Manager, Industrial Design

Turtlebox Audio; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Turtlebox Audio is seeking a Manager of Industrial Design to lead and grow our ID function. You’ll own design direction for the Turtlebox product line, manage a team of designers, and ensure every product looks and feels outdoor-ready.

You’ll report to the Product Director and collaborate with Engineering, Product Management, and manufacturing partners. The role requires strong craft, DFx focus, CMF leadership, and a track record of turning concepts into production.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of industrial design experience.
• 3+ years of leading a design team.
• Portfolio showing CMF thinking and concept-to-production.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or Rhino.
• Advanced Adobe Creative Suite skills for tech packs and renders.
• Experience with international manufacturing partners for consumer products.
• Strong cross-functional communication.
• Genuine outdoor consumer understanding.

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop the Turtlebox ID team.
• Set the design quality bar through feedback, reviews, and collaboration.
• Build an ID culture that values craft, speed, and consumer focus.
• Hire and onboard future ID talent as the team grows.
• Define and steward the Turtlebox visual design language.
• Ensure every product feels like a Turtlebox, flagship or accessory.
• Balance innovation with brand continuity across the line.
• Develop and maintain design standards and documentation.

Skills

Industrial design

Team leadership

Portfolio craft

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

SolidWorks

Fusion 360

Rhino

Job description

About Turtlebox Audio

The first Turtlebox was born out of necessity. After breaking every “loud” product on the market through routine outdoor use, the idea of the Turtlebox was born in our garage, not as a business but just for personal use. Nothing else could get the job done.

About Turtlebox Audio

The first Turtlebox was born out of necessity. After breaking every “loud” product on the market through routine outdoor use, the idea of the Turtlebox was born in our garage, not as a business but just for personal use. Nothing else could get the job done. Most portable speakers aren’t actually meant for the outdoors and can’t withstand the elements, the ones that can aren’t loud enough to be heard. When you’re at the beach or on an ATV, you need sound to carry in order to hear it over the wind, waves, and boat engines, you need a Turtlebox. We soon realized that there was a huge need for the Turtlebox among likeminded adventurers and our journey began to set out to make the world’s loudest most rugged outdoor portable speaker.

Role Overview

Industrial design is not a service function at Turtlebox — it's a core driver of what makes our products worth choosing. The shape, the texture, the color, the way a Turtlebox feels when you pick it up — that's what closes the deal before the audio ever plays. We take design seriously, and this role is how we build the capability to do it at scale. We're looking for a Manager of Industrial Design to lead and develop our ID function. You'll own the design direction for the Turtlebox product line, manage and grow a team of designers, and make sure every product that carries our name looks and feels like it belongs in the outdoors. You'll report to the Product Director and work closely with Engineering, Product Management, and our manufacturing partners. This role is for someone who brings real design craft and has been around long enough to know how to build a team that does the same. You'll be setting the standard as much as you'll be directing the work.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and develop the Turtlebox ID team.
• Set the design quality bar through direct feedback, design reviews, and hands‑on collaboration
• Build an ID culture that takes craft seriously, moves quickly, and stays connected to the consumer
• Hire and onboard future ID talent as the team grows

Own and Evolve the Design Language

• Define and steward the Turtlebox visual design language — intentional, consistent, and expandable across a full product ecosystem
• Ensure every new product and accessory feels like a Turtlebox — whether it's a flagship speaker or a mounting bracket
• Balance innovation with brand continuity — push the work forward without fragmenting the line
• Develop and maintain design standards and documentation the full team can work from

Lead CMF and Color Strategy

• Own the seasonal CMF roadmap — planned colorways, Limited Edition drops, and in‑line refreshes that keep the product line relevant without diluting the brand
• Drive Limited Edition color and finish strategy from concept through production qualification— these launches have real commercial impact and require the same rigor as a new product
• Partner with Marketing on color storytelling and positioning for new CMF introductions
• Ensure CMF decisions are grounded in what survives in the field — not just what photographs well

Drive Product Design Execution

• Lead industrial design on priority development programs from concept through production
• Protect design intent through engineering, manufacturing, and cost constraints — not every fight is worth it, but you know which ones are
• Manage multiple design programs in parallel across speaker, accessories, and future categories
• Travel to manufacturing partners as needed to review tooled parts and production samples
• Collaborate with the Audio Engineer to ensure enclosure design supports acoustic performance — port geometry, internal volume, material resonance, and cabinet rigidity all have consequences

Collaborate Across Functions

• Work closely with Product Management to align design direction with roadmap priorities
• Partner with Mechanical Engineering on DFM requirements and joint design reviews
• Interface with NPI Supply Chain on supplier capabilities and tooling decisions
• Present design direction and decisions to senior leadership with clarity and conviction

Qualifications

• 10+ years of industrial design experience, including 3+ years managing a design team
• Portfolio demonstrating strong design craft, CMF thinking, and concept‑to‑production execution
• Proven ability to build and develop design teams — not just manage workload
• Proficient in SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or Rhino; advanced surfacing a strong plus
• Advanced Adobe Creative Suite skills — Illustrator for tech packs, Photoshop for renders and presentations
• Experience working with international manufacturing partners on tooled consumer products
• Strong cross‑functional communication — you can align engineering, product, and leadership around a design direction
• Genuine outdoor consumer — you understand the product context because you live in it

Preferred Experience

• Experience in consumer audio, electronics, rugged outdoor, or sporting goods design
• Experience filing design patents or developing proprietary design IP
• Familiarity with IP‑rated product design, overmolding, and field‑ruggedized enclosures
• Hands‑on experience working alongside audio engineers on acoustic enclosure design — not just awareness, but a track record of making design decisions with sound in mind

Work Environment And Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift 50lbs
• Must be able to work in multiple environments. Indoor and outdoor environments, depending on job details.
• Must be able and willing to travel domestically and internationally up to 20% as needed including China and Southeast Asia.
• Must be legally authorized to work in Texas without requiring visa sponsorship.