Prototype Engineer

STATSports; Newry; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports technology company based in Northern Ireland is seeking a Prototype Engineer to join their product development team. In this hands-on role, you will build, test, and improve prototypes that impact elite sports technology. The position involves collaboration with cross-functional teams and offers the chance to shape products used by top athletes. Ideal candidates will have experience in mechanical and electronic assembly, debugging, and a passion for innovation. If you’re ready to make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Benefits

Collaborative team environment

Exposure to full product lifecycle

Opportunity to influence elite sports products

Qualifications

• Experience building and testing prototypes in a product or engineering environment.
• Comfortable working hands-on with mechanical assemblies, electronics, and test equipment.
• Ability to read schematics or drawings.

Responsibilities

• Build and assemble early-stage prototypes across mechanical, electronic, and embedded systems.
• Test, debug, and troubleshoot prototypes.
• Create and improve test rigs and fixtures for validating designs.

Skills

Prototype testing

Mechanical assemblies

Electrical wiring

Debugging

Documentation skills

Job description

About STATSports:

What if the product you helped to build next week was worn by an elite athlete the week after?

At STATSports, that could be your reality.

Since 2007, we’ve grown from a small Irish start‑up into the global leader in GPS performance tracking, trusted by the world’s biggest clubs, leagues, and athletes. Our technology sits at the intersection of hardware, software, and sport, helping teams optimise performance, reduce injury risk, and unlock insights that were previously impossible.

But just as importantly, our products support the next generation of athletes, from academies to grassroots, giving them access to the same performance tools as the pros.

Innovation has always driven us forward, and it’s our people who make that happen.

The opportunity:

We’re looking for a Prototype Engineer to join our product development team and help turn early ideas into real, working hardware.

This is a hands‑on, workshop-driven role where you’ll be building, testing, breaking, fixing, and improving prototypes that directly influence the next generation of STATSports products. You’ll work closely with firmware, hardware, software, and production engineers, often at the earliest stages of development, where experimentation and curiosity matter most.

If you enjoy seeing something go from a sketch or concept to a physical device you can hold, test, and improve, this role will suit you.

What you’ll be doing:

• Building and assembling early‑stage prototypes across mechanical, electronic, and embedded systems
• Bringing concepts to life and helping engineers validate ideas quickly through hands‑on testing
• Working closely with firmware, hardware, software, and production teams to integrate and evaluate systems
• Testing, debugging, and troubleshooting prototypes – and feeding practical insights back into design decisions
• Creating and improving test rigs, fixtures, and tools used to validate new designs
• Capturing what you learn along the way, helping ensure smooth transitions from prototype to production
• Keeping the workshop organised, safe, and ready for experimentation
• Playing an active role in improving how we prototype, test, and iterate as a team

What we’re looking for:

You’ll likely enjoy this role if you:

• Have experience building and testing prototypes in a product, R&D, or engineering environment
• Are comfortable working hands‑on with mechanical assemblies, electronics, wiring, and test equipment
• Enjoy figuring out why something doesn’t work – and making it better
• Can read schematics or drawings and turn them into something physical
• Communicate clearly with engineers from different disciplines and document what you learn
• Like working in fast‑moving environments where no two days are the same

You don’t need to be an expert in everything. If you’re curious, practical, and keen to learn, we can help you grow.

Nice to have (but not essential):

Experience in areas like embedded systems, sensors, wireless tech, rapid prototyping, PCB bring‑up, CAD, or regulated product environments is a bonus – but not a requirement. We care more about mindset than ticking boxes.

What’s in it for you:

• A genuinely hands‑on role where your work directly shapes real products used in elite sport
• Exposure to the full product lifecycle, from concept through to production
• The chance to work with engineers across hardware, firmware, software, and manufacturing
• A collaborative team that values experimentation, learning, and shared success
• The opportunity to leave your mark on products worn by athletes at the very top of their game

If you enjoy building, testing, and improving real‑world technology – and want your work to have a visible impact in sport, we’d love to hear from you.

Equal opportunity employer:

STATSports is an equal opportunity employer. If you feel you would be a great addition to the team and are excited by the prospect of forging an impactful career with us, we would love to hear from you. We would particularly welcome applications from women and underrepresented groups. We believe that diverse teams have the greatest impact, so we really care about creating a diverse and inclusive environment. At STATSports, no one wins unless everyone wins, so we’re focused on creating a team where everyone feels they belong.

Why STATSports:

We’re still a small business that happens to be the world leader in our field, which means you can be part of something big. Working at STATSports, you’ll have a real impact and see directly how the day‑to‑day work you do makes a difference in sport at the elite level. You’ll collaborate with a world‑class team and be given the freedom to innovate, create, and deliver at the highest level. If this excites you, we would love to hear from you!