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Rapid Prototyping Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Apple

Concept Prototyping Engineer

Cupertino, CA · On-site

From rapid proofs of concept to live-on platforms distributed to dozens of internal users for ... prototyping engineer to join our team to help build functional prototypes. In this role, you will ...

Apple

Concept Prototyping Engineer

Cupertino, CA

$184K - $324K/yr

From rapid proofs of concept to live-on platforms distributed to dozens of internal users for ... prototyping engineer to join our team to help build functional prototypes. In this role, you will ...

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 ... Rapid Prototyping & Execution * High-Fidelity Modeling: Utilize Figma, Protopie, and vibe coding ...

New

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 ... Rapid Prototyping & Execution * High-Fidelity Modeling: Utilize Figma, Protopie, and vibe coding ...

New

Apple

Prototyping System Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · On-site

Description As a Home Prototyping System Engineer, you will be responsible for the electrical definition and rapid realization of early-stage concepts. Your day-to-day work will span high-level ...

Apple

Prototyping System Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA

$150K - $277K/yr

Description As a Home Prototyping System Engineer, you will be responsible for the electrical definition and rapid realization of early-stage concepts. Your day-to-day work will span high-level ...

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Rapid Prototyping Engineer information

What does a rapid prototyping engineer do?

A Rapid Prototyping Engineer specializes in quickly designing, fabricating, and testing prototypes of new products or components. They use various technologies such as 3D printing, CNC machining, and additive manufacturing to bring concepts to life. Their primary goal is to validate designs, identify improvements, and accelerate product development cycles. They often collaborate with designers, engineers, and product managers to refine ideas and ensure feasibility. This role requires expertise in CAD software, materials science, and manufacturing techniques to create functional prototypes efficiently.

What does a typical project look like for a rapid prototyping engineer?

A typical project for a Rapid Prototyping Engineer involves collaborating with design, engineering, and product teams to translate initial concepts into physical prototypes. This usually includes interpreting design specifications, selecting appropriate materials and fabrication methods, creating detailed CAD models, and using rapid manufacturing machinery to build and refine parts. The role often requires swift iteration—testing, analyzing, and improving prototypes based on feedback or testing results. As a Rapid Prototyping Engineer, you’ll juggle multiple projects at once and be expected to adapt to changing requirements and tight deadlines while ensuring high-quality, functional prototypes are delivered on time.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a rapid prototyping engineer?

To thrive as a Rapid Prototyping Engineer, you need strong skills in mechanical or electrical engineering, CAD design, and familiarity with rapid manufacturing processes, supported by a relevant engineering degree. Hands-on experience with tools like 3D printers, CNC machines, laser cutters, and proficiency in software such as SolidWorks or Autodesk Inventor is highly valued. Creative problem-solving, adaptability, and clear communication are crucial soft skills for success in this fast-paced, collaborative field. These abilities enable quick iteration and effective teamwork, ensuring novel concepts are efficiently turned into functional prototypes that meet design requirements.

What are popular job titles related to Rapid Prototyping Engineer jobs in California? For Rapid Prototyping Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Rapid Prototyping Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Rapid Prototyping Engineer jobs in California are:
Rapid Prototyping Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Rapid Prototyping Engineer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 18% Internship, and 82% Full Time. Highlights an 84% In-person, and 16% Hybrid job distribution.

Concept Prototyping Engineer

Apple

Cupertino, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago

Apple rating

8.0

Company rating: 8.0 out of 10

Based on 677 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 30 rated technology retailers

Job description

Next Gen Computing (NGC) develops new concepts and capabilities for Apple products. The team brings expertise in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, software design, and interaction design, enabling it to build fully functional prototypes that inform decisions across Apple. From rapid proofs of concept to live-on platforms distributed to dozens of internal users for longer durations, we can take an exploration as far as needed to enable our colleagues and stakeholders to get a hands-on feel for an experience instead of just an idea. We work across a variety of product lines and work regularly with engineering, design, and human factors functions to realize our work as clearly as possible. Our team offers a unique opportunity to inform the future of Apple products.
Description
Next Gen Computing team is looking for a highly motivated, creative, and design-sensitive product prototyping engineer to join our team to help build functional prototypes. In this role, you will be building functional, integrated prototypes and platforms that bring new concepts to life and generating the knowledge that helps Apple make informed decisions about what to build next.
You will help the team to move from a sketched concept to a hands-on integrated prototype with an eye for experience quality and reliability. These prototypes are meant to be used and shared among Apple stakeholders, so a relentless attention to user-facing functionality is essential.
Minimum Qualifications
Strong foundation in product design with sensitivity to industrial design, experience working with 3D and 2D CAD
Experience with fabrication tools and processes
BS in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Electromechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, or a technically equivalent field
3+ years of product design/prototyping experience
Preferred Qualifications
A portfolio demonstrating earlier work/ideas
5+ years of product design/prototyping experience
MS/PhD in a related field
Ability to evolve demonstration prototypes into stable platforms for extended testing and evaluation
Ability to work with a variety of disciplines including industrial designers, experience designers, and software, hardware, and product development engineers
A passion for doing the best possible work, with the ability to balance speed with fidelity
Independent, self-starter, with good interpersonal skills.
Excellent storytelling and communication skills

What Apple employees say

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Benefits

Hours and flexibility

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Get the full story on Breakroom

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About Apple

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Imagine what you could do here! At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming extraordinary products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Dynamic, intelligent people and inspiring, innovative technologies are the norm here. The people who work here have reinvented entire industries with all Apple Hardware products. The same real passion for innovation that goes into our products also applies to our practices strengthening our dedication to leave the world better than we found it.

Industry

Computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Cupertino, CA, US

Year founded

1976

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