Senior Product Design Lead

At Blue Marble, our mission is to create purposeful products that inspire a love of learning in children and empower parents to raise thoughtful, confident kids. If you envision working for an award-winning company with a mission you can believe in, a playful and energetic culture, a talented team of coworkers, and a bright future, look to Blue Marble!

The Senior Product Design Lead will execute the design and development of Educational products and STEM toys while leading a team of in-house designers and engineers, as well as any outside vendor partners. The lead will work closely with cross-functional partners, including Product Development, Creative (Packaging/Assets), Marketing, Sales, Legal, E-commerce, and overseas development and manufacturing teams.

This role will drive the creation of high-quality, functional, and visually compelling products, ensuring they meet design and manufacturing standards while adhering to cost requirements and margin goals. Excellent communication and presentation skills are essential to effectively convey design concepts and engage with stakeholders.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Design Leadership:
• Oversee the brainstorming and design process for new products from concept through production, ensuring they meet high standards of innovation, quality, playability, and educational value.
• Lead and mentor a team of designers and contractors to produce market-leading products to meet the demands of sales channels and line plans.
• Provide creative direction for the development of new product lines, ensuring they reflect the company’s values and appeal to our target market.
• Cross-functional Collaboration:
• Work closely with Product Development, Creative, Engineering, Marketing, Legal, and Sales teams to ensure the timely and successful launch of new products.
• Actively collaborate with cross-functional teams and incorporate feedback to refine and improve design solutions.
• Market Research & Innovation:
• Identify emerging technologies, design trends, and innovative play patterns to incorporate into our products.
• Collaborate with patent attorneys to develop detailed intellectual property claims and vector illustrations.
• Design Validation and Iteration:
• Lead the team in conducting user testing and iterating on designs based on feedback from children, parents, and educators to ensure our toys are engaging, educational, and easy to use.
• Employ DFMEA methods for rigorous product testing and fault correction to ensure reliability and performance.
• Production Oversight:
• Develop detailed production instructions and collaborate with manufacturing teams to ensure adherence to design specifications, quality standards, and cost requirements.
• Address and resolve any issues that arise during the manufacturing process to maintain design integrity and cost efficiency.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree in Industrial Design, Toy Design, Product Design, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in product design, with at least 3 years in a leadership role within the toy, consumer goods, or related industry. Proven experience in designing Educational products and/or STEM toys is highly preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in 2D and 3D CAD software, with SolidWorks certifications preferred (CSWP, CSWPA-MT, CSWPA-SU).
• Expertise with additional design tools or software such as Rhino, Alias, Z-brush, Creo, Npower Surfacing or Sketch.
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and experience with KeyShot for rendering.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design ideas to internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and safety standards for children’s toys.
• Ability to translate research, trends, and data into compelling product concepts.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and guide a diverse group of designers.
• Experience working on licensed product lines.

Please submit your resume and portfolio.

Workplace Arrangement

In-person collaboration is a key aspect of Blue Marble's work culture. This role has been designated as a hybrid, with three days a week expected at corporate headquarters in Ashland, Oregon. This arrangement allows for a balance between in-person collaboration and remote work flexibility.

Blue Marble is proud to offer a generous and comprehensive benefits package, including:

• 401(k) with company match
• Health insurance with multiple plans to choose from
• Health savings account
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible work schedule
• Paid time off
• Parental leave

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties to meet the organization's needs.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Blue Marble is an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or disability status.