What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Industrial Designer position at Gantri?
Lead Industrial Designer
About Gantri
Gantri is a trailblazer in the furniture design manufacturing industry. We’ve revolutionized our field by integrating digital manufacturing with sustainable, plant-based polymers to produce high-quality products made on demand right here in the Bay Area. As America’s most awarded design manufacturer, we operate the world’s largest 3D print farm and are committed to reshaping the future of design. We’re looking for a visionary leader to drive the evolution of our modular design system for lighting and expand it into new home decor categories.
The Role
As a Lead Industrial Designer, you will spearhead the refinement and expansion of Gantri’s modular system—a flexible, “Lego-like” ecosystem of interchangeable components that powers a diverse range of lighting and home decor products. You will lead the entire design process—from user and market research and concept development to prototyping and production—ensuring that our design system is beautiful, flexible, highly functional, and manufacturable.
Key Responsibilities
- Expand the Gantri Design System: Refine and grow our comprehensive library of interchangeable components that can be combined to produce a variety of lighting and furniture pieces.
- Set Product Requirements: Formulate and enforce detailed product requirements and constraint systems that guide our manufacturing and engineering teams in delivering high-quality, functional designs.
- Conduct Market and User Research: Analyze key trends in the home decor market and engage directly with users through research initiatives, including focus groups, to understand their needs and motivations. Use these insights to refine new product features and optimize assembly methods.
- Optimize for Digital Manufacturing: Enhance and value-engineer existing components by designing for digital fabrication, leveraging Gantri’s unique production capabilities. Collaborate closely with engineering and manufacturing teams to test, refine, and validate modular concepts for durability, reconfigurability, manufacturability, and aesthetic appeal.
- Establish Design Standards: Define rigorous design and quality principles—including proportions, material integration, and connection methods—to ensure ease of assembly and scalability across products.
Qualifications
- Experience: 7 years in industrial design, product development, or systems design—ideally with a background in modular or component-based design.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
- Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of manufacturing processes with extensive experience designing for 3D printing, CNC machining, and injection molding. Proficiency in 3D modeling Design software (e.g., SolidWorks, Rhino, Adobe suite) and a proven track record of elegant, functional design.
- Portfolio: A strong, diverse portfolio showcasing system design for physical products, particularly in furniture and consumer-facing projects.
- Methodology: Expertise in user-centric design principles, robust design research methodologies, and data-driven evaluations.
- Leadership: A strategic thinker who thrives in ambiguity, drives system-wide innovation, and excels in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.
- Advanced Communication Skills: Strong presentation and communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Passion: A commitment to sustainable design and a vision for transforming manufacturing through digital innovation.
Why Join Gantri?
- Innovate at Scale: Lead the future of lighting and home decor design at a company that’s redefining sustainable, digital manufacturing.
- Impactful Work: Drive high-impact, foundational projects that will shape how brands create with Gantri’s design system.
- Creative Culture: Join a vibrant, design-driven team where your ideas directly influence our product line and company trajectory.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Competitive salary, full medical, dental, and vision coverage along with a matching 401(k) plan
- Prime Location: This is a full-time, in-person role based in San Francisco
\nSalary : $170,000 - $200,000
