Manager, Advanced Prototype & Test Engineering

A-dec • Newberg, OR

15d

About The Position

At A-dec, we do more than create the highest quality products and services for the dental industry; we strive to deliver a superior employment experience for each of our team members. With an environment that encourages and assists each person in developing to their highest potential, a career at A-dec is incredibly rewarding. Overview The Manager, Advanced Prototyping leads A-dec’s prototyping, model shop, additive manufacturing, and mechanical test functions with a focus on accelerating innovation and enabling rapid concept development. This role drives the expansion of advanced fabrication capabilities, fosters a culture of experimentation and creativity, and ensures that teams and technologies support early-stage product exploration through low-volume production readiness. The manager partners closely with design, engineering, and manufacturing to deliver functional prototypes and test data that inform and inspire product development decisions.

Requirements

• Able to communicate effectively in oral, written, and graphical form.
• Able to work independently with minimal supervision as well as in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Able to supervise engineering and technical teams.
• Knowledge of mechanical and fluids test engineering methodologies and data analysis.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or equivalent combination of education and work experience, with a minimum of 5 years relevant product development experience.
• Generally possess over 10 years of relevant professional or technical engineering experience, of increasing responsibility and difficulty of assignments.

Nice To Haves

• Medical device industry / dental or medical device field experience
• Additive manufacturing (AM) experience
• Working CAD Knowledge
• CNC rapid prototyping (CNC-RP) equipment experience
• PLM system experience

Responsibilities

• Lead Prototyping Strategy and Capability Growth – Develop and execute a vision for A-dec’s advanced prototyping ecosystem, expanding capabilities in rapid fabrication, additive manufacturing, and iterative model development. Build infrastructure, tools, and processes that shorten design cycles and enhance innovation throughput.
• Oversee Model Shop and Additive Manufacturing Operations – Direct the day-to-day operations of the model shop and additive manufacturing areas, ensuring quality, efficiency, and responsiveness to development team needs. Implement new technologies and methods that increase flexibility and prototype fidelity.
• Integrate Mechanical Testing as a Prototyping Enabler – Oversee mechanical test activities that validate prototype performance, providing actionable data to accelerate design iteration. Promote the use of testing as a learning and validation tool in the prototyping process.
• Foster Collaboration Across Functions – Partner with engineering, manufacturing, design, and supply chain teams to translate creative ideas into manufacturable prototypes. Ensure prototype operations align with business priorities and product timelines.
• Develop Talent and Culture – Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary team of model makers, additive manufacturing specialists, and test engineers. Build a culture of creativity, technical excellence, and continuous learning focused on rapid experimentation and results.
• Manage Resources and Budgets – Oversee budgets, capital expenditures, and project schedules related to prototyping and testing. Identify investments that expand capability and improve efficiency.
• Advance Continuous Improvement and Technology Adoption – Stay current with emerging technologies and fabrication techniques. Evaluate and implement new tools, materials, and methods that strengthen A-dec’s prototyping capability and shorten product development timelines.
• Administrative Functions - Oversees and supports departmental budgets, expenses, and capital expenditure (AFE) submittals, reviews, and approvals, while participating in technology assessments and resource planning. Manages project assignments, schedules, and deliverable deadlines, working closely with product development teams to ensure successful execution across all engineering functions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees