Senior Soft Goods Designer: On-Body Wearables Interface

Skipwithjoy; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Skip is seeking a highly motivated and entrepreneurial soft goods designer who will own the design and development of the padded interfaces where our gen 2 device meets the human body: cuffs, liners, pads, and fasteners. This role requires close collaboration with mechanical engineers and human factors teams to ensure material, fit, and device work as one.

You will lead prototyping, wear testing, and material selection, shaping a long-term soft goods platform for MO/GO while maintaining high

Qualifications

• 8+ years of soft goods design and development, focused on padded, load-bearing interfaces.
• Deep knowledge of interface materials and their performance under load, heat and sweat.
• Strong understanding of soft goods construction and cost implications.
• Experience collaborating with engineers on parts that integrate with rigid structures.
• Existing relationships across materials and converting supply base.
• Experience writing specs and managing suppliers through production.
• Must be able to relocate to the Bay Area.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and development of gen 2 body interface components from concept to production, including material selection and supplier handoff.
• Partner with mechanical engineers on integration of soft and hard components: attachment methods and load distribution.
• Define functional requirements: comfort under load, pressure distribution, thermal/moisture management, skin safety.
• Select and qualify materials for on-body interfaces: foams, gels, spacers, laminates, skin-facing textiles.
• Maintain a materials landscape map and supply base; assess tradeoffs and best-in-class options.
• Specify and develop construction methods: lamination, die cutting, thermoforming, RF/ultrasonic welding, sewing, bonding.
• Build and iterate physical prototypes; run wear sessions and translate feedback into updates.
• Contribute to long-term soft goods platform and material standards for future MO/GO products.
• Wear prototypes on hikes and around the office.

Skills

Soft goods design

Material selection

Prototyping

Supplier management

Cross-functional collaboration

Design specs writing

3D knitting

RF welding

Ultrasonic welding

Lamination

Die cutting

Sewing

Bonding

Tools

RF welding

Ultrasonic welding

Lamination

Die cutting

Sewing

Bonding

3D knits

Job description

Skip is seeking a highly motivated and entrepreneurial soft goods designer who will own the design and development of the padded interfaces where our gen 2 device meets the human body: cuffs, liners, pads, and fasteners. This role requires close collaboration with mechanical engineers and human factors teams to ensure material, fit, and device work as one.

You will lead prototyping, wear testing, and material selection, shaping a long-term soft goods platform for MO/GO while maintaining high