Manufacturing Design Engineer (FreeCAD)

What you'll do

You create and modify parametric 3D models of mechanical parts and assemblies, mainly in FreeCAD, and produce the engineering drawings that go with them: GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, everything needed to hand a part to a shop. Designs span sheet metal, CNC machining, plastics and injection moulding.

Each model is checked for accuracy and manufacturability, and you write the technical documentation and assembly instructions that become reference material for training AI design tools. Technical reviewers send feedback and you revise.

The FreeCAD focus is the notable detail. Open-source, scriptable CAD is the kind of tool an AI agent can drive programmatically, which is likely why it was picked over the commercial packages most engineers use daily.

Who fits

• At least 2 years designing mechanical components for manufacture
• Strong FreeCAD or similar parametric CAD skills, including assemblies and drawing generation
• Hands-on experience with sheet metal, CNC, plastics and injection moulding design
• Solid GD&T, tolerance analysis and DFM knowledge
• A record of production-grade models validated against real manufacturability
• Clear written and spoken communication

What it pays

$40–100/hour, micro1's published figure. A 2.5x spread with nothing published about placement; depth across all four manufacturing processes is a reasonable guess at what moves you up, but the ad does not say. No pay structure or hours are stated.

Worth knowing

Good:

• A 2-year floor makes this accessible to earlier-career design engineers
• SolidWorks or Creo users can apply if they can work in a comparable parametric tool
• 50 openings
• Real design work: drawings and DFM, not only reviewing AI output

Less good:

• If you have never used FreeCAD, expect a learning curve on your own time
• Wide band with no placement criteria
• No hours, duration or start date published
• Contractor engagement: no benefits, your own tax to manage

About this listing

Posted by micro1 on its own jobs portal and read on 24 September 2026. Location is Remote with no country list. micro1 runs several mechanical listings at once; this is the one centred on manufacturing drawings in FreeCAD. See micro1.