Find the perfect Mechanical Design Engineers in Germany in minutes from 15,000 CVs with AI matching and vetted availability.
Bring in Mechanical Design Engineers for CAD models, machine and fixture design, tolerance analysis, and prototype-ready documentation. Ideal for new product development, redesigns, and plant equipment updates. Get fast, precise matching with vetted, available freelancers.
About the role
What they do Mechanical Design Engineers turn requirements into manufacturable hardware. They design parts, assemblies, and machine systems, then refine them until they can be built, tested, and maintained with confidence.
- Create 3D CAD models and 2D drawings
- Define tolerances, fits, and material choices
- Design assemblies, fixtures, and mechanisms
- Prepare BOMs, documentation, and release packs
- Support prototyping, testing, and design changes
Where they add value Companies bring in a freelance Mechanical Design Engineer when internal teams are overloaded, a project needs a fresh technical view, or a specialist toolset is missing. This is common in machine building, industrial equipment, consumer products, automotive suppliers, and product development work in Germany.
Freelancers are especially useful for short-term peaks, redesigns, supplier changes, and urgent updates to existing equipment. They can join on-site for workshops, measurements, and build support, then continue remote work on CAD and documentation.
Core skills A strong Mechanical Design Engineer combines practical engineering judgment with clean CAD work. They understand how a part will be made, assembled, and serviced, not just how it looks on screen.
- Solid CAD and drawing discipline in tools like SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, Creo, or Inventor
- DFM and DFA thinking for production and assembly
- Tolerance stack-ups and interface management
- Material, fastening, and manufacturing method knowledge
- Clear handover to suppliers, tooling teams, and manufacturing
Typical deliverables The work often centers on drawings and design packages that can move straight into engineering review or production planning. A good freelancer keeps the structure tidy and the assumptions visible.
- Concept studies and layout options
- Detailed 3D parts and assemblies
- 2D manufacturing drawings with clear dimensions and notes
- BOMs, revision updates, and change documentation
- Prototype support and issue resolution during build
Tools and methods Mechanical design work is usually shaped by CAD, engineering checks, and close coordination with manufacturing. Depending on the project, the engineer may also work with simulation, PDM systems, and supplier feedback loops.
The best professionals do not stop at model creation. They question interfaces, access for maintenance, assembly sequence, cost drivers, and risk in the release stage.
What strong profiles look like Good Mechanical Design Engineers are precise, structured, and easy to work with. They can explain trade-offs in plain language and keep projects moving when requirements change.
- They ask the right questions early
- They document decisions clearly
- They handle revisions without losing control of the design
- They work well with mechanical, electrical, and production teams
- They deliver designs that can be built, not just discussed
Meet FRATCH Mechanical Design Engineers
Thomas Peter
Lifting Device Designer
Last position:
Lifting Device Designer at TP-Produktdesign
- Design of a 3-point quick coupling for tractor lifting attachment
- Development of a bracket for a tow flange device
Cedric Tiogo
B2B Freelance Design Engineer for Special-Purpose Machinery
Last position:
B2B Freelance Design Engineer for Special-Purpose Machinery at FEM-Composites GmbH
- Cost estimation for a hydraulic system, taking into account the costs over the entire product life cycle and optimizing the technical specifications.
Mohsen Najah
Freelance CAD Designer
Last position:
Freelance CAD Designer at Thielmann Ucon GmbH
- Design of an IBC container unloading station
- Creation of manufacturing and detail drawings
- Support for the purchasing team
Hüseyin Özgün Gönüllü
Freelance Mechanical Engineer - CAD Designer
Last position:
Freelance Mechanical Engineer - Designer at Gridesign
Conception and detailed design of mechanical systems.
CAD modeling, drawings and calculations.
FEM, motion analysis and reverse engineering.
Preparation of technical proposals and claim management.
AIRBUS A-320 Assembly Station.
AIRBUS A-350 Manual Assembly Station.
FORD Truck R&D Prototype Manufacturing Station.
Michael Messer
Design Engineer
Last position:
Design Engineer at Schüssler Technik GmbH
- Development and design of drives with support from product management
- Technical support for purchasing
- Creation of requirements and functional specifications, FMEAs, calculations and verifications with CAE, test protocols
- Communication with suppliers, customers, production, assembly, quality management and product management
- Testing products and error analysis
- Support for marketing activities (e.g. trade shows)
Reuf Kadic
Independent Mechanical Design Engineer
Last position:
Independent Mechanical Design Engineer at Herrenknecht Vertikal GmbH (Herrenknecht AG)
- Development and design of a new oil drilling machine for the Beatrice oil platform, Scotland
- Concept development of the Pipe-Overdeck work platform with crane, total load 200 tons
- Static FEM calculation and CFD flow calculation for the safe drainage of oil-contaminated wastewater
- CAD: CREO, Model Manager, SAP
Bernd Schamberger
Diplom-Ingenieur, Development Engineer, Senior Design Engineer
Last position:
Diplom-Ingenieur, Development Engineer, Senior Design Engineer at Microvision GmbH
- Development of optomechanical components and assemblies in collaboration with systems and optics development, considering feasibility, space requirements, handling, manufacturing aspects and series production suitability
- Preparation of mechanical studies and consulting on studies to meet customer requirements, detailed design and custom fabrication for proof of concept of initial active samples
- Concepts for injection molding tools for first samples and series production
- Prototype designs, prototype manufacturing and CNC small series production
- Design studies for new generations of LiDAR sensors and implementation of specific customer requests, considering conventional and future sensor technologies
- Design of inspection, measuring and testing fixtures, drawing derivation, awarding and supervision of production
- Procurement of special accessories
- Derivations for marketing with renderings, turntable animations, explosion simulations and illustrations
- Assistance with static calibration and LiDAR testing
- Laboratory setups as well as general simulations for lab applications, software-assisted alignment
- Setup and maintenance of a company PDM
Vladimir Grega
Design Engineer (freelance)
Last position:
Design Engineer (freelance) at BITZER Kühlmaschinenbau GmbH
- As part of the development of a new series of screw compressors, with a special focus on the design of a new electrical terminal box:
- Taking over the analysis of the design requirements and the relevant documents as well as CAD data
- Developing a well-thought-out concept for the design of the electrical terminal box
- Considering technical, economic, and safety-related requirements
- Compliance with safety regulations and IP protection requirements
- Taking into account design guidelines as well as assembly and user-friendliness
- Considering UL certification, plastic injection-mold-friendly design with Siemens NX, supplier requirements, cost-effectiveness, and scalability for the entire series
- Subsequent precise and targeted implementation of the design based on the developed concept
Tomasz Wronowski
Design Engineer/ Freelancer
Last position:
Design Engineer/ Freelancer at Reiser Simulation and Training GmbH
- Designed components with Catia V5 (Generative Shape Design, Part Design, Drafting) and AutoCAD
- Full-flight simulator: developed a platform with an electromechanical system to move the platform and instructor/observer seats
- Airbus H145: designed seat slide rails
- VR flight simulator: developed a pedal mounting system
- Train simulator: designed a brake controller system
- Sketched concepts for quick visualization and as a communication tool
- Performed technical analyses, including statistical and tolerance analysis
- Collaborated with engineers and project teams to ensure manufacturability, cost efficiency, and quality standards compliance
- Managed and maintained CAD data in the PDM system (S4)
Dane Clarke
Mechanical Design Engineer
Last position:
Mechanical Design Engineer at SUSS MicroTec
- Independent work as a Mechanical Design Engineer.
- Design work in SolidWorks 2022.
- Derivation of drawings for created assemblies and individual parts, considering surface finish, machining, and material.
- 3D design and redesign of modules for computer chip manufacturing.
- 3D design and implementation of concepts in close coordination with the design team.
- Design of a solvent (acids and bases) extraction system focusing on cost reduction and automatic retention.
- Use of 3D sketches for the layout of hose guides.
- Reading pneumatic diagrams and implementing them in CAD.
- Development of a gas component plate to supply four lines, including filter integration and design simplification.
- Prototype construction and new development.
- Import and processing of STEP files.
- 3D design of E-cabinet components based on templates.
- Use of PLM systems SAP and ECTR for saving, copying, linking, attaching data, status changes, and versioning.
- Creation of work lists, maintenance of material master data and change numbers.
- Structure maintenance and BOM export.
- Working with transactions for change, document, and material masters.
- Creation of layouts for the complete system and individual modules for internal coordination.
Klaus Albrecht
CAD Designer CSWP
Last position:
CAD Designer at ALCON Design & Development
Premium designs & premium service
I am your problem solver - rely on over 35 years of successfully implemented projects in custom machine and fixture construction.
Bachelor Professional (DQR 6) Certified Welding Specialist Certified Electrical Technician Certified SolidWorks Professional - Mechanical Design Certified SolidWorks Professional Advanced - Sheet Metal Certified SolidWorks Professional Advanced - Drawing Tools Certified SolidWorks Associate Simulation (FEM)
Design & development of Custom machines Fixtures Tools and equipment Intralogistics Machine enclosures
FEM simulations Conversion of old 2D drawings/parts into 3D Documentation / technical drawings GPS-compliant
SolidWorks Design 2026 Premium (current maintenance contract) SolidWorks 2026 Visualize (current maintenance contract) Workstation with certified hardware DIN A0 plotter HP DesignJet
Andreas Ewert
Team leader in design
Last position:
Design Engineer at anonym
- Creating design concepts
- Designing marble components
- Creating design elements
Manfred Burkhard
Freelance Development Engineer / Designer
Last position:
Freelance Development Engineer / Designer at corpuls | GS Elektromedizinische Geräte G. Stemple GmbH
- Further design development of a modular patient monitor and defibrillator
- Planning and conducting tests.
Mehmet Yücelis
CAD Designer
Last position:
CAD Designer at Mario Holtewert GmbH
- CAD modeling of silo systems in coordination with customers and welding engineer
- Creation of drawings and parts lists for production and purchasing
- Tools: HiCAD 2018, Helios 2018, MS Office
Gheorghe Baju
Construction, Development and Design
Last position:
Construction, Development and Design at Kiefel – Medical Technology
- Design, detailed engineering and construction of all assemblies for the "SW Solidworks-Medical" machine, with the goal of deriving and creating production-ready manufacturing drawings using SolidWorks
- Analysis of the rough design concept stored in the customer system for the "SW Solidworks - Medical" system
- Design, detailed engineering and construction of all assemblies for the medical system using SolidWorks, with respect to tolerances and assembly structures
- Deriving and creating manufacturing drawings of all assemblies for the medical system based on the previously detailed designs using SolidWorks
- Creating detailed technical documentation
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Mechanical Design Engineers statistics
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
26 years
Position duration
4.5 years
Positions per freelancer
12
Top business areas
Product Development, Production, Project Management
Top industries
Manufacturing, Automotive, Construction
Certification focus areas
Product Development, Quality Assurance, Human Resources
Bachelor's degree or higher
70%
Master's degree or higher
33%
Doctorate
3%
Certifications per freelancer
1
Most common languages
German, English, French
Speak two or more languages
88%
Daily Rate Distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers in this role are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows how many freelancers charge within that range. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Average rates for Mechanical Design Engineers & Seniority distribution
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions? Here you can find further information about FRATCH
A Mechanical Design Engineer translates product or machine requirements into workable designs. That usually includes CAD modelling, drawings, assembly design, tolerance work, and support through prototype or release. On freelance projects, the scope is often tied to a specific component, machine module, or redesign task.
A strong mechanical design engineer should be solid in CAD, technical drawings, and manufacturing-aware design. Look for practical knowledge of materials, tolerances, fastening, and how parts are assembled and maintained. Clear communication matters just as much as software skill, because design decisions need to be understood by production and suppliers.
The title Mechanical Design Engineer is often used for the hands-on design side of mechanical engineering. Compared with a broader mechanical engineer role, the focus is usually more on CAD, detail design, and release documentation. A product design engineer may work on a similar scope, but often with more emphasis on consumer products, form, and user-facing design.
A freelancer makes sense when the need is project-based, urgent, or specialized. That is common for prototype phases, redesigns, capacity peaks, or when you need specific CAD and manufacturing experience without a long hiring process. If the work is ongoing and deeply embedded in one product line, a permanent hire may be the better fit.
Yes, much of the work can be done remotely if the scope is mainly CAD, documentation, and engineering coordination. For physical measurements, workshops, testing, or plant adjustments, on-site time in Germany can be important. Many clients use a mixed setup so the engineer can join key review sessions in person and handle the detailed design work remotely.
The right tool depends on the client environment, but common systems include SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, Creo, and Inventor. Beyond software, the important methods are robust design, design for manufacturing, tolerance analysis, and clean release control. A good mechanical design engineer adapts quickly to the client’s standards and file structure.
Start with what the project needs to move forward: concept layouts, detailed models, drawings, BOMs, and revision-controlled documentation. If the work touches manufacturing, ask for notes that support fabrication, assembly, and inspection. Strong freelance Mechanical Design Engineers also provide change logs and clear assumptions so later handover is smooth.
Look at the quality of their past design work, not just the software list. Good candidates can explain design choices, show how they handled manufacturing constraints, and describe how they solved problems during prototype or release. A reliable Mechanical Design Engineer is precise, practical, and comfortable working with production, suppliers, and other engineering disciplines.
The average hourly rate for Mechanical Design Engineers in Germany is 74 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 591 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers working as Mechanical Design Engineers in Germany, 70% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 33% hold at least a Master's degree, and 3% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers working as Mechanical Design Engineers in Germany have 26 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 4.5 years.
The most common languages among freelancers working as Mechanical Design Engineers in Germany are German (100%), English (83%), and French (23%).
The most common industries among freelancers working as Mechanical Design Engineers in Germany are Manufacturing (98%), Automotive (63%), and Construction (35%).
The most common business areas among freelancers working as Mechanical Design Engineers in Germany are Product Development (100%), Production (70%), and Project Management (68%).
FRATCH Mechanical Design Engineers main locations
Our freelancers and interim experts are at home across the DACH region — available on-site in the major business hubs or fully remote. Choose a location to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Berlin Hamburg Munich Cologne Frankfurt Stuttgart Dusseldorf Leipzig Dortmund Essen Bremen Dresden Hanover Nuremberg Request a Free Demo
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
