AEC Prototyping Engineer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: AEC Prototyping Engineer

Company: Graitec

Location: Paris, France; Rennes, France; Krakow, Poland; Bucharest, Romania

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Engineering / Product Development / Innovation

Date Posted: July 30, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on rapid prototyping and innovation within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector, leveraging digital capabilities and a hands-on approach to develop Proofs of Concept (POCs).

• The position requires translating complex engineering problems into testable prototypes, validating them with customers, and collaborating with R&D teams to integrate successful concepts into scalable software solutions.

• A key aspect involves exploring and applying emerging technologies, including AI, automation, and agentic workflows, to accelerate the prototyping process and enhance engineering productivity.

• The role is customer-facing and cross-functional, demanding strong communication skills to work with Product, R&D, Support, Customer Success, Services, and external clients to drive the digital transformation of the AEC industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a mid-level "AEC Prototyping Engineer" with a strong emphasis on practical application and customer validation, rather than pure AI research. The company is seeking someone who can quickly build working models (POCs) to demonstrate value, bridging the gap between innovative ideas and market-ready features within their BIM and AEC software suite. The focus on "digital capabilities," "technical adaptability," and "hands-on prototyping mindset" suggests a need for a versatile engineer comfortable with a variety of tools and technologies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Engineering Prototyping & Workflow Innovation:

  • Translate AEC use cases into rapid, working prototypes using appropriate tools and technologies.
  • Build testable workflows around CAD/BIM, architecture, structural analysis, design automation, project data, documentation, and engineering productivity.
  • Utilize AI-assisted development, Python, APIs, low-code/no-code tooling, and scripting to accelerate experimentation.
  • Convert ambiguous or exploratory ideas into clear problem statements, testable assumptions, and practical POC scopes.
  • Move quickly between topics and product areas while maintaining a strong focus on AEC market value and customer needs.

• Customer Validation & Iteration:

  • Demonstrate prototypes to internal experts, R&D, users, and selected customers, focusing on business use cases.
  • Collect qualitative feedback, observe user behavior, and identify areas where prototypes create value or fail to address needs.
  • Rapidly change direction based on feedback and improve prototypes through short iteration cycles.
  • Assist Product teams in converting validation insights into backlog items, product opportunities, or go/no-go recommendations.

• Technology Exploration & AI as an Accelerator:

  • Explore emerging technologies, including AI (LLMs, RAG, agentic workflows), automation, and agentic patterns, when relevant to engineering problems.
  • Apply practical AI capabilities (e.g., prompt-based workflows, AI-assisted coding, product assistants) to accelerate prototyping.
  • Select tools based on the problem, user need, feasibility, and expected business impact, avoiding technology-first solutions.
  • Collaborate with R&D and IT on secure, maintainable, and scalable approaches for potential productization.

• Cross-functional Collaboration & Handover:

  • Work with Solutions lines, R&D, and Marketing to frame and validate ideas.

  • Produce concise documentation explaining the engineering problem, prototype scope, tested assumptions, feedback, limitations, and next steps.

  • Support internal enablement by sharing lessons learned, prototype demos, and reusable patterns.

  • Support incubation steps for selected ideas.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of technical execution, user-centric validation, and strategic collaboration. The emphasis on "AI-assisted development," "Python," "APIs," "low-code/no-code tooling," and "emerging technologies" points to a need for a technically versatile candidate. The "customer validation" and "iteration" responsibilities underscore the importance of agility and responsiveness to user feedback in the prototyping process. The handover to R&D and Product teams indicates a clear path for successful prototypes to influence future product development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture, Structural Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related discipline. Experience:

• 2-5 years of professional experience delivering projects within an Architecture, Engineering, or Construction (AEC) environment.

• Experience in rapid prototyping, hackathons, innovation projects, internal tools, student projects, or customer-facing demos.

• Experience working with Product, R&D, or customer-facing teams in an agile environment. Required Skills:

• Strong digital capabilities and hands-on interest in software, automation, and AI.

• High technical adaptability and learning agility: ability to understand unfamiliar technologies, experiment with them hands-on, and apply them to new engineering problems.

• Proficiency in Python scripting and utilization of APIs.

• Experience with CAD/BIM workflows, structural analysis, design automation, or AEC project data.

• Ability to rapidly prototype solutions using AI-assisted development, Python, APIs, low-code platforms, and existing product capabilities.

• Comfortably presenting proof-of-concepts (POCs), gathering user feedback, and translating insights into solution improvements.

• Ability to translate ambiguous concepts into testable workflows and iterate rapidly based on feedback and results.

• Good communication skills for direct customer and internal team interaction.

• Fluent in English. Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with AI concepts such as LLMs, RAG, AI assistants, tool use, prompting, or agentic workflows.

• Interest in real-world enterprise constraints: security, maintainability, performance, traceability, and scalability.

• Experience with data formats and product extensibility frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a unique blend of domain knowledge (AEC, BIM, CAD) and technical skills (Python, APIs, AI). The requirement for "high technical adaptability and learning agility" is crucial, as the role involves working with potentially new or emerging technologies with minimal formal onboarding. The "AI concepts" and "enterprise constraints" as preferred skills suggest a forward-looking candidate who understands both innovation and practical implementation challenges.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrable examples of rapid prototyping projects, ideally within the AEC domain or related technical fields.

• Case studies showcasing the ability to translate complex ideas into working prototypes or POCs.

• Evidence of user validation and iteration cycles, detailing how feedback influenced prototype development.

• Documentation examples that clearly articulate engineering problems, prototype scope, assumptions, and outcomes.

• Projects utilizing Python, APIs, or other scripting/automation tools to solve technical challenges. Process Documentation:

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their process for idea intake, problem framing, rapid development, customer validation, and handover of successful concepts.

• The ability to document engineering problems, prototype scopes, tested assumptions, feedback received, limitations, and recommended next steps is essential.

• Experience with agile methodologies for iterative development and feedback loops is highly valued.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated as a formal portfolio requirement, the nature of the "AEC Prototyping Engineer" role strongly implies that candidates will need to showcase their practical experience. The emphasis on "hands-on prototyping," "customer validation," and "iteration" suggests that traditional project portfolios demonstrating completed products may be less relevant than evidence of the process of innovation and rapid development. Candidates should be ready to discuss their approach to prototyping and demonstrate concrete examples of their work.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• France (Paris/Rennes): Estimated €45,000 - €65,000 annually. This range reflects mid-level engineering roles in major French tech hubs, considering the specialized nature of AEC prototyping and AI application.

• Poland (Krakow): Estimated 100,000 - 160,000 PLN annually. Krakow's tech market offers competitive salaries for skilled engineers, particularly those with AI and software development experience.

• Romania (Bucharest): Estimated 120,000 - 180,000 RON annually. Bucharest is a growing tech center, and this range aligns with experienced engineering roles incorporating advanced technologies.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance packages.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and attending industry conferences.

• Support for continuous learning in emerging technologies like AI.

• Flexible working arrangements and potential for hybrid work depending on location and team needs.

• Participation in innovation projects with high visibility and impact.

• Company-sponsored events and team-building activities.

• Potential for international collaboration and exposure to diverse markets. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility potentially available depending on location and local labor laws.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimated based on typical mid-level engineering roles in the specified countries, factoring in the specialized skill set (AEC, prototyping, AI) and the employer's global presence. Actual compensation will vary based on specific location, candidate experience, and negotiation. Benefits are inferred from typical offerings within technology companies and the emphasis on growth and innovation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Software Development (Building Information Modeling - BIM, Architecture, Engineering, Construction - AEC)

Company Size: 800+ employees globally. This indicates a stable, established company with significant resources and a global reach, but potentially with the agility of smaller, specialized divisions.

Founded: Over 30 years ago, with significant recent growth (tripled revenue in five years). This suggests a company that has successfully reinvented itself and is focused on innovation and digital transformation.

Team Structure:

• The "GRAITEC Solution Division" is described as vibrant and multicultural, with global collaboration across Europe and North America.

• The role is within an "Innovation Team," implying a focus on forward-thinking projects and experimentation.

• This role requires close collaboration with R&D, Product, Support, Customer Success, Services, and external customers. Methodology:

• Growth, Agility, Innovation, Responsibility: These are stated company values, suggesting a dynamic work environment focused on continuous improvement and forward momentum.

• Ambition, Engagement, One Graitec, Positive Energy: These are stated behavioral expectations, highlighting a driven, collaborative, and enthusiastic team culture.

• Agile Environment: The job description mentions working in an agile environment, indicating a preference for iterative development, flexibility, and cross-functional teamwork.

• Data-Driven Approach: While not explicitly stated for this role, the company's focus on digital transformation and customer value implies a data-informed decision-making process.

Company Website: graitec.com / graitec-group.com/graitec-a-global-player

📝 Enhancement Note: Graitec presents itself as a forward-thinking leader in AEC software, emphasizing growth, innovation, and digital transformation. The culture appears to be a blend of established expertise and a dynamic, entrepreneurial spirit driven by recent rapid growth. The "One Graitec" value suggests a focus on internal cohesion and collaboration across diverse teams and geographies.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

• This role sits at a mid-level within the engineering and innovation track. It offers a unique opportunity to bridge technical prototyping with market validation and product development, moving beyond traditional engineering roles. The "2-5 years" experience level suggests an individual ready to take on more responsibility and contribute strategically. Reporting Structure:

• The role is part of the "Innovation Team" within the "GRAITEC Solution Division."

• It requires close collaboration with R&D, Product Management, Support, Customer Success, and Services teams.

• The specific reporting manager is not detailed, but likely a lead or manager within the innovation or product development function. Operations Impact:

• This role directly impacts the company's ability to innovate and maintain its competitive edge in the AEC software market.

• By rapidly prototyping and validating new concepts, the engineer helps shape future product roadmaps, ensuring Graitec stays ahead of digital transformation trends and customer needs.

• Successful prototypes contribute to the company's recurring revenue growth by driving adoption of new features and capabilities. Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AEC technologies, AI applications for engineering, and rapid prototyping methodologies.

• Product Influence: Transition to Product Management or Senior R&D roles by demonstrating success in translating ideas into market-validated concepts.

• Technical Leadership: Become a go-to expert for innovation and emerging technologies within the Solution Division.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Gain broad exposure across different departments (R&D, Product, Customer Success), opening doors to various career paths.

• International Exposure: Work with global teams and customers, potentially leading to international project involvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is ideal for an engineer who enjoys a fast-paced, innovative environment and wants to see their ideas directly influence product strategy. The growth path leans towards becoming a specialized technical innovator or moving into product-focused roles, rather than traditional management. The blend of customer interaction and R&D collaboration provides a unique career development trajectory.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site role, indicating a preference for in-person collaboration and access to company resources. Graitec has multiple office locations across Europe, suggesting a potentially modern, well-equipped workspace.

Office Location(s): Paris (France), Rennes (France), Krakow (Poland), Bucharest (Romania). Candidates can choose from these established locations.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, suggesting an open office layout or dedicated collaborative spaces designed to foster teamwork and idea sharing.

• Technology & Tools: Access to advanced software, development tools, and potentially specialized hardware for prototyping. The company's focus on BIM and advanced technologies implies a modern tech stack.

• Innovation Hub: Working within an "Innovation Team" likely means a dynamic environment where experimentation and new ideas are encouraged and supported.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time, on-site work. While flexibility is mentioned in benefits, the primary arrangement is on-site, facilitating direct team interaction and access to necessary facilities. The 40-hour work week is typical for European employment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests that Graitec values in-person collaboration, which is critical for rapid prototyping and cross-functional brainstorming. The availability of multiple European locations offers candidates flexibility in choosing their primary work base. The work environment is likely geared towards innovation, with modern facilities and a collaborative culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• HR Screening: An initial "get to know you" discussion to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and motivation.

• Technical Assessment Interview: This is a critical stage and may involve a presentation of past work (or a hypothetical case study) or a collaborative coding/problem-solving exercise. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their prototyping skills and technical adaptability.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A role-specific discussion focusing on experience, responsibilities, and how the candidate fits within the team's objectives.

• Final Interview: A conversation with the Business Unit Leader to ensure alignment with the broader strategic vision of the division.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Prepare concrete examples of your prototyping work. This could be code repositories (e.g., GitHub), live demos, detailed case studies, or even presentations of past innovation projects.

• Focus on Process: Highlight your methodology for turning an idea into a functional prototype. Emphasize how you identified the problem, selected technologies, iterated based on feedback, and validated assumptions.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, quantify the results of your prototypes or projects. This could include efficiency gains, user adoption metrics, or how feedback led to specific product improvements.

• AEC Relevance: Tailor your examples to showcase your understanding of AEC workflows, BIM, CAD, or related engineering challenges. If direct AEC experience is limited, draw parallels from other complex technical domains.

• AI Application: If you have examples of using AI (LLMs, RAG, etc.) in a practical, problem-solving context, be prepared to present them clearly, explaining the problem, the solution, and the outcome.

Challenge Preparation:

• Technical Challenge: Expect a practical exercise, possibly involving a small coding task, a workflow design problem, or a scenario-based question requiring you to outline a prototyping approach. Be ready to articulate your thought process.

• Presentation Skills: Practice presenting your work concisely and effectively. Focus on the problem, your solution, the validation process, and the lessons learned.

• Communication: Be prepared to discuss your experience working with different teams (R&D, Product, Customers) and how you gather and integrate feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess both technical aptitude and collaborative skills. The "Technical Assessment Interview" is likely where candidates will need to shine by demonstrating their practical prototyping abilities, potentially through a presentation or a hands-on exercise. A strong portfolio that showcases the process of innovation and validation will be key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Programming Languages: Python (essential for scripting, APIs, AI integration), potentially others depending on specific prototyping needs.

• Prototyping Platforms: Low-code/no-code tools, scripting environments, potentially cloud platforms for hosting POCs.

• AEC Software: Familiarity with CAD/BIM software (e.g., Revit, AutoCAD, Advance Steel, BIM 360) and their APIs/extensibility frameworks.

• AI/ML Tools: Experience with AI-assisted development tools, LLM APIs (e.g., OpenAI, Azure AI), RAG implementations, and prompt engineering.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Tools for tracking user interaction with prototypes.

• Basic data analysis tools for evaluating feedback and POC performance. CRM & Automation:

• Understanding of how prototypes can integrate with or inform CRM and other business systems.

• Experience with workflow automation tools.

• Familiarity with APIs and data formats for system integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is centered around Python and APIs, with a strong emphasis on AI and AEC-specific software. Candidates should be comfortable learning and applying new tools rapidly. The role implies working with a diverse set of technologies to build functional prototypes quickly, rather than deep expertise in a single platform.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A core driver, encouraging exploration of new technologies and solutions for the AEC industry.

• Agility: The ability to adapt quickly to changing requirements, feedback, and technological advancements.

• Customer Focus: A commitment to understanding and addressing real-world customer needs through practical solutions.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork across departments and with external partners.

• Responsibility: Taking ownership of projects from ideation through validation and handover.

• Data-Driven: While not explicit for this role, the company's growth and digital transformation focus suggest an underlying reliance on data for decision-making.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect to work closely with R&D, Product Management, Customer Success, and Support teams.

• Agile & Iterative: Collaboration will likely involve frequent communication, feedback loops, and iterative development cycles.

• Knowledge Sharing: The role involves sharing lessons learned and prototype demonstrations to enable other teams.

• Global & Multicultural: Collaboration will occur across different countries and cultural backgrounds.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture is characterized by a strong drive for innovation, agility, and customer satisfaction, supported by collaborative and multicultural teamwork. Candidates should be adaptable, proactive, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, globally distributed environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapidly Evolving Technology: Keeping pace with advancements in AI, automation, and AEC software.

• Translating Ambiguity: Converting vague ideas or customer needs into concrete, testable prototypes.

• Balancing Speed and Quality: Developing functional POCs quickly while ensuring they are sufficiently robust for validation.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Effectively communicating technical concepts and prototype value to diverse stakeholders.

• Market Fit Validation: Ensuring prototypes address genuine market needs and have commercial potential.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Cutting-edge Technology: Direct exposure to and hands-on experience with AI, LLMs, RAG, and agentic workflows.

• AEC Industry Expertise: Deepening understanding of complex architectural, structural, and civil engineering processes.

• Product Development Lifecycle: Gaining insight into how innovative ideas are transformed into market-ready software products.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Enhancing communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

• Industry Conferences & Training: Opportunities to attend events and pursue certifications related to AI, software development, and AEC technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a steep learning curve and significant growth potential, particularly for individuals interested in the intersection of AI and engineering. The challenges are framed as opportunities for skill development and strategic contribution.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex engineering problem you've faced and how you used prototyping or experimentation to explore potential solutions."

• "How would you approach prototyping a new AI-driven feature for BIM software, from initial idea to customer validation?"

• "Walk us through a time you had to quickly learn a new technology. What was your process?"

• "How do you balance the need for rapid iteration with ensuring the quality and relevance of a prototype?"

• "Describe your experience using Python or APIs to automate tasks or build custom tools." Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Graitec and the AEC industry?"

• "How do you see AI impacting the future of AEC software?"

• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment. How do you work with R&D and Product teams?"

• "What are your thoughts on Graitec's stated values of Growth, Agility, Innovation, and Responsibility?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure your presentation around the "problem-solution-validation-outcome" framework.

• For each example, clearly state the engineering problem or use case, the prototype you built, the technologies you used (especially Python, APIs, AI), how you validated it (user feedback, internal testing), and the results or learnings.

• Be prepared to demonstrate live if possible, or share well-documented code/project summaries.

• Highlight your adaptability and ability to iterate based on feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing practical problem-solving skills, technical adaptability, and a clear understanding of the prototyping process within an AEC context. Candidates should be ready to discuss their experience with AI and automation in a tangible, results-oriented way.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the Graitec careers portal via the provided URL.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience with Python, APIs, CAD/BIM workflows, prototyping, and any exposure to AI or automation tools. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Portfolio Preparation: Gather examples of past projects that demonstrate your rapid prototyping skills, technical adaptability, and problem-solving approach, with a focus on AEC or similar technical domains. Be ready to discuss your process.

• Interview Practice: Prepare to articulate your experience with the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions, and practice presenting your technical work concisely.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Graitec's products, mission, and recent growth. Understand their position in the AEC software market and their commitment to innovation.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.