Product Design Engineer

Skillsheet; Sunnyvale (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

Skillsheet's Soft Goods Engineering team designs and integrates technical soft goods for consumer VR, AR, wearables and accessories. As a Soft Goods Product Design Engineer, you'll own facial interfaces, strap systems, wrist wearables with electronics, and charging cases, while collaborating with designers, engineers and manufacturers.

The ideal candidate has a strong mechanical background, extensive 3D/2D CAD experience with NX/SolidWorks/Pro/E, and hands-on prototyping.

Qualifications

• BS or higher in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in product design engineering of consumer products, from concept to production.
• 5+ years of experience in 3D modeling and 2D drafting using SolidWorks, Pro/E, or NX.
• Expert knowledge of engineering fundamentals.
• Strong grasp of mechanical design fundamentals for consumer electronics (injection molding, stamping, casting, MIM, machining, etc.).
• Experience working with China-based vendors, both remotely and in person.
• Experience mentoring others, leading by example, and elevating the engineering excellence of a team.
• Experience building and assembling prototypes in the shop.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop new soft goods parts and assemblies for high-volume consumer electronic devices.
• Own soft goods engineering activities across the full product life cycle — from definition and creation, through design and production, to next-generation improvements.
• Collaborate closely with Industrial Designers and cross-functional engineering disciplines to identify challenges and offer creative solutions.
• Partner with small teams of engineers and vendors to narrow design options and deliver products within tight time and cost constraints.
• Implement sound engineering processes and systematic approaches while solving diverse design and manufacturing challenges.
• Serve as the resident expert in soft goods design engineering and Design for Manufacturability (DFM).
• Contribute to technical specifications and product definition.
• Test and evaluate soft goods design components for manufacturability and performance.
• Coordinate with soft goods manufacturing experts to optimize part design and production processes, run DOEs, and ensure process capability targets are met.

Skills

Mechanical design

3D CAD

Prototype fabrication

DFM

Vendor liaison

Product development

Smart electronics integration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

NX

SolidWorks

Pro/ENGINEER (Pro/E)

Job description

Our Soft Goods Engineering team develops and integrates technical soft goods solutions across a portfolio of consumer VR, AR, smart glasses, wearables, and accessories product lines. We work closely with creative, technical, and operations partners as we push the boundaries of what's possible in soft goods integration.

As a Soft Goods Product Design Engineer, you'll take a critical role in designing novel solutions that improve the comfort and ergonomics of our consumer electronics devices. You'll own parts and assemblies such as facial interfaces, strap systems, wrist wearables with integrated electronics, and charging carry cases, while also supporting accessory lines including carry cases and headset customization.

You'll lead the exploration and refinement of your designs through iterative prototyping, working alongside a talented team of engineers, designers, and manufacturers. You'll refine selected designs and coordinate with manufacturing experts throughout production.

Our ideal candidate brings a strong mechanical background, deep experience designing and manufacturing consumer electronics products, expert 3D and 2D CAD capability, and excellent prototyping skills. Extensive soft goods experience is strongly preferred but not required.

What You'll Do

• Design and develop new soft goods parts and assemblies for high-volume consumer electronic devices.
• Own soft goods engineering activities across the full product life cycle — from definition and creation, through design and production, to next-generation improvements.
• Collaborate closely with Industrial Designers and cross-functional engineering disciplines to identify challenges and offer creative solutions.
• Partner with small teams of engineers and vendors to narrow design options and deliver products within tight time and cost constraints.
• Implement sound engineering processes and systematic approaches while solving diverse design and manufacturing challenges.
• Serve as the resident expert in soft goods design engineering and Design for Manufacturability (DFM).
• Contribute to technical specifications and product definition.
• Test and evaluate soft goods design components for manufacturability and performance.
• Coordinate with soft goods manufacturing experts to optimize part design and production processes, run DOEs, and ensure process capability targets are met.

Minimum Qualifications

• BS or higher in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in product design engineering of consumer products, from concept to production.
• 5+ years of experience in 3D modeling and 2D drafting using SolidWorks, Pro/E, or NX.
• Expert knowledge of engineering fundamentals.
• Strong grasp of mechanical design fundamentals for consumer electronics (injection molding, stamping, casting, MIM, machining, etc.).
• Experience working with China-based vendors, both remotely and in person.
• Experience mentoring others, leading by example, and elevating the engineering excellence of a team.
• Experience building and assembling prototypes in the shop.

Preferred Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in 3D and 2D drafting/modeling in NX.
• Experience with human factors and wearable technologies.
• Soft goods manufacturing expertise, with a proven record of shipping consumer products that include integrated soft goods elements.
• Knowledge of soft goods manufacturing processes (textiles, foam, leather, adhesives, silicone).
• Experience shipping products in a new product category.
• Experience building soft goods prototypes in the shop.
• Mandarin and/or Cantonese language skills.