Mechanical Engineering Expert - Remote Contract
Listing checked September 22, 2026 · pay as published by AfterQuery
Overview
AfterQuery needs mechanical engineers for a remote contract focused on CAD design and engineering analysis. Projects run over the next 2 to 3 weeks on your own schedule, and you choose assignments on a project-by-project basis, with 10 to 20 hours of work each week for the projects you accept. You will build and refine SolidWorks or similar models, create manufacturing-ready BOMs and drawings, and run stress, tolerance, and DFM checks. The role comes from an early-stage Y Combinator-backed company, so you see product development decisions up close. Pay ranges from $75 to $100 per hour.
What You'll Do6
- 1Build and revise CAD models for parts, assemblies and complete mechanical systems.
- 2Produce engineering drawings, bills of materials and technical documents that meet manufacturing standards.
- 3Run stress, tolerance and design for manufacturability reviews to test each concept.
- 4Carry product development from first concept through prototype builds and into production-ready designs.
- 5Record design decisions, assumptions and methods so other engineers can reproduce your work.
- 6Review existing mechanical designs and recommend practical changes.
Requirements9
- 12 to 4 years of professional experience in mechanical engineering, product design or a related field.
- 2Strong proficiency with at least one major CAD platform, for example SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Fusion 360, CATIA, NX or an equivalent tool.
- 3Proven ability to create detailed mechanical designs and engineering drawings that meet industry standards.
- 4Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to complete technical tasks on your own.
- 5Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design or a related engineering field.
- 6Experience with FEA or simulation tools such as ANSYS, Abaqus or SolidWorks Simulation.
- 7Familiarity with manufacturing methods including CNC machining, injection molding, sheet metal fabrication or additive manufacturing.
- 8Background in hardware startups, product development firms or other demanding engineering teams.
- 9Knowledge of systems integration, mechatronics or electromechanical product design.
Who Should Apply
Mechanical engineers with 2 to 4 years of paid experience and a degree in mechanical engineering or product design will fit this contract well. The best candidates can open SolidWorks, CATIA or another major CAD package and produce drawings, BOMs and tolerance checks with little oversight. Experience with FEA or manufacturing methods such as CNC machining or injection molding helps because projects often move from concept into production. People who need daily direction, fixed hours or one long-term team will find the project-by-project setup a poor match. Applications often score low when they claim CAD skills but show no portfolio of detailed drawings, assemblies or manufacturable designs, or when the cover letter ignores the requested programming language list and the project-based nature of the work.
Salary Insight
Pay ranges from $75 to $100 per hour, set per project. That rate sits above many contract mechanical engineering roles and matches engineers with 2 to 4 years of CAD and product design experience who handle analysis and documentation on their own. Earnings depend on how many assignments you accept and finish during the 2 to 3 week window.
Pay and demand for Mechanical Engineering roles
AggregatedTypical pay
$76/hour
This role
$75–$100/hr
Most Mechanical Engineering roles pay $59–$98 per hour. This role's pay falls inside that range.
Based on 228 similar roles that publish pay · 26 publish only a top rate; those count at the rate they gave
Rates shown per hour. Yearly and monthly pay converted; one-time fees and non-USD pay are not included.
- Live similar roles
- 265
- Listed in last 30 days
- 150
- Remote
- 90%
Hiring most right now: micro1 (99) · Mercor (52) · AfterQuery (32)
Most requested skills · share of roles
- technical writing15%
- python10%
- mechanical engineering9%
- matlab8%
Figures from Mechanical Engineering roles live on NearSkill when this page loaded. A role can close before you apply, so check the listing itself.
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Compensation
$75–100/hr
Required Skills
Application Tip
Write a short cover letter that lists every programming language you know, names the CAD and FEA tools you use, and points to two or three examples of detailed drawings, BOMs or DFM work you produced. That gives reviewers direct evidence for the design, documentation and analysis requirements.
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