Robotics Engineer Needed to Design & Build Automated Coffee Bagging, Sealing & Labelling Machine

We are looking for an experienced robotics, automation, mechanical, or mechatronics engineer to design and build a working end-to-end coffee bean bagging automation system. This is not a consultancy-only project. We need someone who can take the project from concept through to a functional machine, including mechanical design, component selection, control system design, build support, testing, and handover. Project Goal We want a machine/system where an operator selects an order on a screen, and the system automatically handles the coffee bagging process from bean selection through to sealing and labelling. The system needs to handle: * 5 different coffee bean types * 4 different bag sizes * Different target fill weights depending on bag size * Sticker application after sealing * Separate flavour stickers for each bean type * Sticker cartridge/roll format * Whole roasted coffee beans * Flexible coffee pouches with degassing valves Required Workflow The target workflow is: 1. Operator selects the required order on a touchscreen/HMI/control screen 2. System identifies: * Bean type * Bag size * Target fill weight * Correct flavour sticker 3. Correct bean type is dispensed 4. Correct bag size is loaded/positioned 5. Bag is filled to the correct weight 6. Bag is sealed 7. Correct flavour sticker is applied from the sticker roll/cartridge 8. Finished bag exits ready for packing/dispatch What We Need Built We need the freelancer/engineer to design and help build a complete automated machine or modular automation cell. This may include: * Multi-bean hopper/feed system for 5 bean varieties * Weigh-filling mechanism * Bag holding/loading/positioning mechanism * Bag size selection logic * Sealing mechanism or integrated continuous band sealer * Sticker application mechanism * Touchscreen/HMI or order selection screen * Sensors for bag presence, fill confirmation, sticker application, and safety * Motors, servos, pneumatics, actuators, or robotics as needed * Control system using PLC, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, industrial controller, or other suitable platform * Frame/enclosure/workstation design * Food-safe contact surfaces where required * Safety guarding and emergency stop * CAD design * Electrical/control drawings * Bill of materials * Assembly instructions * Testing and commissioning process Important: This Is a Design & Build Project We are not looking for someone who only provides a recommendation report. We need someone who can produce the actual engineered design and either: 1. Build the machine and ship it to us, or 2. Design the machine and coordinate/support local assembly with us, or 3. Provide a hybrid approach where key modules are built by you and final assembly happens locally. We are open to paying separately for: * Components * 3D printing * Machining * Electronics * Motors/actuators * Off-the-shelf machinery * Fabrication * Shipping * Local assembly costs The Upwork project fee should cover your engineering/design/build labour. Materials and external fabrication costs can be quoted separately. Current Production Context We currently bag approximately 1,500 coffee bags per month manually. The current process is: * Scoop beans into bag * Weigh manually * Adjust weight * Heat seal the bag * Apply the correct flavour sticker We want to automate this into a repeatable machine-led workflow. The machine should be designed for current volumes but with room to scale. Deliverables We expect the project to produce a working automation solution, not just a document. Required deliverables include: 1. Full machine concept and automation architecture 2. CAD design of the full system 3. CAD files for custom parts 4. 3D-printable files where applicable 5. Mechanical drawings 6. Electrical/control system design 7. Control logic/software 8. HMI/touchscreen interface design 9. Bill of materials 10. Supplier/component list 11. Assembly plan 12. Build support 13. Testing procedure 14. Final commissioning support 15. Operating instructions 16. Maintenance instructions Machine Requirements The system should be designed to: * Handle 5 bean varieties without cross-selection mistakes * Handle 4 bag sizes * Fill accurately by weight * Reduce spillage * Avoid bean jamming/bridging * Keep bags upright during filling and sealing * Avoid damaging degassing valves * Apply the correct sticker to the correct bag * Be simple for staff to operate * Be compact enough for a small production workspace * Be maintainable without specialist engineering support every day * Be reliable enough for regular production use Ideal Freelancer You should have hands-on experience designing and building real automation systems. Relevant experience includes: * Robotics * Mechatronics * Packaging automation * Food production automation * Weigh-filling machinery * Bagging systems * Labelling/sticker applicator mechanisms * Pick-and-place systems * Pneumatics * Servo/motor control * PLC/HMI systems * Arduino/Raspberry Pi/industrial controller builds * CAD for fabrication * 3D printing and prototyping * Small factory automation Experience with coffee, dry food, granular products, flexible pouches, or small-scale packaging machines would be a major advantage. Application Requirements Please only apply if you can support the project through design and build, not just provide advice. In your application, please include: 1. Examples of machines, robotics systems, or automation cells you have designed or built 2. Photos/videos/CAD examples of previous work if available 3. Your proposed technical approach 4. Whether you would build and ship the machine, support local assembly, or offer a hybrid model 5. What components you think would be best bought off the shelf 6. What components you would custom design 7. Your preferred control system 8. Estimated design/build timeline 9. Estimated engineering fee 10. Rough expected build/materials cost range 11. Any information you need from us before quoting properly Notes Resources, parts, machining, fabrication, 3D printing, electronics, and shipping will be paid for separately. We are looking for a practical, buildable, working automation system that can be used in our coffee production workflow.