Mechanical Engineer Needed for Compact Consumer Product Prototype — Mechanism Design / 3D CAD

I’m looking for a mechanical engineer, product design engineer, or experienced prototype designer to help with the first phase of a compact consumer product prototype. This is a dog waste pickup tool concept. The initial phase focuses on mechanism feasibility and design direction, not a final or production-ready product. Product direction: * Compact, handheld, portable design with a slim telescoping wand and small angled pickup head * Designed for use with standard dog poop bags if possible * Intended for post-pickup use (not a catching device), minimizing smearing and temporarily containing waste near the head * Allows manual removal and tying of the bag * Target collapsed size of approximately 12 inches, if practical Important: Portability is critical. The design should be lightweight and discreet, not bulky like a large grabber tool, and suitable for carrying during walks. First phase goal: A fixed-price phase focused on evaluating mechanism feasibility and identifying a viable concept direction. Phase 1 deliverables may include: * Recommended mechanism and form factor direction * Rough sketches or simple CAD concepts, including head/bag interface * Assessment of standard bag compatibility * Key mechanical risks, tradeoffs, and simplest path to a proof-of-concept prototype * Rough estimate for the next build/test phase Budget: $300 fixed for Phase 1. If successful, a second paid phase may follow for physical prototype build, testing, video demonstration, and shipping. Please reply with: 1. Relevant experience with compact mechanical products, mechanisms, telescoping designs, 3D CAD, or 3D printed prototypes 2. Your approach to the first phase 3. What you can deliver within the $300 budget 4. Any immediate concerns or tradeoffs 5. Whether you can build/test physical prototypes in a later phase