Contract Mechanical Engineer for CAD, DFM of high pressure pneumatic hardware

Contracting out early-stage hardware design and development to mature a concept to a prototype-ready stage. This is a stealth idea that requires signing an NDA, but it offers the chance to work for a fast-paced, high-profile startup. Need an experienced mechanical design engineer to take it from concept geometry to fabrication-ready parts. Significant opportunity for follow-on work. WHAT YOU WOULD OWN - Parametric CAD from concept sketches, requirements and hand calculations - Design for manufacturability against CNC machining and additive processes - Fabrication drawings with proper GD&T and a defensible tolerance stack - Quoting (though not ordering) through Xometry (or similar): manage and deliver quotes, support and resolve DFM feedback. Follow on work through prototype iteration. would need to maintain BOM and parts tracker for revision control. WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU - 7+ years of professional mechanical design — real production parts, not just concept models - Specific 3+ years experience in high pressure pneumatic (air, nitrogen, or CO2) system design and production - Fluent in Fusion 360 and/or SolidWorks; native files are a deliverable - Genuine DFM instincts. You should be able to look at a part and say "this feature will double the machining cost, here is the cheaper way to get the same function" - Experience ordering through on-demand manufacturing services and managing suppliers - GD&T you can defend - Clear, low-overhead written communication. You will often work asynchronously REQUIREMENTS - Must be a U.S. person and located in the United States (this is a hard requirement) - Willing to sign a mutual NDA before receiving any technical material - Available 10–15 hours per week on a consistent basis ENGAGEMENT We would like to start with a paid 20-hour scoping engagement — you review what exists, tell us what you would change, and produce one small deliverable. If that goes well we move to an ongoing 15–20 hr/week arrangement through October with a potential extension through December. Please include in your proposal: 1. Two examples of parts you designed that were actually manufactured, with a sentence on what DFM decision saved cost or schedule. One example must be of a pneumatic system. 2. Your CAD environment and version 3. Your experience with Xometry, Protolabs, Fictiv or similar 4. Confirmation of U.S. person status and U.S. location 5. Your hourly rate and realistic weekly availability Please do not send a generic proposal. Reference something specific from this post.