Durban: DFM REVIEWER (Talent Partner) – Remote posted by Employ Africa Group

Our client is an innovative engineering technology company developing advanced tools that support mechanical design, simulation, and manufacturing workflows. As part of their continued growth, they are seeking a DFM Reviewer to join their team and play a key role in ensuring designs meet manufacturability and quality standards.

Job description

Our client is building a labelled dataset of mechanical CAD parts annotated with Design for Manufacturability (DFM) (Design for Manufacturing) attributes for CNC machining (Computer Numerical Control) and injection moulding.

Your job is to analyze 3D part geometry and apply structured, consistent DFM Design for Manufacturing) labels identifying features that drive cost, complexity, or manufacturability risk. This labelled data trains machine learning models that can automatically evaluate parts for manufacturability. You don’t need to be an ML engineer; you need to be an exp7ert manufacturer who can think systematically about what makes a part hard or easy to make.

What you would do

• Review 3D CAD geometry (parasolid files) and apply structured DFM labels across a large library of mechanical parts
• For CNC machining: identify and label features such as deep pockets, thin walls, undercuts, poor tool access, non-standard radii, tight tolerances implied by geometry, and setup count drivers
• For injection moulding: identify and label draft angle violations, sink risk zones, undercuts requiring side actions or lifters, wall thickness non-uniformity, weld line risk areas, and gate location constraints
• Apply severity ratings and flags (e.g., “minor rework,” “requires special tooling,” “mould-breaking feature”) consistently across parts
• Work within a structured labelling taxonomy providing feedback to refine and expand label categories where the schema falls short
• Occasionally annotate at the feature level (specific faces, edges, or regions) rather than just part-level flags
• Validate labels for consistency and flag ambiguous cases for review

Requirements

• Hands-on experience in CNC machining, injection moulding, or DFM review in a manufacturing or engineering services context

• Strong ability to read and interpret 3D CAD geometry you don’t need to model, but you need to look at a geometry file (STEP) and immediately identify manufacturability issues
• Experience performing or reviewing DFM analyses in a production context (not just academic)
• Systematic, detail-oriented approach labelling work requires consistency above all else
• Comfortable working with structured schemas and documentation requirements
• CNC-Specific Knowledge (Required if labelling CNC parts)
• Deep familiarity with milling, turning, and multi-axis machining constraints
• Understanding of tool access, fixturing, setup count, and feature geometry relative to standard tooling
• Ability to identify features that require 4- or 5-axis capability vs. standard 3-axis
• Knowledge of standard radii, thread types, and tolerance conventions that affect cost
• Injection Moulding-Specific Knowledge (Required if labelling IM parts)
• Deep familiarity with draft angle requirements, parting line placement, and ejection constraints
• Understanding of wall thickness guidelines, rib-to-wall ratios, and sink/warp risk
• Ability to identify undercuts and classify the tooling action required (side action, lifter, collapsible core)
• Familiarity with gate types, runner systems, and their geometric implications on part design

Nice to Have

• Experience in both CNC and injection moulding (generalist labellers are especially valuable)
• Prior work in a DFM software tool (DFMPro, Moldflow, Fusion 360 Manufacture, etc.)
• Background in quoting or cost estimation people who’ve quoted parts tend to have very sharp DFM instincts
• Comfort with Python or basic scripting for batch file review workflows
• Interest in or exposure to AI/ML applications in manufacturing