Lead Industrial Designer – Soft Goods (Wearable Medical Devices) Sun Scientific | R & D Division

About the Role

We are seeking an exceptionally talented Lead Industrial Designer for Softgoods to join our product development team at Sun Scientific, a fast-growing, patient-centric medical device company. In this hands-on, high-impact role, you will push the form, fit, and function of our current and next-generation product lines. You will own the design direction for Sun Scientific’s product design language, ensuring our products exceed patient expectations with best-in-class design while differentiating from competitors.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end design of soft-good products.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product managers, mechanical engineers, manufacturing, and quality engineers.
• Meet clinical performance requirements while creating products that address patient needs for fit, comfort, and ease of use.
• Evolve Sun Scientific’s brand language across all new products to establish a cohesive visual identity.
• Define color, material, and finish (CMF) for all soft goods products and develop a material library that aligns with brand attributes and functional requirements.
• Create technical packages with construction definitions, material breakdowns, and color specifications.
• Develop flat patterns or direct pattern makers to produce samples and prototypes.
• Work with textile mills to develop custom materials that meet color and performance specifications.
• Apply deep understanding of soft goods construction, including ultrasonic welding and performance stitching.
• Design and specify the integration of pneumatic systems, including air bladder attachment, tube routing, port placement, and seal integrity under repeated use.
• Drive user testing to gather qualitative patient feedback and translate insights into actionable design improvements.
• Integrate technical hardware and design intuitive physical user interfaces that differentiate our products.
• Own ergonomic testing to ensure consistent fit across product lines.
• Drive design intent through the design-for-manufacturing process in collaboration with internal and factory engineers.
• Balance design proportions with wearability and functional details to create aesthetically refined products.
• Build prototypes and iterate quickly through multiple rounds of physical samples to achieve production-ready specifications.
• Apply hands-on experience with advanced manufacturing methods such as RF welding, ultrasonic bonding, heat bonding, lamination, or tooled construction.
• Ensure compliance with washability standards, wear durability testing, and performance certification.
• Lead cross-functional brainstorms, mind mapping, and storyboarding activities.
• Manage project timelines and execute deliverables accordingly.
• Present design concepts and rationale confidently to clinical, regulatory, and commercial stakeholders.
• Work closely with domestic and Southeast Asian manufacturing and sourcing partners.
• Conduct design reviews, sample approvals, and factory communications.

Skills & Tools

• 3D Software: Onshape, Solidworks, CLO 3D, or equivalent 3D garment simulation software.
• Rendering Software: Keyshot, Blender, or equivalent.
• Adobe Suite: Illustrator & Photoshop for technical flats, mood boards, and presentations.
• Sketching & Ideation: Pen and paper, Procreate.
• Productivity Tools: Microsoft Office / Google Suite for spec sheets and project tracking.
• PLM Tools: Experience with BOM management and PLM tools is a plus.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Shoe Design, or Apparel Design.
• 6–15 years of experience designing performance-focused sportswear, soft goods, or wearable products.
• Basic understanding of injection molding and collaboration with mold suppliers.
• A portfolio of shipped performance soft goods products.
• Experience working for a brand in the medical, athletic, or wearable product space.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background with large brands known for design and innovation in performance categories.
• Experience with wearable or medtech startups with strong product design DNA.
• Understanding of electronic component integration in product design.
• Experience working with Chinese manufacturing partners and textile mills.
• Basic knowledge of FDA 21 CFR Part 801 labeling requirements, ISO 13485 standards, and biocompatibility testing.
• Experience working on Type 1 and 2 Medical devices.

Portfolio Requirements

Submit a hyperlink to a 10-page (maximum) portfolio highlighting the technical requirements above. Include one case study project that demonstrates your process.

First-Year Success Metrics

• Contribute to ongoing designs to move them into production while developing a scalable design language and CMF strategy.
• Drive the design process to meet milestones for next-generation projects and define deliverables for each stage.

Core Competencies

• Leadership through design.
• User-centric process.
• Relationship building.
• Resilience & adaptability.
• Clear, persuasive communication.
• Ownership and follow-through.

Why Join Sun Scientific

This is a rare opportunity to set the company’s design direction and help build the design discipline from the ground up within a fast-growing, clinically respected medical device company. You’ll have a direct line to leadership and the chance to shape the team and culture for product development.