3D CAD Designer
Somewhere
Hirezar Summary for South African Applicants
This fully remote full time position at Somewhere explicitly welcomes applicants based in South Africa. As a remote position, you can work from anywhere in South Africa — whether you're based in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, or a smaller town.
Job Description
Mechanical 3D CAD Designer — Product Development
Location:Remote – South Africa or PhilippinesEmployment Type:Full-Time (8am - 5 pm EST)Industry:ManufacuringReports To:Founder / Executive Leadership
We design and manufacture high-reliability custom hardware for banking and security applications, including camera mounts, protective housings, custom brackets, retrofit kits, and specialized physical components. We manufacture usingSLA and SLS 3D printing, sheet-metal fabrication, and CNC machining, with an active product roadmap combining mechanical design, plastics, cameras, and embedded sensors.
Role Overview
We are urgently seeking a mechanically minded3D CAD Designerto partner directly with our founder.
Our founder currently dedicates ~40 hours a week to CAD and maintains a clear vision for upcoming product builds. Your primary mission is to translate that vision into accurate, fully editable 3D models, complex assemblies, and production-ready technical drawings. You will handle routine mechanical details, solve fit issues, and serve as our core CAD specialist for initial model creation, rapid revisions, and simple layout tasks—supported directly by leadership on complex mechanical challenges.
This position offers an extraordinary mentorship environment: our founder commits10 hours per weekto dedicated, hands-on working sessions to review designs, share trade secrets, and walk through manufacturing strategies with you.
Key Responsibilities
* CAD Modeling & Design:Create and iterate brackets, mounts, covers, adapters, and custom enclosures based on rough sketches, reference components, dimensions, and live feedback.
CAD Modeling & Design:Create and iterate brackets, mounts, covers, adapters, and custom enclosures based on rough sketches, reference components, dimensions, and live feedback.
* Assembly & Detail Resolution:Work out practical mounting arrangements, select appropriate hardware/fasteners, define functional clearances, and resolve spatial packaging constraints.
Assembly & Detail Resolution:Work out practical mounting arrangements, select appropriate hardware/fasteners, define functional clearances, and resolve spatial packaging constraints.
* Manufacturing Preparation:Generate organized CAD files, assembly drawings, and export formats optimized for SLA/SLS 3D printing, sheet-metal bending, and CNC machining.
Manufacturing Preparation:Generate organized CAD files, assembly drawings, and export formats optimized for SLA/SLS 3D printing, sheet-metal bending, and CNC machining.
* Design Optimization:Identify potential interference or manufacturing flaws early; propose clean, sensible mechanical improvements.
Design Optimization:Identify potential interference or manufacturing flaws early; propose clean, sensible mechanical improvements.
* Iterative Design:Update and refine models rapidly based on prototype testing and engineering feedback.
Iterative Design:Update and refine models rapidly based on prototype testing and engineering feedback.
What We Are Looking For
* Mechanical CAD Proficiency:Strong mid-level skills using 3D mechanical CAD software (SolidWorks, Inventor, Fusion 360, or similar) with an eye for physical part design.
Mechanical CAD Proficiency:Strong mid-level skills using 3D mechanical CAD software (SolidWorks, Inventor, Fusion 360, or similar) with an eye for physical part design.
* Practical Manufacturing Awareness:Exposure to or familiarity with SLA/SLS printing, sheet metal fabrication, or CNC machining. A strong desire to learn what you don't already know is required.
Practical Manufacturing Awareness:Exposure to or familiarity with SLA/SLS printing, sheet metal fabrication, or CNC machining. A strong desire to learn what you don't already know is required.
* AutoCAD Familiarity:Ability to comfortably handle simple tasks and drafting work in AutoCAD.
AutoCAD Familiarity:Ability to comfortably handle simple tasks and drafting work in AutoCAD.
* Engaged Collaboration:You thrive in direct working environments, ask thoughtful questions, welcome constructive feedback, and work self-sufficiently between collaborative sessions.
Engaged Collaboration:You thrive in direct working environments, ask thoughtful questions, welcome constructive feedback, and work self-sufficiently between collaborative sessions.
* Openness to AI & Continuous Learning:Willingness to integrate AI tools into your daily workflow for research, documentation, problem-solving, and process automation (while maintaining attention to detail and verifying AI outputs).
Openness to AI & Continuous Learning:Willingness to integrate AI tools into your daily workflow for research, documentation, problem-solving, and process automation (while maintaining attention to detail and verifying AI outputs).
Dedicated Mentorship & Culture
* 10 Hours/Week Direct Founder Time:Scheduled, non-negotiable sessions with the founder covering product intent, design strategy, and real-time problem solving.
10 Hours/Week Direct Found
Tips for South African Applicants
Timezone Advantage
South Africa (SAST, UTC+2) overlaps well with European business hours and has a few hours of overlap with US East Coast. Mention your timezone flexibility in your application.
Salary in Context
Even without a listed salary, international remote roles typically pay 2-3x more than equivalent local positions in South Africa due to the exchange rate advantage.
Application Tips
Tailor your CV to international standards — use a clean format, highlight remote work experience, and include your English proficiency. Many SA applicants succeed by emphasising their strong work ethic and cultural adaptability.
Load Shedding Preparedness
If you're applying for a remote role, having a backup power solution (UPS, inverter, or generator) and mobile data as a backup internet connection shows employers you're prepared for South Africa's infrastructure challenges.
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About Somewhere
Somewhere is a company in the Recruitment & Staffing industry that hires remote workers from South Africa. They currently have 1632 open positions on Hirezar. View all Somewhere jobs →