Industrial Designer (Reef Monitoring Buoy Housing / Internals)

About Save Nemo

Save Nemo e.V. is a European nonprofit working to make environmental data more accessible. We build affordable mooring buoys equipped with microcomputers and sensors to monitor coastal marine ecosystems and share climate-related data publicly.

Our work has been recognised through several impact challenges and awards in recent years. We’re a volunteer team bringing practical technology to ocean monitoring.

About the role

We’re looking for a curious, practical Industrial Designer to help develop the housing and internal layout for our reef-monitoring buoy. It’s a remote volunteer role, working with our IoT and hardware team.

Our buoy is designed to be moored in seawater for years. The enclosure needs to protect its electronics and sensors in a demanding environment, while remaining affordable and serviceable. You don’t need marine or hardware experience but we’re looking for someone keen to learn and work through real design challenges.

What you’ll work on

• Develop the overall buoy design, including the floating component and waterproof electronics housing.
• Design how the enclosure seals, how cables and sensors pass through its walls, and how it stays watertight after repeated servicing.
• Plan the placement of solar panels, antennas, and sensors.
• Design internal layouts, mounts, and mooring or mounting hardware.
• Create and refine CAD models, and collaborate with the team on prototypes and design iterations.
• Consider practical manufacturing, cost, tolerances, and fasteners.

What we’re looking for

• Experience in industrial or product design (or a strong interest in developing those skills).
• Comfort using CAD, or willingness to learn a suitable tool.
• A practical, curious approach: you’re happy to research unfamiliar problems, ask questions, and consult relevant standards.
• Care and attention to detail, especially around the small decisions that affect fit, sealing, and durability.
• An interest in making a low-cost instrument that can be deployed at scale.

Marine, environmental, or hardware experience is welcome, but not required. We value thoughtful problem-solving and a willingness to learn.

Interested? Get in touch with Save Nemo e.V. Tell us a little about yourself and share any relevant design work or portfolio.

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