Furniture Technical Design Consultant (Remote)

Responsibilities

• Establish Blueprint Standards: Translate design concepts into detailed, production-ready technical drawings, 3D models, and comprehensive spec sheets.
• Define Product Specifications: Dictate exact ergonomic and industry measurements (e.g., precise seat depth/height, arm/leg proportions, clearance, and weight thresholds).
• Specify Material & Component Selection: Specify appropriate wood species, engineered woods, finishes, hardware, seat cushion fills (down, foam, pocket coils), and internal spring systems (eight-way hand-tied, sinuous, etc.).
• Build the Blueprint: Create and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs), quality standards, and design guidelines for the internal team to follow.
• Internal Mentorship: Act as the internal "source of truth" and subject matter expert, educating the broader team on wood characteristics, finishing techniques, and production intricacies.
• Analyze Designs for Manufacturing Efficiency (DFM): Optimize production costs, material yields, and logistics without sacrificing design integrity.
• Sourcing & Procurement Support: Guide the purchasing team on technical requirements, vendor capabilities, and raw material evaluation.
• Prototype Review: Oversee the sample and prototyping phase, identifying structural flaws or manufacturing bottlenecks, and providing actionable feedback to factories.

Qualifications

• Industry Expertise: 5-7+ years of hands-on experience in furniture engineering, technical design, or product development specializing in indoor furniture.
• Deep Product Knowledge: Proven track record working with both case goods (wood construction, joinery, veneering) and upholstered furniture (frames, suspension, foam/fill densities, fabric application).
• Technical Software: Proficiency in industry-standard CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Rhino, or Fusion 360).
• Manufacturing Acumen: Strong understanding of furniture manufacturing processes, global sourcing, costing structures, and international quality standards.
• Nice-to-Have (Bonus): Lighting Experience: Knowledge of lighting design, electrical components, UL/CE certification processes, and integration of lighting into case goods or standalone fixtures.