Mechanical CAD Engineer (Hourly, Long-Term) – Pickleball Paddle Prototype Ended

I’m looking to hire a long-term, hourly mechanical CAD engineer to act like a fractional CAD/ME lead for a consumer product mechanism/interface. This is not a one-time modeling task — it will be ongoing back-and-forth iterations (design → 3D print → test → revise) until the mechanism is reliable, then refined for manufacturing readiness.

Scope / what I need:

Own and maintain a clean parametric CAD assembly (multi-part interface/mechanism + surrounding structure).

Design and iterate the mechanical interface/mechanism so it is robust, repeatable, and user-friendly.

Provide prototype-ready deliverables for each iteration: STEP + print-ready STLs (and native CAD), with brief notes on critical fit/clearances.

Once the design stabilizes, produce a manufacturer handoff package: 2D drawings with tolerances (GD&T where appropriate), materials/finish notes, BOM, and assembly/inspection notes.

CAD tool:

Tool-flexible: SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar is fine. I need deliverables I can interpret in Fusion, so please provide STEP assemblies/parts and keep files well-structured with clear versioning. Native CAD files should also be provided.

Iteration workflow:

I can 3D print locally for early iterations. Expect frequent revisions based on test feedback, especially around fit, wear points, and failure modes.

Confidentiality + files:

I’m not attaching detailed CAD at this stage for confidentiality.

Before any detailed file sharing, you must agree to NDA + work-for-hire/IP assignment + no-portfolio/no-public-sharing terms (cannot post, reference, or discuss the work).

Time / cadence:

Prefer someone available 10–20 hours per week, with 1–2 scheduled calls per week and async updates between calls.

Ready to start ASAP; expect continuous iteration for several weeks/months depending on testing outcomes.

Please reply with:

Relevant examples: 1–2 examples of mechanical assemblies you’ve designed (ideally including drawings/tolerances and confirmation they were built/manufactured).

Rate + availability: your hourly rate, typical hours/week you can commit, and ability to do 1–2 scheduled calls/week plus async updates.

Iteration workflow: how you run a fast prototype iteration cycle (feedback → revisions → version tracking → file handoff).

Fit/clearance approach: how you choose clearances/tolerances for early 3D-printed prototypes vs later manufacturing processes so parts assemble reliably and can be manufactured consistently. read less