CAD Product Designer / 3D Printing Engineer

Job Description:

CAD Product Designer / 3D Printing Engineer  Remote | Contract / Project-Based | Potential for Ongoing Work  About Rugged Print  Rugged Print designs and manufactures rugged, purpose-built organization systems for the garage and the range. We specialize in custom 3D-printed storage and organization products designed around existing professional-grade case platforms.  We are expanding our product line and are looking for an experienced CAD Product Designer / Mechanical Design Engineer who can take a physical product concept from measurement and engineering through prototyping, fit testing, revision, and production-ready files.  This is not simply an STL modeling position. We need someone who understands functional product design, dimensional accuracy, modular systems, tolerances, assemblies, and commercial 3D-print manufacturing.  The Role:  You will develop a modular storage system designed specifically around nine existing commercial case platforms from Milwaukee PACKOUT and DEWALT.  The initial project includes:  5 Milwaukee PACKOUT case platforms  ● 48-22-8435 ● 48-22-8436 ● 48-22-8430 ● 48-22-8431 ● 48-22-8432  4 DEWALT case platforms  ● DWST08165 ● DWST14735 ● DWST14825 ● DWST08020  Each case must be independently measured and engineered. Designs cannot assume that dimensions or inserts are interchangeable between cases.  The goal is to create a modular, production-ready system consisting of interchangeable components and caliber-specific storage modules while maintaining the normal operation of the original case.  What You Will Design:  The system may include:  ● Modular upper and lower sections ● Removable caliber-specific trays/modules ● Cartridge-retention systems ● Internal dividers ● Accessory-storage areas ● Integrated labeling ● Rugged Print branding ● Interchangeable components where engineering permits ● Production-ready assemblies  The product line will ultimately support approximately 40 ammunition calibers and cartridge configurations, ranging from small rimfire and handgun ammunition through rifle and large-format cartridges.  Each cartridge configuration must be engineered according to its actual physical dimensions and geometry. Similar bullet diameter does not automatically mean cartridges can share the same storage geometry.  Responsibilities:  The selected designer will be responsible for:  ● Accurately modeling each case and its usable internal geometry ● Developing parametric, editable CAD designs ● Engineering modular components for repeatable manufacturing ● Designing appropriate clearances, tolerances, retention features, and assembly interfaces ● Ensuring inserts do not interfere with case lids, seals, latches, handles, stacking systems, organizer cups, dividers, or other factory functionality ● Creating prototype and fit-test versions before final production ● Revising designs based on physical fit-testing feedback ● Optimizing components for commercial FDM 3D printing ● Designing specifically for Bambu Lab printers and Bambu Studio workflows ● Reducing unnecessary print time and material without compromising product strength ● Maintaining organized file naming, version control, and revision history ● Preparing complete manufacturing documentation  Required Deliverables:  For approved designs, we will require complete engineering and production files, including:  ● Native editable CAD files ● STEP files ● STL files ● 3MF files ● Individual component files ● Complete assemblies ● Upper and lower modules where applicable ● Fully constrained assemblies ● Exploded views ● Dimensioned drawings ● Section views ● Prototype and fit-test files ● Final production-ready files ● Recommended print orientation ● Recommended Bambu Studio settings ● Material recommendations ● Tolerance specifications ● Assembly instructions ● Manufacturing notes ● File index ● Version and revision documentation  Files must be professionally organized so another qualified engineer or manufacturer can open, understand, modify, and manufacture the product without depending on the original designer.  Required Experience:  We are looking for someone with demonstrated experience in several of the following areas:  ● Mechanical CAD design ● Product engineering ● Parametric modeling ● Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Onshape, Inventor, or comparable professional CAD software ● Design for additive manufacturing / DfAM ● FDM 3D printing ● Bambu Lab printers and Bambu Studio ● Modular product systems ● Mechanical assemblies ● Tolerance and clearance design ● Reverse engineering physical products ● Designing from physical measurements ● Design for manufacturing ● Prototype-to-production product development  Experience designing organizers, cases, tool-storage systems, modular inserts, fixtures, trays, or similar functional products is highly desirable.  What We Are NOT Looking For:  We are not looking for someone whose experience is primarily:  Artistic 3D modeling Character modeling Rendering only Basic STL modification Hobby-level CAD Downloading or modifying existing online models  This position requires engineering-level functional product design.  Prototype and Approval Process:  Development will occur in stages.  The designer will first create fit-test/prototype versions. Rugged Print will physically test the components in the applicable Milwaukee and DEWALT cases.  Feedback and measurements will then be provided for revisions.  A design is not considered complete until the approved version has been converted into a documented, production-ready system.  Intellectual Property and Confidentiality:  This is a work-for-hire / exclusive product-development engagement. Rugged Print requires complete ownership of all project-specific designs and work product upon full payment, including native CAD files, sketches, models, assemblies, drawings, prototypes, revisions, manufacturing files, STL files, STEP files, 3MF files, and derivative project files. The selected designer must agree to confidentiality and intellectual-property assignment terms before receiving the complete proprietary project specifications. Project designs may not be resold, reused for another customer, uploaded publicly, distributed, published, placed in a portfolio, or used to create substantially similar commercial products without prior written permission from Rugged Print. No subcontracting or third-party sharing is permitted without written approval. Any pre-existing templates, models, libraries, scripts, components, or other intellectual property proposed for use in the project must be disclosed and approved before being incorporated. To Apply: Please submit: ● A brief description of your CAD and mechanical product-design experience. ● The CAD software you use. ● Your experience with Bambu Lab printers and/or commercial FDM printing. ● Examples of functional products you have personally designed. ● Examples of modular assemblies, organizers, inserts, enclosures, fixtures, or comparable work. ● Whether you are comfortable delivering fully editable native CAD files and transferring project-specific intellectual-property rights. ● Your hourly rate and/or preferred project pricing structure. ● Your availability and estimated weekly capacity. ● Your location and working hours/time zone. Important: Please include actual CAD/product-engineering examples. Rendering and artistic 3D-modeling portfolios alone will not be considered. Shortlisted candidates will receive the detailed technical scope and may be asked to complete a small paid test project before being awarded the full product-development scope.