Design Engineer

Fulltime

In Person Position Kansas City

Job Description:

Drive the design process for our growing line of custom retail fixtures, furniture, and displays and lead the design team in translating customer visions into innovative, manufacturable, and cost-effective products. This role blends leadership, craftsmanship, and CAD expertise—perfect for someone who thrives at the intersection of creativity, precision, and production.

Responsible for managing the full design lifecycle, mentoring junior designers, and collaborating with sales, estimating, and production teams to ensure each product meets client expectations, brand standards, and budget goals. Your designs will support our mission of quality craftsmanship and small-batch excellence.

Requirements:

• Lead the custom design process from concept through final approval, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of all technical assets.
• Interpret complex customer needs, inspirations, and space constraints to create compelling design solutions.
• Produce highly detailed CAD drawings, 3D models, and visual renderings using tools like Fusion 360, SolidWorks, and/or SketchUp.
• Review and refine designs with internal stakeholders, including estimators, product managers, and production leads.
• Maintain and improve the design library of standard components, materials, finishes, and customization options.
• Ensure all designs meet manufacturability and cost-efficiency targets without compromising aesthetics or quality.
• Mentor junior CAD designers, set best practices, and help build scalable design systems.
• Stay ahead of industry trends and materials to introduce innovative techniques and sustainable design approaches.
• Support the sales and marketing team with presentation renderings, concept visuals, and design input for customer proposals.
• Drive continuous improvement in the design-to-production workflow.

Qualifications/Skills:

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Interior Architecture, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years of hands-on CAD design experience, preferably in custom furniture, fixtures, or product manufacturing
• Proficiency in CAD software (Fusion 360, SolidWorks, SketchUp, AutoCAD, or similar)
• Strong portfolio of custom design work, including technical drawings, renderings, and photos of finished products
• Deep knowledge of materials, joinery methods, construction techniques, and production limitations
• Experience working directly with estimators, engineers, and fabricators
• Strong leadership, communication, and mentoring skills
• Ability to juggle multiple projects with tight deadlines
• A passion for craftsmanship, problem-solving, and translating abstract ideas into tangible products