CAD Designer – Machined Parts
Role Type: Independent Contractor
Location: Remote
Compensation: $100–$150 USD per hour, based on experience and project fit
Schedule: Flexible, project-based
About the Role
We are seeking experienced mechanical designers to create realistic machined-part designs for an AI training project focused on CNC manufacturing.
You'll design parts that our CAM programmers and machinists will then program and cut. Each part should be one a real shop would make: realistic features, tolerances, and materials, ranging from simple prismatic parts to complex multi-axis work.
No prior AI experience is required. Your design and manufacturing experience is what matters.
What You'll Do
- Design machinable parts to a brief (part type, complexity, material, axis count).
- Deliver a clean STEP model and a fully dimensioned drawing (PDF) for each part, with tolerances, GD&T where appropriate, material, and finish callouts.
- Design for manufacturability: realistic radii, tool access, and workholding.
- Vary the work so we cover a range of features, setups, and difficulty.
- Revise designs based on feedback from the programmers who machine them.
Minimum Qualifications
- 5+ years of professional mechanical design experience with CNC-machined parts.
- Strong CAD skills in Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Onshape, or similar.
- Production-quality drawings, including tolerancing and GD&T.
- Solid understanding of machining processes and design-for-manufacturing.
- Clear written English.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience designing parts for 4-axis and 5-axis machining.
- Hands-on machining or CAM programming experience.
- Experience across industries (aerospace, medical, fluid handling, tooling, automation).
Engagement Details
- Fully remote independent-contractor engagement.
- Flexible hours, with work completed according to project deadlines.
- Compensation of $100–$150 USD per hour, depending on experience and project fit.
- Project scope and volume may vary based on business needs and the quality of submitted work.
- Contractors are responsible for their own equipment, software access, and applicable taxes.
If you design machined parts for a living and want to help shape how AI handles real manufacturing work, we encourage you to apply.
