**Volunteer 3D Product & Enclosure Designer**

Rethink Australia Foundation Ltd is a youth-led environmental organisation empowering students and schools to drive sustainability through education, technology and community action.

As Rethink Australia develops Refugo and other technology-enabled sustainability initiatives, we are seeking a 3D Product & Enclosure Designer to help turn electronic prototypes into practical, well-integrated physical products.

The volunteer will design enclosures and component layouts that bring together circuit boards, sensors, wiring, connectors and other hardware. This is a hands-on product design role involving CAD development, prototyping and close collaboration with the Embedded Hardware & IoT Developer.

**Key responsibilities**

• Translate Refugo’s functional and hardware requirements into practical enclosure concepts

• Develop accurate 3D CAD models for prototype cases, mounts and related components

• Design internal layouts for circuit boards, sensors, wiring, connectors, displays and power components

• Incorporate suitable mounting points, fasteners, access panels, ports, buttons and cable management

• Consider sensor exposure, airflow, ventilation, heat, component protection and ease of maintenance

• Design parts for practical 3D printing, assembly and repeated prototype testing

• Apply appropriate tolerances, wall thicknesses, clearances and fastening methods

• Produce editable CAD source files and prototype-ready formats such as STEP and STL

• Prepare assembly drawings, exploded views or other technical documentation where useful

• Collaborate with the Embedded Hardware & IoT Developer to confirm dimensions, interfaces and technical constraints

• Review printed or fabricated prototypes and revise designs based on fit, usability and testing feedback

• Consider accessibility, durability, material use, repairability and environmental impact

• Maintain organised source files, version history and design documentation

• Follow agreed safety, purchasing, intellectual property and approval processes

**About you**

We are seeking a capable volunteer with professional,



academic or practical experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Industrial or product design

• Mechanical design or engineering

• CAD and parametric 3D modelling

• Enclosure design for electronics or IoT devices

• 3D printing and digital fabrication

• Prototype development or design for assembly

Experience using software such as Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Onshape, FreeCAD, Inventor or similar CAD tools will be highly regarded. Experience designing functional enclosures for Raspberry Pi, Arduino, ESP32, circuit boards, sensors or other electronic devices is particularly relevant.

You may be an experienced designer, engineer, maker, technician, emerging practitioner, recent graduate or university student with a strong portfolio. You should be able to interpret technical requirements, solve physical integration problems, document work clearly and collaborate with people from different disciplines.

Applicants should provide examples of relevant CAD, product, enclosure, mechanical or fabrication projects where available. Formal design or engineering qualifications are welcome but not essential where robust practical capability can be demonstrated.

The role focuses on prototype product and enclosure design. It does not authorise production commitments, safety certification claims or external deployment without appropriate review and approval.

**Why volunteer with Rethink Australia?**

This is an opportunity to shape the physical design of Refugo and help transform environmental technology concepts into tangible, testable prototypes.

Your work will help ensure that electronic components and sensors are assembled into an organised, usable and maintainable product. The role offers a substantial real-world design project,



close collaboration with hardware and program volunteers, and the opportunity to produce documented portfolio-quality work with lasting organisational value.

The role is primarily remote and flexible around professional or study commitments. Access to personal CAD software is expected, and access to a 3D printer is helpful but not essential. Occasional agreed prototype review or testing sessions may be arranged in Sydney. An initial project period of up to six months is anticipated, requiring approximately three to five hours per week.

**How to apply**

Please apply through SEEK Volunteer and include a CV, LinkedIn profile, portfolio or examples of relevant work. Briefly describe your experience with CAD, enclosure design, product development, mechanical design, 3D printing or electronic hardware integration, including the software and fabrication methods you have used.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an introductory online conversation with representatives from Rethink Australia.

Online or Remote

** Category **
Environment & Conservation

** Commitment **
Regular - more than 6 months

** Type Of Work **
Arts, Craft & Photography,IT & Web Development,Research, Policy & Analysis,Trades & Maintenance,

** Time Required **
Approximately 3–5 hours per week for an initial project period of up to six months. The role will include a project induction, regular online design discussions, independent CAD and enclosure development, prototype revisions, technical documentation and collaboration with hardware and program volunteers. Scheduling is flexible around professional or study commitments.

** Training **
A comprehensive induction will be provided covering Rethink Australia’s mission, programs, Refugo concept, intended users, prototype objectives and internal ways of working. The volunteer will receive access to available product requirements, hardware dimensions, component information, design materials and relevant project documentation. Guidance will also be provided on safety boundaries, purchasing approvals, intellectual property, file management, testing and external deployment processes.

📌 Volunteer 3D Product & Enclosure Designer (Sydney)
🏢 Rethink Australia Foundation
📍 Sydney