Director, Product Design (Physical Products)

About the role

We are looking for an experienced, extraordinary Director of Product Design who is passionate about spearheading the development of compelling and innovative STEAM products for kids. You are a strategic thinker who rolls up your sleeves to get things done. You have built and nurtured loved consumer products, cultivated high performing teams, and managed a high bar for quality standards. You’re a tireless champion for the customer and the KiwiCo brand. You are inherently curious and creative. You look for better ways of approaching problem solving, get energized by tough problems, and like collaborating with others to get things done. This position reports directly to the Chief Product and Merchandising Officer and will be in the office 4 days a week.

Role and Responsibilities

• Own the strategy and execution of translating the KiwiCo brand to our physical subscription lines.
• Create innovative product lines that exceed customer expectations, while pushing the boundaries of what can fit into a 3”x7”x10” crate.
• Build and lead an exceptional product design team. Mentor and grow the team, while ensuring consistency and alignment.
• Manage a team of junior and mid-level product designers.
• Establish product vision and direction, while efficiently and effectively driving project timelines.
• Maintain a high bar for quality around all products designed by the team. Ensure manufacturability, durability, safety, and cost targets are met, and that KiwiCo suppliers maintain the same standards in manufacturing.
• Develop processes and systems that scale. Actively seek areas of continuous improvement across design, prototyping, and production workflows.
• Work in a highly iterative and collaborative way, directly alongside sourcing, editorial, graphic design, and marketing.
• Partner closely with suppliers and manufacturers (primarily overseas) to troubleshoot design challenges, optimize tooling, and ensure production quality.
• Drive prototyping excellence, from early proof-of-concept models through production-ready prototypes.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of designing and shipping physical consumer products, with a strong emphasis on industrial design and mechanical product development.
• Deep expertise in 3D CAD modeling (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Creo, or similar) and ability to review and guide complex part and assembly design.
• Strong understanding of design for manufacturing (DFM), design for assembly (DFA), and design for cost (DFC).
• Hands-on experience with plastics (injection molding), mechanisms (gears, linkages, springs), and common manufacturing processes (tooling, molding, fabrication).
• Experience working directly with manufacturers to develop tooling, review samples, and iterate toward production readiness.
• Strong prototyping skills, including experience with 3D printing, laser cutting, and shop-based fabrication methods. Ability to evaluate tolerances, material choices, durability, and safety considerations for children’s products.
• Passionate about kids, creativity, and early childhood development. Love bringing a spark to a child’s eye as they learn something fun and new.
• Proven record of innovation. Ability to think creatively and critically - understand how to balance business objectives with user needs. Think outside the box, yet put yourself in customers’ shoes.
• Broad operating range. Thinks strategically and has a love for detail and product design. Understands how to develop and communicate a vision for a product line, while also having the experience and ability to give constructive feedback on a specific product.
• Design leadership. Experienced in building, mentoring and leading a high-performing team of product designers. Able to lead across the entire product life cycle and multiple product launches. Able to prioritize and manage resources against project timelines and deliverable dates.
• Exceptional communication skills. Ability to clearly explain product decisions to business partners (marketing, inventory management, editorial, graphic design, eCommerce teams).
• Experience in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced environment.
• Experience with designing toys or products with moving parts, mechanisms, or interactive features.
• Familiarity with safety and compliance standards for children’s products.
• Experience building modular or platform-based product systems.

Pay

The starting pay range for this position is between $190,000 and $205,000 per year. However, the final base salary offered may differ based on several factors, including job-related knowledge, skills, experience, market conditions, and business needs. In addition to base pay, KiwiCo offers a comprehensive total rewards package, which may include opportunities for an annual bonus, stock options, and a variety of benefits related to health, financial security, and well-being. Specific details about these benefits will be shared if an offer of employment is extended.