Senior Mechanical/Product Development Engineer – Premium Beach Chair

Project Overview We are developing a differentiated premium folding beach chair based on conventional front-and-rear-leg architecture. The product incorporates a meaningful variation in how the user interacts with and experiences the chair. The underlying benefit and required functionality have already been validated through substantial hands-on prototype development and repeated physical testing. We previously posted an Upwork engineering opportunity relating to an earlier version of this product. Subsequent prototype testing validated the core user benefit but led us to discontinue that architecture and begin a substantially new design based on a more conventional folding-chair structure. We’ve prepared a comprehensive Product Requirements Document defining the chair’s intended operation, dimensions, geometry, performance criteria and principal engineering requirements. We have also developed preliminary ideas for several of the required mechanisms. We expect the selected engineer to evaluate those ideas critically, improve or replace them where appropriate, integrate the complete system in CAD and prepare the technical documentation required to fabricate Prototype 1. This is a focused mechanical-design and product-development project - not an open-ended ideation exercise or a basic CAD drafting project. The engineer will begin with defined requirements, substantial hands-on testing knowledge, and a clear prototype objective. The selected engineer must be capable of developing practical folding, pivoting, supporting and locking mechanisms while applying sound judgment regarding materials, load paths, tolerances, safety, durability, manufacturability and cost. As is customary for a new product development project, additional technical information will be provided to the selected engineer under an NDA. Candidates who applied to the previous project and whose experience aligns with these revised requirements are encouraged to apply again. Scope of Work The selected engineer will work directly with us to: • Review our product requirements • Join a kick off meeting with us to discuss the product requirements, prior testing results and prototype objective • Develop a complete conventional folding-chair base architecture to our dimensions • Evaluate our preliminary mechanical ideas • Design and integrate the required folding, pivoting, supporting and locking mechanisms • Develop a complete operating CAD assembly • Perform motion, folding, interference and clearance checks • Apply practical load-path, stability, wear and safety judgment • Recommend suitable prototype materials, tubing, hardware and joining methods • Refine the design following our review and feedback • Prepare a complete technical-drawing and fabrication package • Communicate with our selected prototype fabricators as reasonably necessary • Provide reasonable support through prototype quotation and fabrication Formal finite element analysis is not required for Prototype 1 unless separately agreed. The engineer is expected to apply sound mechanical judgment and appropriate basic calculations when evaluating load paths, component strength and likely failure points. The completed package must contain sufficient information for qualified prototype vendors to quote, fabricate and assemble Prototype 1. Required Deliverables The engineer will provide a complete design and fabrication package sufficient for qualified vendors to quote, manufacture and assemble Prototype 1. The package is expected to include: • Native CAD source files for the chair assembly and all custom-designed components STEP files for the complete assembly and custom components • Dimensioned PDF fabrication drawings for all custom manufactured parts, including applicable tube, bend, hole, slot, material, joining and tolerance information • Bill of materials identifying purchased hardware, material specifications, quantities and finishes • Assembly drawing or other instructions reasonably necessary to assemble Prototype 1 • Reasonable support in answering vendor questions during quotation and fabrication Ideal Experience We are looking for a practical, results-oriented mechanical/product development engineer who has personally helped turn ideas and physical proofs of concept into working prototypes and manufacturable products. The ideal candidate understands that a successful CAD model is not the final objective. The design must be capable of being quoted, fabricated, assembled, tested and refined using real materials and practical manufacturing processes. We want an engineer who anticipates how design decisions affect tooling, tolerances, part availability, fabrication difficulty, assembly labor, durability and cost. We are particularly interested in engineers with experience involving: • Folding chairs or outdoor furniture • Camping and recreational equipment • Strollers or mobility products • Exercise or bicycle equipment • Other portable consumer products • Aluminum tubular structures • Folding, pivoting, linkage or locking mechanisms • Bushings, bearings, fasteners and mechanical joints • Design for manufacture and assembly • Injection-molded or engineered-plastic components • Prototype-to-production development • Direct collaboration with fabrication shops and manufacturers Engagement and Budget We intend to select one engineer to proceed directly through the complete design and engineering package for Prototype 1. The project is expected to use two principal fixed-price milestones: 1. Integrated mechanical design and complete operating CAD assembly 2. Final technical drawings and Prototype 1 fabrication package Our target is to complete Milestone 1 within approximately four to five weeks after the kickoff meeting and Milestone 2 within approximately two to three additional weeks after approval of the integrated CAD design. This represents an anticipated total engineering period of approximately six to eight weeks, assuming timely feedback and availability from both parties. Applicants should indicate whether this timeframe is realistic based on their current workload and propose an alternative schedule if appropriate. Our expected fixed-price budget for the complete Prototype 1 engineering package is approximately $4,000-$5,000, excluding physical prototype fabrication, materials and post-prototype testing or redesign. We are willing to consider a proposal outside this range from an exceptionally qualified engineer who clearly explains the additional scope and value. Applicants are not expected to provide a binding fixed-price proposal based solely on this posting. Please provide your hourly rate and indicate whether the stated budget appears generally consistent with the disclosed scope. After the engineer is selected and has reviewed the complete project materials, we will finalize the scope, milestone pricing, schedule, included revision cycles and any significant assumptions or exclusions before substantive CAD development begins. About Us & Working Relationship We are Richard and Cameron, the originators and owners of the product. We have taken a hands-on role in developing, building, modifying and testing it and look forward to working collaboratively with the selected engineer throughout the engagement. It is important that we know who will personally perform the work. No subcontractors, agency employees or additional team members may participate without our prior approval and appropriate confidentiality and intellectual property obligations. We collaborate closely and expect clear explanations of important engineering decisions. Availability for periodic video calls during U.S. Eastern Time is strongly preferred. The selected engineer will be required to sign standard confidentiality and intellectual-property agreements before receiving the complete technical materials. To Apply Please include: • Your primary CAD platform • Whether you will personally perform the engineering and CAD work, and whether anyone else would participate • Two or three examples of products you personally worked on involving folding, pivoting or locking mechanisms, aluminum tubular structures or similar mechanical systems • For each example, a brief description of your personal role, the engineering problem you solved and whether the product progressed to prototype or production • A brief example of a design decision you made to improve manufacturability, simplify fabrication or assembly, or reduce cost • Your experience working directly with prototype fabricators and manufacturers • Your hourly rate and whether the stated project budget appears generally consistent with the disclosed scope • Your availability to begin, anticipated general timeframe and availability for periodic video calls during U.S. Eastern Time