Sr. Industrial Designer - Hybrid
JOB SUMMARY
At Outward Hound, we create thoughtful, innovative products that strengthen the bond between pets and their people. We are seeking a Senior Industrial Designer to lead product design and innovation initiatives across our portfolio and shape the future direction of our brands.
Work Performed
Exceptional storytelling skills - clearly communicating vision, impact, and rationale to leaders and partners
Strong ability to create emotionally engaging, character-driven products with broad consumer appeal, particularly for female-driven purchasing audiences
Design across multiple pet categories, including both dog and cat products, spanning a portfolio of distinct brands
Strong understanding of form, proportion, usability, and emotional product experience
Eye for color, print/pattern and material finish, with the ability to create cohesive palettes and make thoughtful color choices that enhance brand identity and visual appeal
Create initial tech pack drawings for handoff to soft goods development team and suppliers
Maintain and develop brand identity via the established visual design language
Hold consistent high standards of design refinement and detail resolution
Experience with safety-focused product design for toys and accessories, integrating consumer safety standards and risk mitigation
Able to integrate consumer safety standards and risk mitigation throughout the design process, partnering closely with Product Integrity (PI) teams to evaluate materials, testing protocols, and product performance to ensure safe, compliant, and durable products
Demonstrated adaptability and flexibility by quickly shifting between projects, evolving business priorities, and cross-functional needs while maintaining high-quality design execution and collaboration across teams
Independently drive momentum and product design initiatives with minimal day-to-day direction or oversight in fast-moving environments
Proactively identify risks, gaps, and development challenges before they escalate
Bring forward solutions, recommendations, and clear decision-making rationale
Consistently deliver high-quality work on schedule through strong prioritization, proactive communication, and disciplined time management
Identify opportunities for innovation before they are formally defined
Contribute original thinking that helps shape category direction and long-term portfolio growth
Operate as a creative force within the organization, consistently generating new product concepts, systems, and experiences
Skilled at effectively managing upward communication
Thrive in a fast-paced product development environment with the resilience, initiative, and work ethic needed to push projects forward and deliver exceptional results
Influence design outcomes through mentoring other design staff
Consistently bring a positive, enthusiastic attitude to the team, collaborate well with others, and follow specific direction effectively
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES
Design storytelling and visual communication
Injection molding design principles
DFM/DFA (Design for Manufacturing & Assembly)
Plastics material selections
Tooling and manufacturing process knowledge
Durability and performance-driven product design
Cost-conscious design and development collaboration
Prototype evaluation and iterative refinement
Soft goods construction methods
Plush and textile product development
Fabric/material specification and sourcing
Hybrid soft/hard goods integration
Trim, embroidery, appliqué, and character detailing
CAD modeling (Fusion 360 preferred)
3D printing skillset
Knowledge of AI tools used to expedite workflow
Rapid prototyping
Keyshot or equivalent rendering software
Adobe Creative Suite proficiency
Physical prototyping and model-making
Education
Bachelor’s degree required
Industrial or Toy Design degree required
Years of Experience
6+ years of Design experience required
Experience in Consumer Products preferred