A prototype engineer is typically responsible for overseeing the process of designing and developing a prototype product. This often begins with a brainstorming and design stage in which an engineer either creates a concept or uses the ideas and design of someone else to begin developing a realistic approach to it. A model is then typically created of the prototype, either in a physical form or as a computer-generated object that can be tested in a virtual space. The actual prototype is then usually created by an engineer for use in demonstrations or as the first step in future development.
One of the first responsibilities that a prototype engineer often has is the creation of a concept or design that can be used to develop a prototype. The exact way in which an engineer does this can vary quite a bit, though it often begins with brainstorming and numerous iterations on ways to develop the product. The engineer may also need to work from the concept of someone else and find a way to make it actually work. This can be a rough concept that is described in general details, or can be a fully conceived product that needs to be further developed by the engineer to make it practical.
After the basic design is established, then a prototype engineer typically creates some type of model or non-functional version of a product. This is often done to begin seeing how parts may need to be acquired or made and to test the overall look and initial usability of a product. Physical models can be created by an engineer, often used to ensure that an item can fit into part of a larger object that it may only be one component of. Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) programs are often used to make a digital model of an item that can be tested and analyzed in a virtual environment.
