Staff Product Designer

$90,000 - $125,000/Yr

Cascade Designs - Reno, NV

Full-time - Mid Level

Remote - Reno, NV

Miscellaneous Manufacturing

About the position

Want to work and play in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains? Cascade Designs, home to MSR, Therm-a-Rest, Platypus, SealLine, Packtowl and Varilite, is now headquartered in Reno, NV. Just over an hour from Lake Tahoe with 300 days of sunshine each year, this is the perfect work and play destination for outdoor adventurers at every level. We are seeking passionate, driven, curious people who not only love the outdoors but strive to bring the same passion and curiosity into their work with them every day. As a member of the Product Development Team, the Staff Product Designer will be responsible for designing and developing individual products, primarily consisting of sewn fabrics, and complete product lines within our soft products such as sleeping bags, tents, towels, etc. This role encompasses early product conceptualization through detailed design specifications and into product manufacturing support. The ideal candidate should have 1 - 3 years of experience in product design and product development, particularly with textiles. To be effective in this role, the individual must possess advanced CAD experience, preferably in Solidworks and/or Adobe Illustrator, along with strong project management skills and interpersonal communication abilities. A high level of expertise in manufacturing techniques, including injection/compression molding, casting, sheet metal, machined parts, textile welding, and cut and sew textiles, is required. This position is based in Reno, NV at our company headquarters and is a hybrid role with options to work from home on Mondays and Fridays.

Responsibilities

• Maintain highest level knowledge of design, research, engineering and marketing developments to constantly improve design ability, related product and industry knowledge
• Study consumer trends and proactively adapt and conceptualize these trends as suggestions for future products or product line introductions and enhancements
• Work closely with Product Strategy to conceptualize new product ideas based on an understanding of competitive products and consumer/market needs
• Create or direct the efforts of inside and outside resources to create mock-ups and prototypes to evaluate conceptual designs
• Determine all aspects of the product design such as materials, construction, mechanical assemblies, aesthetics, shape, color, surface finish, and manufacturing processes in cooperation with other business functions involved in the development of new products
• Collaborate with appropriate partners for projects such as military contracts, special make-ups for retail partners, etc.
• Skillfully communicate design intent and ideas to customers through sketches, illustrations, models and prototypes
• Publicly present product concepts and designs to a diverse variety of audiences, catering to their specific needs
• Document entire product design through effective and product appropriate technical specification packages from the component level up to the final assembly, including engineering drawings, technical illustrations, product and material specifications, and bill of materials; oversee all change management of specification packages
• Assist in all activities pertaining to the creation of new, or infringement of existing intellectual property as related to product design
• Conduct cost analysis on new product designs and ensure the designs meet expected goals
• Coordinate development and production of all sample product required to prove out the design
• Assist in driving the team to the project schedule and assume accountability for all responsible components of the product development process
• Maintain and readily communicate applicable internal and external test and safety standards per respective product type, ensure standard test plans are up to date
• Perform DFMEAs and other analysis with cross functional teams to determine needs for new test requirements, collaborate with Test Team to establish new test standards
• Maintain highest level of expertise and readily communicate all sustainability related standards, including internal and external RSLs, vendor and industry requirements
• Evaluate designs through structured test planning relative to applicable function, performance, safety, and sustainability standards
• Actively determine pass/fail results of tests, supply timely and constructive feedback of testing results, and document all results for future reference
• Collaborate with Operations team to improve cost and ease of manufacturing throughout development and after product launch
• Acknowledge that your work affects the quality level of the final product and collaborate with the Quality team to ensure appropriate Quality Assurance/Quality Control; represent CDI on relevant regulatory boards or professional agencies when needed
• Provide mentorship to Associate and Staff Engineers and Designers
• Manage interns and perform other tasks as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum 4-year degree in Design, Engineering or related study, or 6 years equivalent experience required
• 1+ years prior experience in a similar position with a preference to those candidates with textiles experience
• Interpersonal and oral presentation skills
• Project management experience
• Computer experience and knowledge of Microsoft applications required (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Project)
• Strong CAD experience required, preferably proficient in Solidworks and/or Adobe Illustrator
• Expertise in common manufacturing techniques including but not limited to injection/compression molding, casting, sheet metal, machined parts, textile welding, cut and sew
• Strong skills with basic shop/lab tools and procedures
• Passion for the product line(s)
• Continuous improvement mindset - lean experience is highly desirable
• Active outdoor participant is highly desirable

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with advanced CAD software
• Knowledge of sustainability practices in product design
• Experience in military contract product development
• Familiarity with outdoor product trends

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Employee discount
• Life insurance