Prototype Engineer Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

You build what engineers design — and make it work in the real world.

Robot systems are complex electromechanical systems. Getting from design to a working, testable prototype requires someone who can read a schematic as fluently as a harness drawing, who knows how to route a cable through a moving joint without chafing, and who takes pride in a build that's clean, repeatable, and ready for DVT. That's you.

• Prototype assembly: Build, integrate, and rework electromechanical prototype assemblies for various robot platforms — from sub-assembly level (actuator modules, sensor units, PCBA enclosures) to full system integration.

• Cable harness design: Design, specify, and manufacture cable harnesses and wiring looms for prototype and pre-series robots — including connector selection (Molex, TE, Harting, custom), wire gauge sizing, shielding, strain relief, and routing through complex kinematic structures.

• Harness documentation: Create and maintain formal harness drawings, from-to lists, wire schedules, and assembly instructions in compliance with e.g. IPC/WHMA-A-620 and internal quality standards.

• Lab bring-up support: Support hardware bring-up activities by preparing wiring and cabling for new PCBAs and sensor systems; assist electronics engineers during functional testing and debugging.

• DFM input for cables & wiring: Provide early-stage manufacturability feedback on cable routing, connector accessibility, and harness build feasibility — feeding directly into mechanical and electrical design reviews.

• Prototype management: Track and manage prototype configurations, maintain a clean and organized hardware lab, and ensure accurate version control of physical assemblies in coordination with the PLM/ERP system.

• Supplier and tooling coordination: Source prototype components and custom cables; work with harness manufacturers and cabling suppliers to qualify parts and validate first articles. Stay on the edge of ongoing development together with our suppliers.

• Continuous improvement: Identify recurring build issues and feed root-cause findings back to mechanical, electrical, and firmware engineers to improve design quality and reduce prototype cycle times.

Your hands bring the robot to life.

You are a technically skilled and meticulous engineer or technician with a genuine passion for building things well. You are at home in a hardware lab, comfortable reading engineering drawings from multiple disciplines, and you know that a bad crimp or a poorly routed harness can cost days of debugging time.

• Completed degree or vocational qualification in Electrical Engineering, Mechatronics, Precision Mechanics, or a comparable technical field — or equivalent hands‑on professional experience.

• 3+ years of practical experience in prototype building and/or cable harness manufacturing in a hardware‑intensive environment (robotics, automation, aerospace, automotive, medtech, or similar).

• Solid skills in cable harness design and assembly: wire termination (crimp, solder, IDC), connector handling, harness forming, lacing, and heat‑shrink/braiding application.

• Ability to read and create electrical schematics, harness drawings, assembly instructions, and from‑to lists.

• Familiarity with connector ecosystems (Molex, TE, M8/M12, custom micro‑connectors) and wire/cable materials including shielded, twisted pair, and flex cables.

• Experience working in a hardware lab environment: ESD awareness, safe handling of PCBAs, use of crimping tools, torque drivers, multimeters, and cable testers.

• Understanding of routing constraints in moving/articulated assemblies — experience with cable management in robotics or industrial machinery is a strong plus.

• Structured and precise working style; ability to manage multiple prototype builds simultaneously without losing track of configuration states.

• Basic programming skills in languages like C, C++ are a huge adder.

• Good English communication skills; able to interact professional with engineers and suppliers. Knowledge in German is a strong plus.