--- title: 'Freelance Product Design Engineer at Loop' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/freelance-product-design-engineer-loop-antwerp-9d53y693pfm4' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-11' --- # Freelance Product Design Engineer at Loop - **Company:** Loop - **Location:** Antwerp, Belgium - **Compensation:** €100–€130/hr - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** hybrid - **Posted:** 2026-09-01 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-11 - **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/loop-earplugs/b327adab-5958-411e-b2a2-aa98a6897162 ## Job description Freelance Product Design Engineer Location: Antwerp or Amsterdam Experience: 5+ years designing injection-moulded parts for high-volume consumer products, with at least one taken through mass production Own component-level mechanical design and help turn robust designs into manufacturable products. This isn't a lateral move. We built Loop by going all in from day one. Loop makes products people wear in their ears, by the million. Mechanical design here is never only about whether something works — fit, feel, robustness, cosmetics, tolerances, material choice and manufacturability all decide whether a part is right. A 0.1 mm call can be the difference between a product people love and one that comes back to us. You'll own the mechanical design of assigned subassemblies from concept through mass production, balancing performance, cost, robustness and manufacturability. All yours. If you've mastered component-level mechanical design and you're ready to break the rules that no longer work, this is where you do it. ## The role You step into ownership. You move fast and take responsibility for what you build. You focus on work that matters, not on noise that slows things down. You'll own mechanical design for specific subsystems, lead DFM and validation, and work closely with Electrical Engineering, Sourcing, and our CMs and ODMs to get designs ready for mass production. This is hands-on product development. We're in the office daily because builds, prototypes, reviews and the conversations around them are a real part of the work. There's flexibility to work from home a couple of days a week when the workload allows it. ## What you’ll do - You own mechanical design for assigned subassemblies from concept through mass production - You conduct design reviews and lead tolerance analysis - You execute EVT, DVT and PVT builds, analyse test failures, and iterate based on what you learn - You partner with CMs and ODMs on DFM reviews, tooling, Golden Sample alignment and production readiness - You author and own 2D drawings and specifications - You drive ECOs, drawing releases and change control in Arena - You finalise part designs for the components you own, selecting materials, finishes and part construction with input from Sourcing and the CM - You approve drawing releases for BOM-level parts and communicate clearly across engineering, sourcing and manufacturing partners - You work in Onshape as our core mechanical CAD environment What you decide, and what you align on You decide: part design, material and finish, tolerance scheme, and drawing release for the parts you own. You align before you commit on anything that moves cost, tooling, timeline or another team's scope — with Sourcing, Electrical Engineering, Quality, and the CM. Your work is independent. Your decisions aren't a surprise to the people they land on. ## How you’ll succeed We look for people who think big, stay curious, and take ownership of the outcome. You'll succeed by: - Finding and resolving mechanical issues during EVT, DVT and PVT — not after ramp - Releasing robust parts on time for key milestones, with minimal avoidable ECO rework - Holding the balance between tolerances, materials, manufacturing constraints, performance and cost, and iterating fast when validation tells you something has to change ## What you’ll bring - 5+ years designing injection-moulded parts for high-volume consumer products, with at least one taken through mass production - Strong fundamentals: tolerances and stack-ups, fastening, material selection, and structured root cause analysis of mechanical failures - Hands-on experience with injection moulding and the processes around small consumer hardware — overmoulding, LSR or silicone, TPE — and a real understanding of what mould flow and tooling constraints cost you when you design around them too late - A feel for cosmetic surface finish and CMF, and for holding tight tolerances and visual quality at volume - Experience working directly with CMs or ODMs through tooling, build, validation and ramp - You interface confidently with cross-functional partners and communicate clearly during design reviews. You ask for candid feedback and you give it — design reviews are where you want to be wrong early - You work independently and know which calls are yours and which need Sourcing, EE or Quality in the room first - Onshape or comparable parametric CAD, and experience in a PLM environment (we use Arena) - You're comfortable with change and with requirements that keep evolving as prototypes, testing and manufacturing teach us more - You know when work is ready to ship, and when it can evolve - You use AI intentionally in your work, knowing where it can improve quality, output, experience or decisions and where it should not be used. You critically evaluate its outputs, catch issues before work ships, and stay accountable for the result Loop isn’t for everyone. We might not be a match if you: - Wait for direction instead of taking initiative - Mistake activity for impact - Feel uneasy when things are still taking shape - Prefer alignment meetings over decisions Still listening? Good. We are not looking for people to watch from the sidelines. Loopers step in, speak up and go for more. More firsts. More growth. More: “I can’t believe we did that.” If you are like that too, press that beautiful apply button and let’s talk. ## Why work at Loop At Loop we cut through the noise, so the work that matters actually lands. We go all in on impact, connection, and growth. And you’ll feel that the moment you walk in. You’ll know people across teams fast, because candor is care, wins are celebrated loudly, and fun is taken seriously. And when you go all in at work, you also go all in on life. That’s why we give you 32 vacation days, enough time to recharge, travel, or dive headfirst into whatever makes you happiest. Interview Process - Application Window: now through 21 September (Applications only accepted in this window) - Phone Screens (Recruiter, Hiring Manager, Technical): 9 September - 25 September - Target Start Date: 5 October The fine print - We know great engineers don't always tick every box. If this role excites you and you believe you can help shape Loop's future, we'd love to hear from you, even if your experience doesn't match every requirement. - We will review all applications. There is no need to send an additional email. - We are continually exploring the best ways to hire and build Loop. This includes the use of AI and assessments as part of our process. If you need any accommodation in this regard, please write to our recruitment team directly. Are you ready to go “All In”? Press that apply button! ## About Loop ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Loop designs premium earplugs for situational hearing protection, focus, sleep, and sensory needs, building a new category in hearing wellness. - **Entity Type**: Private (bootstrapped or VC-backed – funding details not publicly disclosed) - **Headquarters**: Antwerp, Belgium - **Founded**: 2016 - **Founders**: Maarten Bodewes and Dimitri O ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Consumer electronics / Hearing wellness / Lifestyle products - **Target customers**: B2C – nightlife goers, remote workers, people with sensory sensitivities, travelers, sleepers - **Mission or purpose**: Helping people live life to the fullest by bettering their relationship with sound and senses. ## Products & Services - **Loop Experience / Experience Plus**: High-fidelity earplugs for concerts, festivals, and loud events; reduce noise while preserving sound clarity (SaaS-like physical product with recurring accessories). - **Loop Engage / Engage Plus**: Earplugs for conversations and social situations; lower background noise while maintaining speech clarity. - **Loop Quiet / Quiet 2**: Earplugs for sleep, focus, and noise-sensitive needs; maximum noise reduction in a comfortable fit. - **Loop Switch**: A single device with three interchangeable modes (Experience, Engage, Quiet) for on-the-fly adjustment. - **Loop Dream**: Specifically designed for side-sleepers, ultra-soft and comfortable for overnight use. - **Accessories**: Cases, ear tips in multiple sizes, lanyards. Most models come with multiple ear tip sizes to ensure fit. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available - **Key Metric**: 1.5+ million customers served globally; 250+ employees across three continents [loopearplugs.com](https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/about-loop) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not publicly disclosed; company appears to be self-funded or raised non-public funding. Awards include Red Dot Design Award (2023, 2024), Deloitte Belgium Tech Fast 50, and recognition as Belgium’s fastest-growing tech company (2022, 2024) [loopearplugs.com](https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/working-at-loop) - **Growth Signals**: Expanded from nightlife earplugs into focus, sleep, and sensory comfort categories; opened hubs in Amsterdam, New York, and Shanghai; sustained rapid headcount growth from a small team to 250+. ## Competitive Advantages - **Category creation**: First lifestyle earplug brand to treat hearing protection as a fashion/design item rather than a purely utilitarian medical product. - **Design-led differentiation**: Award-winning product aesthetics (Red Dot), wide color palette and multiple form factors that appeal to different personas. - **Strong brand community**: 1.5M+ customers create word-of-mouth flywheel; the brand is a status accessory in music and festival culture. - **Full product ecosystem**: Multiple models for specific use cases, plus accessories, encouraging repeat purchases and cross-selling. - **Early mover in sensory wellness**: Tapping into growing awareness around noise pollution, focus, and neurodiversity. ## Strategic Focus - **Expanding into senses**: Moving beyond hearing to related sensory experiences (e.g., olfactory? – hinted as “expanding into senses” but not detailed) [loopearplugs.com](https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/about-loop) - **Global scaling**: Growing physical presence in key markets (US, China, EU) and building international teams. - **Product innovation**: Continuous introduction of new models (Switch, Dream) that solve specific customer pain points and create new use cases. - **Hiring top talent**: Aggressively hiring to maintain growth trajectory; focusing on “growth athletes” who can move fast and own projects. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: High autonomy, direct candor (“no politics, no ego, no BS”), steep learning curve, work with elite talent. Described as intense but rewarding – “you’ll learn more here in a year than most places teach in five” [loopearplugs.com](https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/why-work-at-loop) - **Hybrid/Remote**: Hybrid by design – typically two days in-office per week; plus four weeks per year of “work from anywhere” [loopearplugs.com](https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/why-work-at-loop) - **Benefits**: Top-of-market pay, 32 days of paid time off, comprehensive health insurance, ESOP (employee stock ownership plan), home office budget, mobility budget (company car/transport/bike lease or rent subsidy if close to office in Belgium) [loopearplugs.com](https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/why-work-at-loop) - **Engineering Culture**: Product developers and engineers have full ownership of projects; direct impact on millions of users; “your work doesn’t sit in drafts – it goes live” [loopearplugs.com](https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/working-at-loop) - **For Job Seekers**: Offers a fast-paced, high-growth environment where personal growth is prioritized. Not for everyone – requires high ownership and comfort with direct feedback. ## Sources 1. [Loop Earplugs – About page](https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/about-loop) 2. [Loop Earplugs – Why work at Loop](https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/why-work-at-loop) 3. [Loop Earplugs – Working at Loop](https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/working-at-loop) 4. [Loop Earplugs – Careers page](https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/careers) 5. [Loop Earplugs – Careers (Belgium)](https://www.loopearplugs.com/en-be/pages/careers) ## Other roles at Loop - [Senior Backend Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-backend-software-engineer-loop-amsterdam-r5hgfmkhe302) — Amsterdam, Netherlands - [Senior Backend Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-backend-software-engineer-loop-antwerp-4mvbyebg68qp) — Antwerp, Belgium - [Freelance Softgoods Designer](https://feeny.ai/job/freelance-softgoods-designer-loop-amsterdam-6944nrbqcxd3) — Amsterdam, Netherlands - [Freelance Softgoods Designer](https://feeny.ai/job/freelance-softgoods-designer-loop-antwerp-2j6z1k1y5678) — Antwerp, Belgium - [Product Design Engineer II](https://feeny.ai/job/product-design-engineer-ii-loop-antwerp-1tv0wbc8vvsx) — Antwerp, Belgium - [Product Design Engineer II](https://feeny.ai/job/product-design-engineer-ii-loop-amsterdam-0ansqy69y9b7) — Amsterdam, Netherlands - [Freelance Product Design Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/freelance-product-design-engineer-loop-amsterdam-z3040ctaqygy) — Amsterdam, Netherlands - [Senior Manager, Digital Commerce](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-digital-commerce-loop-amsterdam-x2nz48z1va59) — Amsterdam, Netherlands - [VP Brand & Marketing](https://feeny.ai/job/vp-brand-marketing-loop-antwerp-gnnhcde055s4) — Antwerp, Belgium - [Senior Manager, Digital Commerce](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manager-digital-commerce-loop-antwerp-2msc02e7tg8p) — Antwerp, Belgium