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Prototype Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Physical Intelligence

Prototype Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$42 - $47.25/hr

We're looking for a Prototype Engineer, an engineering generalist who sits at the intersection of enabling research and deloying into real-world applications. You'll work closely with our research ...

Physical Intelligence

Prototype Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120 - $160/hr

Rapidly design and fabricate mechanical, electrical, and sensor prototypes to support research experiments and engineering development. * Partner directly with researchers to understand experimental ...

Observable Space

Prototype Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$95K - $130K/yr

About the Role We are seeking a Prototype Engineer to join our Los Angeles-based state-of-the-art prototyping facility . We're building a state of the art prototyping facility to machine some of the ...

Ampa, Inc.

Sr. Prototype Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$75K - $90K/yr

This role sits between prototype engineering, lab operations, quality, and manufacturing support. The ideal candidate is hands-on, organized, reliable, and comfortable moving between bench testing ...

Ampa Inc.

Sr. Prototype Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

$75 - $90/hr

Role Overview: We're seeking a hands‑on Sr. Prototype Engineer to support the development, testing, and validation of next‑generation transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) devices. You'll work ...

42dot Inc.

Senior Prototype Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$167 - $231/hr

Prototype Engineer: Act as a rapid execution hub, adapting to new technologies and tools at high speed to maintain a fast‑paced iteration cycle. * Cross-Functional Integration: Merge Industrial ...

42dot

Senior Prototype Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

$167 - $231/hr

Prototype Engineer: Act as a rapid execution hub, adapting to new technologies and tools at high speed to maintain a fast‑paced iteration cycle. * Cross-Functional Integration: Merge Industrial ...

Etched

Prototype Engineering Lead

San Jose, CA · On-site

$2.0K/mo

The outcome you are hired to deliver is simple to state and hard to do: any Etched engineer can get a prototype part made with same-day or next-day turnaround. You own the entire outcome required to ...

The Consensus

Prototype Engineering Lead

San Jose, CA · On-site

$160 - $220/hr

The outcome you are hired to deliver is simple to state and hard to do: any Etched engineer can get a prototype part made with same-day or next-day turnaround. You own the entire outcome required to ...

Etched

Prototype Engineering Lead

San Jose, CA · On-site

$180 - $260/hr

The outcome you are hired to deliver is simple to state and hard to do: any Etched engineer can get a prototype part made with same-day or next-day turnaround. You own the entire outcome required to ...

Etched

Prototype Engineering Lead

San Jose, CA · On-site

$2.0K/mo

The outcome you are hired to deliver is simple to state and hard to do: any Etched engineer can get a prototype part made with same-day or next-day turnaround. You own the entire outcome required to ...

Neros Technologies

Prototype Shop Manager

Torrance, CA

$169K - $237K/yr

We're hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership ... What you will be doing As the Prototype Shop Manager for Neros, you will own the day-to-day ...

Neros Technologies

Prototype Shop Manager

Torrance, CA · On-site

$169K - $237K/yr

We're hiring engineers, operators, and builders who want to move fast, take on extreme ownership ... What you will be doing As the Prototype Shop Manager for Neros, you will own the day-to-day ...

Raytheon

Prototype Engineering Planner II

San Diego, CA · On-site

$38 - $42.50/hr

The Bike Shop department is seeking a Prototype Engineering Planner to work in an engineering environment to manage developmental engineering hardware in accordance with customer and internal ...

Raytheon

Prototype Engineering Planner II

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$38.50 - $43/hr

The Bike Shop department is seeking a Prototype Engineering Planner to work in an engineering environment to manage developmental engineering hardware in accordance with customer and internal ...

Raytheon

Prototype Engineering Planner II

San Jose, CA · On-site

$42 - $47/hr

The Bike Shop department is seeking a Prototype Engineering Planner to work in an engineering environment to manage developmental engineering hardware in accordance with customer and internal ...

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All JobsPrototype Engineer JobsPrototype Engineer Jobs in California

Prototype Engineer information

See California salary details

$28

$35

$38

How much do prototype engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for prototype engineer in California is $36.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $33.94 and $37.98 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a prototype engineer?

A Prototype Engineer is a professional who designs, builds, and tests early versions of products or components to evaluate their functionality and performance before mass production. They collaborate with designers, engineers, and product managers to turn concepts into tangible prototypes, using a variety of fabrication techniques and materials. Their work helps identify potential design improvements, troubleshoot issues, and ensure that the final product meets technical and user requirements.

What does a prototype engineer do?

A prototype engineer is part of a product development team that designs prototypes for new kinds of industrial products. Many companies employ design engineers to perform numerous technical duties, such as drawing up schematics and blueprints, overseeing the production of prototypes, and testing those prototypes to decide whether they should enter mass production. The career requires significant educational qualifications and a variety of skills and experience. You should have an engineering degree in the field you wish to enter, strong analytical problem-solving, and the ability to work as part of a large team.

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

To thrive as a Prototype Engineer, you need strong skills in mechanical or electrical engineering, rapid prototyping techniques, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with CAD software, 3D printing technologies, and hands-on fabrication tools is typically required, along with knowledge of prototyping standards. Creativity, problem-solving, and effective communication are essential soft skills to excel in cross-functional teams and adapt to evolving project requirements. These abilities enable successful design iteration, effective collaboration, and efficient transition from concept to functional prototype.

What are some common challenges prototype engineers face when transitioning designs from concept to functional prototypes?

Prototype Engineers often encounter challenges such as interpreting incomplete or evolving design specifications, sourcing unconventional materials, and working within tight deadlines. Close collaboration with design, engineering, and manufacturing teams is essential to resolve technical issues quickly and ensure the prototype aligns with the intended functionality. Flexibility and creative problem-solving are key, as unexpected obstacles frequently arise during the rapid iteration and testing phases.
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Prototype Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Prototype Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $74,874 per year, or $36 per hour.

Prototype Engineer

Physical Intelligence

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$42 - $47.25/hr

Full-time

Posted 26 days ago

Job description

Physical Intelligence is bringing general-purpose AI into the physical world. We are a group of engineers, scientists, roboticists, and company builders developing foundation models and learning algorithms to power the robots of today and the physically-actuated devices of the future.
We're looking for a Prototype Engineer, an engineering generalist who sits at the intersection of enabling research and deloying into real-world applications. You'll work closely with our research and engineering teams to rapidly design, build, and iterate on concept mechanical, electrical, and sensor prototypes that push the boundaries of what our robots can do.
This role is uniquely positioned between R&D and hardware engineering. You'll translate research ideas into physical systems, build end-to-end prototypes from scratch, and ensure our hardware performs reliably when interacting with real-world objects. You're the person both the hardware team and researchers come to when they need something built and rapidly iterated on. When successful, you'll be responsible for turning these into scalable solutions that support multiple hardware platforms in our fleet.
In this role you will
  • Rapidly design and fabricate mechanical, electrical, and sensor prototypes to support research experiments and engineering development.
  • Partner directly with researchers to understand experimental requirements and translate them into buildable hardware systems.
  • Build end-to-end prototype systems: from concept sketches through CAD, fabrication, wiring, sensor integration, and validation.
  • Develop quick-turn PCBs, wiring harnesses, and cable assemblies for prototype electronics.
  • Evaluate and select sensors, actuators, and off-the-shelf components for integration into prototype systems.
  • Design and iterate on fixtures, jigs, test rigs, and custom tooling to enable research workflows.
  • Perform hands-on assembly, troubleshooting, and debugging of electromechanical and robotic systems.
  • Collaborate with electrical and robot software engineers to integrate hardware with control systems, firmware, and runtime software.
  • Identify and address failure modes specific to hardware operating in unstructured, real-world environments (contact forces, wear, thermal effects, cable management, etc.).
  • Document designs, test results, and build procedures to support knowledge transfer and design iteration.

What we hope you'll bring
  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical or Mechatronics Engineering, or a related field.
  • 2-5 years of experience in prototyping, R&D engineering, or hardware development, ideally preferably in robotics, automotive, consumer electronics, or research lab environments.
  • Proficiency in CAD software (Onshape, SolidWorks, or Fusion 360) with strong 3D modeling and drafting skills.
  • Working knowledge of PCB design, electronics and comfortable soldering, wiring, reading schematics, and integrating sensors (force/torque, IMUs, cameras, encoders, etc.).
  • Hands-on expertise with rapid prototyping methods: 3D printing (FDM/SLA), laser cutting, CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, and manual machining.
  • Familiarity with the robotics domain, with an understanding of kinematics, actuation, compliant mechanisms, and the challenges of hardware interacting with unstructured real-world environments.
  • Ability to build full first-pass systems end-to-end, from mechanical structure through electrical integration to basic software scripting.
  • Strong communication skills, with the ability to speak the language of both researchers and engineers. Translating abstract research needs or engineering requests into tangible concepts.
  • Comfort working in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment where requirements evolve quickly and scrappiness is valued.
  • Experience with basic scripting (Python) for test automation, data collection, or hardware interfacing is a plus.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

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