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Freelance Product Design Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Citizen

Product Design Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

$155K - $215K/yr

We're looking for a Product Design Engineer to help define what comes next. This role sits at the intersection of product design, engineering, and entrepreneurship. You'll work on some of Citizen ...

Meta

Product Design Engineer

New York, NY

$118K/yr

As a Mechanical/Product Design Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in the specification, design, prototyping, and deployment of cutting-edge hardware systems. You will be a key contributor to our ...

Meta

Product Design Engineer

Redmond, WA

$173K/yr

As a Mechanical/Product Design Engineer, you are a technical authority and thought leader responsible for solving the most ambiguous hardware problems. You will lead major, cross-functional ...

Meta

Product Design Engineer

Burlingame, CA

$144K/yr

As a Mechanical/Product Design Engineer, you are an established and highly productive technical leader responsible for driving the execution of complex projects. You will own critical systems from ...

Meta

Product Design Engineer

Redmond, WA

$118K/yr

As a Mechanical/Product Design Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in the specification, design, prototyping, and deployment of cutting-edge hardware systems. You will be a key contributor to our ...

Meta

Product Design Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA

$144K/yr

As a Mechanical/Product Design Engineer, you are an established and highly productive technical leader responsible for driving the execution of complex projects. You will own critical systems from ...

Meta

Product Design Engineer

Redmond, WA

$118K/yr

As a Mechanical/Product Design Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in the specification, design, prototyping, and deployment of cutting-edge hardware systems. We are looking for a Mechanical ...

K-Tek Resourcing LLC

Product Design Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

$127K - $153K/yr

Product Design Engineer Work Location :Austin, TX or Fremont, CA or Sparks, Nevada (Onsite) Duration: Long Term Implementation Partner - HCL America Candidate can be open to work from any three ...

Dover Corporation

Product Design Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$94K - $110K/yr

Reporting to the Product Design Engineer Senior, the Product Design Engineer designs new products and/or develops product improvements based on Sales/Marketing functional specifications by applying ...

Summit Products

Product Design Engineer

Altoona, IA

$124K - $149K/yr

Summit Products is looking for a talented Engineer that has proven new product development ... Experience in accessory design. Experience collaborating with suppliers and dealing with long lead ...

Dover Corporation

$135K - $163K/yr

Reporting to the Product Design Engineer Senior, the Product Design Engineer designs new products and/or develops product improvements based on Sales/Marketing functional specifications by applying ...

Summit Products

Product Design Engineer

Altoona, IA · On-site

$124K - $149K/yr

Summit Products is looking for a talented Engineer that has proven new product development ... Experience in accessory design. Experience collaborating with suppliers and dealing with long lead ...

Meta

Product Design Engineer

Redmond, WA

$144K/yr

As a Mechanical/Product Design Engineer, you are an established and highly productive technical leader responsible for driving the execution of complex projects. You will own critical systems from ...

Addison Group

PRODUCT DESIGN ENGINEER

Broken Arrow, OK · On-site

$112K - $135K/yr

Full Benefits - Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K Base salary up to 150K The Product Design Engineer will be responsible for designing, developing, and improving industrial valve products used in Oil ...

Dover Corporation

Product Design Engineer

North Hollywood, CA · On-site

$135K - $163K/yr

Reporting to the Product Design Engineer Senior, the Product Design Engineer designs new products and/or develops product improvements based on Sales/Marketing functional specifications by applying ...

Summit Products

Product Design Engineer

Altoona, IA · On-site

$124K - $149K/yr

Summit Products is looking for a talented Engineer that has proven new product development ... Do you have Manufacturing Design Engineering Experience? * Do you have experience with Routings/BOM'

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Freelance Product Design Engineer information

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How much do freelance product design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 18, 2026, the average yearly pay for freelance product design engineer in the United States is $131,574.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $129,000.00 and $155,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Freelance Product Design Engineer?

A Freelance Product Design Engineer is a professional who works independently, rather than as a full-time employee, to design and develop new products for clients. They use engineering principles and design skills to create functional, manufacturable, and marketable products. Their responsibilities often include conceptualizing ideas, creating prototypes, performing tests, and collaborating with manufacturers. Freelance Product Design Engineers may work across industries such as consumer electronics, automotive, or medical devices, and typically manage multiple projects for different clients at a time.

What is the difference between Freelance Product Design Engineer vs Freelance Industrial Designer?

AspectFreelance Product Design EngineerFreelance Industrial Designer
CredentialsEngineering degree, technical skillsDesign degree, creative skills
Work EnvironmentTechnical, collaborative with engineersCreative, client-focused projects
Industry UsageProduct development, engineering firmsConsumer products, branding

Freelance Product Design Engineers focus on technical aspects, engineering constraints, and functional prototypes, often working closely with engineering teams. Freelance Industrial Designers emphasize aesthetics, user experience, and visual appeal, working directly with clients on branding and product appearance. Both roles require design skills but differ in technical depth and project focus.

What are some common challenges faced by freelance product design engineers when working with multiple clients simultaneously?

Freelance product design engineers often juggle multiple projects for different clients, which can lead to challenges such as managing conflicting deadlines, adapting to varying design standards, and ensuring clear communication with each client. Prioritizing tasks and staying organized are crucial for meeting client expectations and maintaining high-quality work. Additionally, freelancers must be proactive in clarifying project requirements and regularly updating clients to avoid misunderstandings and keep projects on track.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Freelance Product Design Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Freelance Product Design Engineer, you need expertise in mechanical or industrial design, CAD modeling, and a relevant engineering degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with technical tools like SolidWorks, AutoCAD, and rapid prototyping methods, as well as knowledge of manufacturing processes, is typically required. Strong project management, communication, and creative problem-solving skills help you stand out when working with diverse clients and teams. These skills ensure you can deliver innovative, manufacturable solutions that meet client needs and industry standards.
What cities are hiring for Freelance Product Design Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Freelance Product Design Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Product Design Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Product Design Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Freelance Product Design Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Freelance Product Design Engineer jobs include:
Freelance Product Design Engineer jobs near you
Product Design Engineer

Product Design Engineer

Citizen

New York, NY • On-site

$155K - $215K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO

Re-posted 4 days ago

Job description

About Citizen
Citizen is building the world's largest real-time safety network.
Every day, millions of people rely on Citizen to understand what's happening around them and make better decisions in moments that matter. We're building products that help people navigate uncertainty, respond to emergencies, and stay connected to the world around them in real time.
We're looking for a Product Design Engineer to help define what comes next.
This role sits at the intersection of product design, engineering, and entrepreneurship. You'll work on some of Citizen's most important experiences-from alerts and live video to entirely new AI-powered safety products-helping transform ideas into products people trust and depend on.
We're looking for someone who can identify opportunities, design experiences, build working products, and influence the direction of what gets built next.
Someone who sees ambiguity as an opportunity rather than a problem.
Someone who would rather build a prototype than create a presentation.
Founding designers, startup builders, solo creators, design engineers, and product-minded technologists are especially encouraged to apply.
What You'll Do
  • Identify opportunities that create meaningful value for Citizen users
  • Design and prototype new product experiences from concept to execution
  • Work on core Citizen experiences including alerts, live video, maps, AI-powered features, and real-time safety workflows
  • Explore multiple product directions quickly through experimentation and rapid prototyping
  • Partner closely with Product, Engineering, Data, Operations, and Leadership
  • Design systems, interactions, workflows, and behaviors-not just interfaces
  • Use AI to accelerate exploration, iteration, research, and product development
  • Help shape the future of personal safety technology
What We're Looking For
You might be:
  • A product designer who learned to build
  • A design engineer with exceptional product instincts
  • A founding designer from an early-stage startup
  • A founder who loves building products
  • A creative technologist who doesn't fit neatly into traditional roles

What matters most is your ability to turn ideas into products people use and value.
Strong Signals
  • Experience building products from 0→1
  • Exceptional product judgment and user empathy
  • Strong visual and interaction design skills
  • Ability to build functional prototypes that feel like real products
  • Comfort working across product strategy, design, and implementation
  • Curiosity about AI and emerging tools
  • A bias toward action and experimentation
  • Clear thinking and strong written communication
What Success Looks Like
Within your first few months, you'll help answer questions like:
  • How should AI help people stay safer in the real world?
  • How can we make critical information more useful and actionable?
  • What entirely new products should Citizen build next?
  • How can we prototype and validate ideas in days instead of months?

You'll be expected to contribute not just solutions, but direction.
What We Value
We care less about titles and credentials and more about evidence.
Show us products you've launched.
Show us systems you've created.
Show us experiments you've run.
Show us businesses, side projects, or tools you've built.
Show us examples where you identified the opportunity-not just executed someone else's roadmap.
We're especially interested in people who have repeatedly stepped into ambiguity and created clarity through building.
How to Apply
Along with your portfolio, answer these four questions:
  1. What's something you've built that nobody asked you to build?
  2. Why did you believe it was worth building?
  3. What did you learn after people started using it?
  4. How has AI changed the way you design or build products?

We care deeply about visual craft, product thinking, and execution. Show us work that demonstrates how you think, how you design, and how you bring ideas to life. We're interested in the decisions behind the work as much as the final outcome.
Salary RangeThis role offers a base salary of $155,000-$215,000 per year, plus equity.
Compensation & Benefits
We offer competitive salary, equity, and a full benefits package, including:
  • At least one fully employer-sponsored medical plan option
  • Dental and vision coverage, with a small employee contribution
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Up to 14 weeks paid parental leave (for all parents)
  • Monthly tech stipend
  • Free mental health support
  • Hybrid work environment + catered lunches (NYC HQ)

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Citizen
Citizen is an equal opportunity employer. We're building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve - across race, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, and background.
We know that diverse teams make better decisions and build more effective products. If you don't meet every listed qualification, we still encourage you to apply. Skills, potential, and lived experience matter.

Apply