Prototyping Engineer Jobs in Austin, TX (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary 

The Senior Project Engineer plays a critical role in driving products from concept through production, integrating systems and textile components to deliver innovative solutions for the end user. Working closely with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and external partners, this position owns technical execution across the product lifecycle, including design, prototyping, testing, validation, and production readiness. Success in this role requires strong technical insight and engineering judgment, the ability to make rapid trade-off decisions, and a hands-on approach to solving complex challenges in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate thrives in ambiguity, translates user feedback into actionable improvements, documents designs, and ensures products perform reliably in real-world, operational conditions.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Work directly with engineers and textile experts to design, prototype, and refine products across the full development cycle. Integrating systems and textile components across designated projects, acting as the technical bridge between R&D, Manufacturing, and Quality.
• Apply deep technical expertise across all aspects of product development, including materials selection, fit, durability, manufacturability, and system integration.
• Build, test, and iterate prototypes, often on tight timelines; participate in field tests, training environments, and product evaluations.
• Conduct engineering analyses, testing, corrective actions, and validation efforts to ensure products meet Ametrine standards.
• Evaluate complex systems for compliance with internal specifications and external requirements; maintain a system requirements document throughout the product lifecycle from concept to prototype to production ready.
• Create and maintain detailed engineering designs, technical documentation, and models to support accurate production and validation activities.
• Collaborate with external vendors to ensure seamless assembly, alignment, and functionality.
• Monitor relevant industry standards and compliance requirements to ensure all products meet applicable guidelines.
• Rapidly translate user feedback into design changes—often in days, not months.
• Support early deployments and ensure products perform under real operational conditions.
• Push products forward; make real-time trade-off decisions balancing performance, weight, cost, and manufacturability.
• Manage program schedules and budgets to keep projects on track and aligned with commitments.
• Drive products from prototype to low-rate initial production with speed and pragmatism; own all product documentation and the transition to manufacturing.
• Act as the connective tissue between engineering, manufacturing, and the end user—ensuring alignment without heavy process overhead.
• Manage multiple competing priorities and projects in a fast-paced, evolving environment with composure and focus.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support Ametrine goals and objectives.

Required Skills/Abilities: 

• Hands-on engineering capability with direct experience in product development, prototyping, and system integration.
• Comfortable operating with ambiguity; ability to make sound decisions and drive progress without complete information.
• Strong program management skills, including schedule management, budget tracking, and customer communication.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills applied directly to hardware and system challenges.
• Effective communicator across engineering teams, manufacturing, external vendors, and military end users.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment with composure and focus.
• Self-starter mindset; prioritizes tasks and drives projects forward with minimal oversight.
• Approaches challenges with curiosity, adaptability, and pragmatism.
• Combines mission-driven execution with empathetic, people-centered leadership.
• Contributes wherever needed—maintains a collaborative mindset without ego or rigid role boundaries.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, materials engineering, or a closely related field.
• 4 years of experience in a product development or systems engineering role, with demonstrated hands-on engineering and program leadership responsibilities.
• Experience working in or closely with a defense, government, or fielded-product environment.
• Proven ability to take a product from early development through production transition.
• Experience interfacing directly with customers or end users and translating feedback into engineering action.

Other Requirements:

• Must be US Citizen, per US government contracts
• US security clearance is preferred; the ability to obtain upon employment is required.
• May require domestic and/or international travel.
• General work hours 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday; flexibility to work evening hours when required.

Physical Requirements:

The role requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, and move throughout both office and production environments for extended periods, with occasional lifting of materials or equipment exceeding 25 lbs. Fine motor skills are essential for tasks such as computer work, handling small parts, and assembling prototypes, along with visual acuity to read technical documents and inspect components. The employee will frequently be exposed to noise, heavy machinery, and manufacturing tools in a fast-paced setting that may demand shifting between independent work, team collaboration, and meeting tight deadlines.