.
  • Does not require sponsorship.

 We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status or any other protected characteristic under federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

We are also committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible work environment that includes both providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities during the application and hiring process as well as throughout the course of one's employment, should you need a reasonable accommodation during the application and selection process, including, but not limited to use of our website, any part of the application, interview or hiring process, please advise us so that we can provide appropriate assistance.


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About Grainger

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Grainger is a leading broad line distributor with operations primarily in North America, Japan and the United Kingdom. We achieve our purpose, We Keep the World Working®, by serving more than 4.5 million customers with a wide range of products that keep their operations running and their people safe. Grainger also delivers services and solutions, such as technical support and inventory management, to save customers time and money. We're looking for passionate people who can move our company forward. As one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, we have a welcoming workplace where you can build a career for yourself while fulfilling our purpose to keep the world working. We embrace new ways of thinking and recognize everyone is an individual. Find your way with Grainger today.

Industry

Office administration and facilities support services

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Lake Forest, IL, US

Year founded

1927