Industrial Designer

Hidonix Industries; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A design and engineering firm in Santa Monica is seeking an Industrial Designer who enjoys both designing and building. The successful candidate will turn concepts into manufacturable products, collaborating across various teams to create compelling designs. This role requires proficiency in SolidWorks and a practical maker mindset, along with the ability to rapidly prototype ideas. Candidates must be comfortable working on-site and have commuting distance to Santa Monica. This is an exciting opportunity to shape robotics-adjacent projects and contribute to innovative solutions.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of experience in industrial design or product development.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks with strong modeling fundamentals.
• Basic understanding of robotics systems is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Own industrial design from concept through prototype builds.
• Create product concepts focused on form, function, and ergonomics.
• Collaborate with ME/EE/FW/product teams for design integration.

Skills

SolidWorks proficiency

Rapid prototyping skills

Hands-on maker mindset

Strong understanding of mechanical systems

Solid communication skills

Tools

3D printing

CNC

Laser cutting

Job description

About the Role

The Industrial Designer is a key creative + technical partner in turning ambitious ideas into real, manufacturable products—fast. You’ll work across a wide range of projects (including robotics-adjacent work) and collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, and product/studio teams to bring concepts to life through rapid iteration and hands-on prototyping. This is a role for someone who loves building as much as designing: you’re comfortable in CAD, confident in the shop, and excited to learn by making. If you thrive in a team that moves quickly, experiments often, and values practical problem-solving as much as aesthetics—this is for you.

Responsibilities

• Own industrial design development from early concept through prototype builds and refinement for production
• Create compelling product concepts with strong form, function, ergonomics, and user-first thinking
• Build and iterate physical prototypes quickly—using hands-on fabrication to learn faster and make smarter design decisions
• Translate design intent into SolidWorks CAD and support downstream mechanical development with clear, well-structured models
• Collaborate across disciplines (ME/EE/FW/product) to integrate design with real-world constraints like packaging, assembly, serviceability, and cost
• Contribute to robotic solutions across multiple projects—supporting design decisions around mechanisms, actuation, housings, and integration
• Work with manufacturing techniques and constraints, especially:
• Injection molding (draft, ribs, parting lines, snap fits, tolerance considerations)
• Sheet metal fabrication (bends, fasteners, assemblies, manufacturable features)
• Produce clear documentation and communication artifacts: CAD, drawings (as needed), mockups, prototype notes, and iteration learnings
• Participate in design reviews, prototype evaluations, and cross-team working sessions to drive alignment and momentum

Qualifications

• 1+ years of experience in industrial design or product development (internships count)
• SolidWorks proficiency (surfacing not required, but strong modeling fundamentals are)
• Hands-on maker mindset: you enjoy building, testing, breaking, and improving prototypes
• Rapid prototyping skills and instincts—knowing how to prototype the right thing to iterate faster (not just “make a model”)
• Strong understanding of mechanical systems and how products go together (fasteners, assemblies, interfaces, load paths, basic mechanisms)
• Working knowledge of manufacturing methods, especially:
• Sheet metal fabrication
• Solid communication skills: you can explain design tradeoffs clearly and collaborate effectively across teams
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with evolving constraints and multiple parallel projects

Nice to Have (Bonus)

• Basic understanding of robotics systems (actuation, sensors, mechanisms, integration constraints)
• Experience designing parts that interact with or house mechanical/electrical subsystems (motors, gearboxes, wiring, PCBs, batteries, etc.)
• Familiarity with prototyping processes like 3D printing, CNC, laser cutting, and basic shop tools
• Experience taking a product from prototype into manufacturing or supporting DFM with engineering partners

What Success Looks Like

• You consistently turn ideas into prototypes quickly—and use what you learn to make the next iteration better
• Your designs balance aesthetics with real engineering constraints and manufacturing realities
• You elevate cross-team execution by communicating clearly and showing up as a practical, hands-on collaborator
• You help the team move faster on robotics-focused projects by thinking through integration early and often

Requirements

• Must be commuting distance of Santa Monica, CA.
• Must be comfortable working on site.
• Must be a US Citizen or valid green card holder.