Senior Industrial Designer

Job Summary

The Senior Industrial Designer will create innovative, commercially viable products from initial concept through production. This role will focus on hardgoods and adjacent lifestyle products, including reusable drinkware and hydration systems, tumblers, travel mugs, lids, handles, straws, and related accessories. The ideal candidate combines strong consumer insight and design taste with deep technical knowledge of ergonomics, materials, manufacturing, prototyping, and product performance. Working closely with creative, product development, sourcing, engineering, and client teams, this person will develop products that are distinctive, intuitive to use, manufacturable at scale, and aligned with cost, quality, safety, and sustainability goals. The ideal candidate will immerse themselves in the brand DNA and customer dynamic to make the connection between product and brand.

Responsibilities

• Lead the industrial design process for hydration products from research and ideation through concept development, sketching, 3D modeling, prototyping, refinement, and production handoff.

• Translate client briefs, brand positioning, consumer needs, retail requirements, and target price points into clear product concepts and design solutions.

• Conduct category, competitor, consumer, material, color, and trend research to identify whitespace and inform differentiated product opportunities.

• Create sketches, concept boards, design narratives, CAD models, 3D
  renderings, and presentation materials that communicate product intent clearly to clients and internal teams.

• Design across the full hydration experience, including vessel form, grip, balance, weight, drinking interface, lid mechanics, handles, straws, portability, cleanability, storage, and accessory integration and other hardlines items as required to expand beyond drinkware in the future.

• Develop thoughtful color, material, and finish strategies for stainless steel, copolyester, polypropylene, silicone, recycled materials, and other food-contact applications.

• Build accurate 3D CAD models and detailed design documentation, including dimensions, tolerances, part relationships, assembly intent, and critical performance requirements.

• Partner with product development, engineering, sourcing, and manufacturing teams to design for cost-effective, high-volume production using processes such as injection molding, blow molding, metal forming, welding, overmolding, and assembly.

• Evaluate and refine prototypes, samples, and tooling iterations for aesthetics, ergonomics, usability, leak resistance, thermal performance, durability, stability, fit, finish, and ease of cleaning.

• Identify design risks early and resolve issues related to manufacturability, component complexity, material selection, cost, timing, quality, and user experience.

• Collaborate with suppliers and factory partners to review technical feedback, improve construction, and maintain design intent throughout development and production.

• Work with graphic, packaging, and brand teams to create a cohesive consumer experience across the product, decoration, packaging, and retail presentation.

• Present concepts and design recommendations to clients and senior stakeholders, incorporating feedback while protecting the integrity and commercial viability of the product.

• Maintain organized project files, CAD revisions, specifications, sample feedback, and design decisions across multiple concurrent programs.

• Stay current on hydration behaviors, competitive launches, emerging materials, sustainability developments, manufacturing capabilities, food-contact considerations, and relevant product-safety requirements.

• Leverage AI to improve process efficiency and automation while preserving individual creativity, judgment, and original thinking.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or a related field.
• 6+ years of industrial design experience in hardgoods or lifestyle products, such as hydration, drinkware, housewares, or outdoor products.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating consumer-centered design, concept development, and technical execution through production.
• Advanced proficiency in 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks, Rhino, Fusion 360, or Creo, plus Adobe Creative Suite and rendering tools such as KeyShot.
• Strong knowledge of materials, finishes, ergonomics, mechanical interfaces, tolerances, tooling, and design for high-volume manufacturing and assembly.
• Experience evaluating prototypes and test results to improve product performance, usability, and quality.
• Ability to balance creative vision with cost, margin, timing, and manufacturing requirements.
• Confident communicator who presents effectively to clients and collaborates closely with account teams, engineers, developers, and factories.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable, with the ability to manage multiple projects and tight deadlines.
• Experience traveling internationally to work with vendors and technical teams on sampling and final production approvals.
• Experience with sustainable materials and repairable or modular product design strongly preferred.
• Working knowledge of AI tools, such as Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini, to streamline workflows and strengthen analysis.

What You Can Expect:

• Full-Time Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Life)
• Hybrid work environment
• Mental Health Mondays: Once a month our offices close globally (that's an additional 12 days per year)
• Generous Paid Time Off -- Including your birthday, personal days, and time off around holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Family planning and wellness benefits
• Summer Fridays
• Discretionary Bonuses

Salary: $95k depending on experience. Open to candidates in NYC, Seattle, WA or Austin, TX

Twelve Inc. is committed to building an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and everyone is encouraged to apply. It is the policy of the Company to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, alienage or citizenship status, disability, or handicap, marital status, familial status, veteran status, sexual orientation, arrest record, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.