Hardware Product Designer[Individuals ONLY, No Agency]

We are a technology company based in Dubai, UAE, building proprietary AI-powered hardware from the ground up. Our hardware lineup includes compact indoor smart modules, ruggedized outdoor units, portable battery-powered towers, and vehicle-mounted systems. We are looking for an experienced Hardware Product Designer to join us on a part-time freelance basis to design, refine, and prepare for manufacturing the physical enclosures and casings for our hardware products. What You’ll Be Working On • Designing enclosures and casings for IoT sensor devices and consumer-facing electronics • Working across both plastic (injection molding, thermoforming) and metal (sheet metal, die casting, CNC machining) fabrication methods • Creating production-ready CAD models with full engineering drawings, tolerances, and BOMs • Designing for thermal management — our devices generate significant heat and require effective dissipation strategies • Ensuring designs meet IP ratings (up to IP67 for outdoor units), environmental specs, and mounting requirements • Collaborating on DFM (Design for Manufacturability) with our engineering team and fabrication partners • Iterating on form factor, ergonomics, and aesthetics while respecting strict functional constraints (mounting heights, cable routing, lens aperture clearances) Hardware Context Our devices are compact but pack serious compute power. You’ll be designing casings that house high-performance compute boards, optical sensors, storage modules, connectivity components, and in some variants, battery systems. Product variants range from sleek, minimal indoor units to rugged outdoor modules and freestanding portable towers. What We’re Looking For • 5+ years of experience in industrial/product design for hardware products • Strong portfolio showing manufactured products — not just renders. We want to see things that went to production • Deep understanding of plastic and metal fabrication processes (injection molding, sheet metal, die casting, CNC) • Proficiency in professional CAD software (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, CATIA, Rhino, or equivalent) • Experience with DFM, tolerance stacking, and working with manufacturing partners • Knowledge of thermal design considerations for electronics enclosures • Experience designing to IP rating standards (IP65/IP67) • Ability to produce complete deliverables: 3D models, 2D engineering drawings, material specs, and BOM • Strong communication skills — you’ll be working asynchronously with our team Nice to Have • Experience with IoT or edge computing hardware enclosures • Background in designing products for harsh environments (extreme heat, dust, rain) • Familiarity with rapid prototyping (3D printing for fit checks, CNC prototypes) • Experience with CMF (Color, Material, Finish) specification • GCC/Middle East manufacturing ecosystem familiarity Engagement Details • Type: Part-time freelance, ongoing • Hours: Flexible, estimated 15–25 hours/week depending on project load • Location: Remote (any timezone, but overlap with GST/UAE timezone for key syncs is preferred) • Duration: Long-term relationship — this is not a one-off project IMPORTANT — Individual Freelancers Only: This opportunity is strictly for individual freelancers. We will not consider applications from agencies, studios, design firms, or any third-party representatives. If you are applying on behalf of someone else, please do not apply. We want to work directly with the person doing the design work. How to Apply To be considered, please submit the following as part of your Upwork proposal: 1. Your portfolio — Share 3–5 examples of hardware products you designed that were actually manufactured. For each, briefly describe your role, the materials/processes used, and any constraints you solved for. You may include a link to your online portfolio or attach a PDF. 2. A short intro — Tell us about yourself in 2–3 sentences. What kind of hardware have you worked on? What’s your design philosophy when balancing aesthetics with manufacturability?