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Prototype Engineering Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

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Mechanical Tooling and Process Engineer

Corvallis, OR · On-site

$76K - $100K/yr

... premier engineering design firm. We partner with clients from start-ups to industry leaders across the U.S. to help bring great products to life. From concept to prototype, we provide test ...

Engineering Specialist - Wilsonville, Oregon. This is a hands-on technical role within the New ... prototyping, material selection, and process validation activities during early-stage R&D and ...

New

OR · On-site

$140K - $176K/yr

Experience working as a technical co-founder or an early engineering hire at an early-stage startup. * AI/LLM App Development: Hands-on experience building prototypes that leverage LLM orchestration ...

This senior-level engineering position requires a strong foundation in mechanical or electrical ... Design and engineer mechanical, electrical, structural and control systems for equipment prototypes

Mechanical Design Engineer

Redmond, OR · On-site

$80K - $109K/yr

Works with engineering and operations to implement engineering change notices (ECN). * Provides support to production team during prototypes and initial production to facilitate seamless product and ...

OR · On-site

$134K - $180K/yr

... of engineering excellence and real-world customer impact. What you'll do * Set the technical ... Define and drive the transition from rapid prototyping to a sustainable, production-grade product ...

Mechanical Design Engineer

Redmond, OR · On-site

$80K - $109K/yr

Works with engineering and operations to implement engineering change notices (ECN). * Provides support to production team during prototypes and initial production to facilitate seamless product and ...

Experience in full vehicle design, vehicle integration, or automotive engineering. * Experience with autonomous vehicles, ADAS, or advanced vehicle technologies. * Background supporting prototype ...

This senior-level engineering position requires a strong foundation in mechanical or electrical ... Design and engineer mechanical, electrical, structural and control systems for equipment prototypes

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Prototype Engineering information

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$30

$38

$40

How much do prototype engineering jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 25, 2026, the average hourly pay for prototype engineering in Oregon is $38.56, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $36.35 and $40.67 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by prototype engineers during the product development process?

Prototype engineers often encounter challenges such as tight development timelines, limited resources, and evolving design requirements. They must frequently adapt to changes based on feedback from testing and cross-functional teams, which requires flexibility and strong problem-solving skills. Additionally, balancing functionality, manufacturability, and cost during rapid prototyping can be demanding, but it provides valuable experience in innovative thinking and collaboration.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, petroleum engineering, and aerospace engineering can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. High compensation often involves working in high-demand industries, holding managerial positions, or possessing rare technical expertise and certifications.

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 a solid background in mechanical or electrical engineering, strong problem-solving abilities, and hands-on experience with prototyping methods. Familiarity with CAD software, rapid prototyping tools like 3D printers, and knowledge of manufacturing processes are typically required. Creativity, adaptability, and effective communication help Prototype Engineers collaborate with cross-functional teams and iterate designs efficiently. These skills are crucial for transforming innovative ideas into functional prototypes that support product development and innovation.

What engineers make $200,000 a year?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, petroleum engineering, and aerospace engineering often earn $200,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and in high-demand industries. Leadership roles like engineering managers and principal engineers also frequently reach or exceed this salary level, often requiring advanced certifications and management experience.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as software engineering, petroleum engineering, and aerospace engineering can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. High compensation often involves bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing, and typically requires advanced degrees and extensive industry experience.

What is the difference between Prototype Engineering vs Mechanical Design?

AspectPrototype EngineeringMechanical Design
Primary FocusDeveloping, building, and testing prototypes to validate conceptsCreating detailed mechanical parts and assemblies for products
Required SkillsHands-on fabrication, rapid prototyping, testing methodsCAD modeling, technical drawings, design analysis
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, workshops, manufacturing settingsDesign offices, CAD labs, engineering departments
Common CertificationsNone specific, often practical experienceProfessional engineering licenses, CAD certifications

Prototype Engineering and Mechanical Design are closely related roles in product development. Prototype engineers focus on building and testing physical models to validate concepts, while mechanical designers create detailed plans and models for manufacturing. Both roles often collaborate but serve different stages of the product development process.

What is prototype engineering?

Prototype engineering is the process of designing, building, and testing early models of products or components to evaluate their functionality, performance, and feasibility. Prototype engineers work closely with designers and product developers to turn ideas into tangible models, which can be used for testing and refinement before mass production. This helps identify design flaws, improve product quality, and reduce development costs. Prototype engineering plays a crucial role in industries such as automotive, electronics, and consumer products, where rapid innovation and iteration are essential.

What does a prototype engineer do?

A prototype engineer designs, develops, and tests early models of products to evaluate their functionality, feasibility, and design. They work with CAD software, build physical prototypes, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to refine product concepts before mass production.
What are popular job titles related to Prototype Engineering jobs in Oregon? For Prototype Engineering jobs in Oregon, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Prototype Engineering jobs in Oregon look for? The top searched job categories for Prototype Engineering jobs in Oregon are:
What cities in Oregon are hiring for Prototype Engineering jobs? Cities in Oregon with the most Prototype Engineering job openings:
Infographic showing various Prototype Engineering job openings in Oregon as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 5% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $80,214 per year, or $38.6 per hour.
Mechanical Tooling and Process Engineer

Mechanical Tooling and Process Engineer

RLA Engineering LLC

Corvallis, OR • On-site

$76K - $100K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 2 days ago

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Job description

Job Title: Mechanical Tooling and Process Engineer

Employee Type: MSP

Expected Weekly Hours: 40

 

Position Summary

This position is responsible for supporting the client’s business unit(s) with leveraging/improving existing and designing new tooling and process development to enable low volume (products and engineering/proto builds) and high volume (mass production) manufacturing lines across the client’s portfolio of hardware products.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with a wide range of internal and external partners, including R&D teams, ODM/OEM teams, and global tooling and process development teams
  • Develop and qualify processes and capabilities to enable new product (NPI) and technology development on proto assembly line(s) that are mass production manufacturing representative

o   Leverage existing tools and processes to enable low volume product manufacturing

o   Design, specify and/or procure new production tools

o   Install, evaluate, characterize, and qualify new production tools

  • Execute test plans, collect and analyze data, and calculate process capabilities related to new product (NPI) specifications

o   Identify gaps in test tooling capability, process capability, and/or incoming material capability as necessary to ensure organizational awareness of issues

  • Sustain protype and mass production manufacturing lines

o   Address day-to-day line-down issues

o   Monitor production performance through statistical process control methods and close gaps where possible

o   Maintain target yields

o   Correlate process capabilities back to product needs to determine appropriate specifications in order to ensure customer satisfaction

  • Drive for continuous improvements
  • Perform other duties as needed

Education and Credential Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Industrial Engineering, or related field
  • Eligible to work in the US without RLA sponsorship for employment visa status

Experience Requirements

·         3-5+ years of experience in a mechanical tooling/process development role

o   Designed tooling and process development in low volume (engineering builds) and high volume (mass production build) manufacturing environments

o   Specification and design of test tools including fabrication, gauge capability assessments, qualification, and implementation

o   Worked with product R&D and manufacturing teams on design for test (DFT) and design for manufacturability (DFM) improvements

o   Use of various CAD packages for tooling design

  • Experience using Quality Systems, Statistical Process Control, Design of Experiments, and basic statistical data analysis on tooling design and process development and improvements
  • Experience working in R&D/proto/manufacturing environments considering product validation and characterization testing requirements

Skills Requirements

  • Ability to read, write, and speak English proficiently
  • High proficiency using productivity software such as M365 (Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, Teams and SharePoint)
  • Ability to use agile/scrum project/program management principles and methodologies to consistently meet task deadlines, triage changing priorities, and track issues to resolution
  • Ability to collaborate across diverse teams with a customer service mindset

Work Environment

  • The position typically operates in a standard office environment and/or from employee’s home
  • Be able to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds

Company Description

Founded in 2010 and based in Vancouver, WA, RLA Engineering is a premier engineering design firm. We partner with clients from start-ups to industry leaders across the U.S. to help bring great products to life. From concept to prototype, we provide test & measurement and product design solutions powered by deep technical expertise.