Industrial / Mechanical Designer – Inspection Charging Case Concept

ConnectPoint is seeking a practical industrial/mechanical designer with experience integrating electronics into physical products. First phase: challenge and simplify our inspection-equipment charging case, then propose two credible layouts. We want engineering judgement, not a prettier rendering of our current idea.

USE AND FIXED EQUIPMENT
The case operates dry indoors aboard vessels, connected to external power and vessel Wi-Fi. Aim: return equipment, close the lid, charge automatically. Disclose every manual cable, clamp or insertion step that remains.
- Samsung Galaxy XCover7 Pro in its MAAK Forge case, which stays fitted; MAAK Forge Locking Cable; folding chest mount, harness, belt clip and tether.
- One extra genuine Samsung battery for exactly XCover7 Pro.
- DJI Osmo Pocket 4 plus two extra genuine Pocket 4 Battery Handles.
- Samsung Galaxy Buds4 with original charging case on a complete bought Qi pad.
- Memory cards, reader, small spare-cable and cleaning kit.

REFERENCE CONSTRUCTION – OPEN TO IMPROVEMENT
Bought transport case; removable metal deck; bought chargers; shaped foam and simple guides; accessible service bay; filtered ventilation exhausting outside. Touchscreen and READY/ATTENTION indicators must be on the OUTSIDE of the lid, usable while closed, with a protective rim and covered inner back. Raspberry Pi remains in the service bay.
One external AC/DC supply and one locking low-voltage input. Sequential charging is acceptable. Temperature sensing, fan tach signals and independent thermal charge cutoff; controls and fans remain powered when charging stops.
No exposed upright USB plugs, connector-supported transport loads or lid-forced mating. Tight foam does not prove the MAAK thumb screw is locked. A camera charging base is not assumed to fit loose DJI battery handles. XCover7 Pro has no built-in wireless charging.
Separate device presence, electrical connection, power draw and actual battery status. Unknown required battery status must not produce READY. Do not infer full charge from time or low current. Do not invent battery APIs or temperature limits.

The attached AI-generated concept is illustrative, NOT validated hardware or production CAD. Case size, power modules and internal layout are not frozen. Propose simpler, smaller, lighter and more serviceable alternatives while retaining the selected devices and original batteries. The image's 300 mm height is the bought shell; final modified height needs verification.

PAID FIRST PHASE ONLY
Quote a fixed price for: review of our reference concept; two alternative equipment/service layouts; one section for the recommended concept; a short comparison of size, weight, charging approach and manual steps; and a list of interfaces needing measurement/testing. Supply readable PDF plus editable layout/CAD source in an agreed format. Estimates must be labelled as estimates.
This bid is for concept/feasibility work, not full production engineering, firmware development or manufacture. Later work may be agreed separately. No unpaid detailed design is requested. State your actual price and delivery time; budget selection is indicative, subject to agreed scope before award.

HOW TO APPLY – FIVE NUMBERED ANSWERS, MAXIMUM 400 WORDS
Generic introductions will not be used for shortlisting.
1. Show one comparable physical product you personally helped build. Include a photo or portfolio link, your exact contribution, and one assembly/test problem you encountered. An anonymized example is acceptable; do not breach an NDA.
2. Which TWO changes would you investigate first to simplify or reduce this case? Explain the benefit AND trade-off.
3. The original DJI Battery Handle has a camera-facing male connector and a separate charging input. How would you verify the correct docking direction and keep transport loads off its charging connector? Separate verified facts from assumptions.
4. Why does low charging current not prove every battery is full? What evidence would you require before displaying READY?
5. Give your fixed price and delivery time for the first phase above. Which physical devices/measurements do you need, and which CAD tool will you use?

AI tools may assist writing, but answers must reflect your own engineering judgement. Do not present generated images as hardware you built. Shortlisted candidates may be asked to explain a previous CAD assembly in a brief screen-share. Practical evidence and clear limitations matter more than polished sales text.