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Prototype Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

FPGA Prototyping Lead

San Jose, CA · On-site

$160 - $210/hr

THE PERSON The ideal candidate is a highly experienced FPGA prototyping engineer with strong technical leadership skills. You are detail‑oriented, collaborative, and capable of driving complex ...

Description As a prototyping engineer you will be responsible for emulating a complex SOC & are expected to: -Review specifications, develop prototyping plans and specifications. -Work closely with ...

FPGA Prototyping Lead

San Jose, CA · On-site

$180 - $240/hr

The ideal candidate is a highly experienced FPGA prototyping engineer with strong technical leadership skills. You are detail-oriented, collaborative, and capable of driving complex technical ...

As a Prototype Build Technician, you will help develop and commercialize state-of-the-art electric ... Work closely with Automotive Technicians, Design engineers and identify potential assembly and ...

Showing results 41-60

Prototype Engineer information

See California salary details

$28

$35

$38

How much do prototype engineer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 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 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.

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 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 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 popular job titles related to Prototype Engineer jobs in California? For Prototype Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Prototype Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Prototype Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Prototype Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Prototype Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Prototype Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 5% 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.

FPGA Prototyping Lead

Advanced Micro Devices

San Jose, CA • On-site

$160 - $210/hr

Other

Posted 20 days ago


Advanced Micro Devices rating

8.6

Company rating: 8.6 out of 10

Based on 13 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

27th of 156 rated electronics manufacturers


Job description

WHAT YOU DO AT AMD CHANGES EVERYTHING

At AMD, our mission is to build great products that accelerate next‑generation computing experiences—from AI and data centers, to PCs, gaming and embedded systems. Grounded in a culture of innovation and collaboration, we believe real progress comes from bold ideas, human ingenuity and a shared passion to create something extraordinary. When you join AMD, you’ll discover that the real differentiator is our culture. We push the limits of innovation to solve the world’s most important challenges—striving for execution excellence, while being direct, humble, collaborative, and inclusive of diverse perspectives. Join us as we shape the future of AI and beyond.

Together, we advance your career.

THE ROLE

As a member of the front‑end design and integration team, you will help bring cutting‑edge silicon designs to life. Working closely with Architecture, IP Design, Physical Design, Verification, Software, and Product Engineering teams, you will drive FPGA prototyping strategy and execution to enable first‑pass silicon success.

THE PERSON

The ideal candidate is a highly experienced FPGA prototyping engineer with strong technical leadership skills. You are detail‑oriented, collaborative, and capable of driving complex technical initiatives while mentoring engineering teams and influencing cross‑functional stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Define and own the FPGA prototyping architecture, methodology roadmap, and platform strategy for complex SoCs, including partitioning, interconnects, clocking, debug infrastructure, and high‑speed interfaces.
  • Lead the development and deployment of FPGA prototype platforms, including RTL adaptation, implementation flows, verification infrastructure, regression environments, and system‑level debug capabilities.
  • Drive collaboration across Architecture, RTL Design, Verification, Emulation, Software, and Firmware teams to enable early hardware validation, software bring‑up, and functional coverage goals.
  • Provide technical leadership for FPGA prototyping engineers through mentoring, design reviews, best‑practice development, project planning, and execution of key program milestones.
  • Establish engineering processes, implementation methodologies, documentation standards, and continuous improvement initiatives to improve efficiency, quality, and scalability.
  • Represent the FPGA prototyping organization in architecture reviews, program reviews, and customer‑facing technical discussions while partnering with EDA and FPGA tool vendors to drive technology adoption and resolve complex technical challenges.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • 12+ years of experience in FPGA design, implementation, and SoC prototyping.
  • Proven experience leading FPGA prototyping efforts for large‑scale semiconductor programs.
  • Hands‑on experience with Synopsys HAPS and/or Cadence Protium platforms.
  • Strong knowledge of multi‑FPGA partitioning, board bring‑up, and high‑speed interfaces such as PCIe, DDR, Ethernet, USB, and HBM.
  • Expert proficiency with AMD/Xilinx Vivado and Vitis toolchains.
  • Deep expertise in FPGA timing closure, floorplanning, CDC analysis, pipelining, and performance optimization.
  • Strong SystemVerilog and/or Verilog design and verification experience.
  • Solid understanding of modern SoC architectures, including CPUs, cache hierarchies, memory subsystems, NoC/interconnects, and I/O protocols such as AXI, ACE, CHI, PCIe, and DDR.
ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.

LOCATION

San Jose, CA

This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Benefits offered are described: AMD benefits at a glance.

AMD does not accept unsolicited resumes from headhunters, recruitment agencies, or fee‑based recruitment services. AMD and its subsidiaries are equal‑opportunity, inclusive employers and will consider all applicants without regard to age, ancestry, color, marital status, medical condition, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, political and/or third‑party affiliation, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates and will accommodate applicants’ needs under the respective laws throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.

AMD may use Artificial Intelligence to help screen, assess or select applicants for this position. AMD’s “Responsible AI Policy” is available here.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

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