Senior Prototype Engineer

42dot; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 167,000 - 231,000; Full time

Job summary

42dot is seeking a Senior Prototype Design Engineer to act as Prototype Engineer for our Advanced Product Experience design. This role bridges Industrial Design, Mechanical Design, and UX design to translate concepts into high-fidelity prototypes for autonomous mobility and future vehicle experiences.

You will build interactive digital flows and physical prototypes, collaborate with software teams for in-vehicle testing, and support leadership demos and program reviews with scalable prototyping

Qualifications

• Education as specified: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, HCI, or a related technical field.
• 6+ years of professional experience in product design, engineering, or rapid prototyping.
• Proficiency in Figma, Protopie, vibe coding, Arduino, and CAD tools.
• Design versatility across ID, MD, and UX.

Responsibilities

• Prototype Engineer within a rapid iteration cycle, adapting to new technologies and tools.
• Merge Industrial Design, Mechanical Design and UX with digital UX to create cohesive in-vehicle interactions.
• Develop hardware‑software prototypes including hardware integration and validation with software teams.

Skills

Adaptability

Hands-on Engineering

Problem Solving

Hands-on Fabrication

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, HCI, or related technical field

Tools

Figma

Protopie

vibe coding

Arduino

CAD tools

Job description

We are looking for the best

About Us

42dot is a mobility AI company committed to solving mobility challenges with software and AI. As the Global Software Center of Hyundai Motor Group, 42dot pioneers the future of mobility by advancing the development of software-defined vehicles.

We develop safety-first, user-centric software-defined vehicle technologies that deliver the latest performance through continuous updates like smartphones. By advancing software and AI technology, 42dot envisions a world where everything is connected and moves autonomously through a self-managing urban transportation operating system.

About the Role

42dot is seeking a highly adaptive Senior Prototype Design Engineer to serve as the "Prototype Engineer" for our Advanced Product Experience design. This is a high-impact role designed for a "T-shaped" professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can seamlessly bridge the gap between Industrial Design, Mechanical Design, and UX Design.

You will be responsible for transforming abstract concepts into high-fidelity, testable prototypes that validate feasibility and accelerate decision‑making for future-forward vehicle experiences. You are not just a designer; you are a builder who can adapt to new skills rapidly to meet the evolving needs of autonomous driving and intelligent mobility.

Key Responsibilities:

Multidisciplinary Innovation

• Prototype Engineer: Act as a rapid execution hub, adapting to new technologies and tools at high speed to maintain a fast‑paced iteration cycle.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Merge Industrial Design (ID) and Mechanical Design (MD) with digital UX to create cohesive in-vehicle interaction systems.

• Hardware-Software Convergence: Develop and iterate on physical‑digital touchpoints, such as haptic controllers, steering wheel interfaces, and integrated displays - as well as experimental hybrid concepts.

Rapid Prototyping & Execution

• High-Fidelity Modeling: Utilize Figma, Protopie, and vibe coding techniques to build interactive digital flows and interaction models.

• Physical Prototyping: Use 3D printing and CAD modeling to test ergonomics and tactile feel. We are strictly tool-agnostic; we prioritize your ability to master and adapt to new software over expertise in specific platforms like SolidWorks.

• System Validation: Collaborate with software engineering to test interaction models in‑vehicle, ensuring prototypes clarify user journeys and architectural feasibility.

Strategic Alignment & Demos

• Leadership Demos: Build and maintain compelling prototypes for high‑stakes leadership reviews, customer clinics, and international demo sessions.

• Platform Thinking: Develop reusable prototyping patterns and workflows that can be scaled across various vehicle programs.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, HCI, or a related technical field.

• Experience: 6+ years of professional experience in product design, engineering, or rapid prototyping.

• Expert Toolset: Proficiency in Figma, Protopie, vibe coding, Arduino, and advanced proficiency in industry-standard CAD tools.

• Design Versatility: Proven track record in Industrial Design (ID), Mechanical Design (MD), and UX Design.

Core Competencies

• Adaptability: Exceptional ability to learn new skills, tools, and engineering principles on the fly.

• Hands‑on Engineering: Skilled in hardware integration, encompassing sensors, actuators, and Arduino‑based electronic prototypes

• Problem Solving: Ability to translate user research insights into actionable, high‑craft physical and digital solutions.

• Hands‑on Fabrication: Proficient in physical assembly, disassembly, soldering, and general handyman‑style building skills to create and repair physical prototypes.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with 3D modeling/CAD

• Familiarity with automotive HMI or ADAS interaction models.

• Background in rapid hardware prototyping (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or custom electronics).

Travel

• This role involves periodic travel, including international trips to South Korea approximately 10-20% of the time.

Compensation

• $167,000 to $230,840

Additional Information:

• In accordance with fair hiring practices, do not include any personal information unrelated to your job qualifications (e.g., Social Security Number, family relations, marital status, age, photo, physical condition, place of birth, etc.) in your resume.

• All documents must be submitted in PDF format and under 30MB in size.

• If you experience issues uploading your resume, please send it along with the job posting URL to [e-mail].

• We strongly encourage applications from U.S. veterans and candidates eligible for employment preference under applicable laws.

• Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

• 42dot does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not pay fees for any such submissions. Equal Opportunity Statement

• 42dot is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.

Please review the following information before applying.