Furniture Design Engineer

We inspire purpose-filled living that brings beauty and quality to the modern home. Together, we achieve. Associates across our business drive results, innovate, and inspire. Drawn together by our shared values and passion for our customers and our brands, we deliver home furnishings that are expertly designed, responsibly sourced, and bring timeless style and function to people’s homes. From the day we opened our first store in Chicago in 1962 to the digital innovations that engage millions of customers today, our iconic brand is over 60 years in the making—and our story is still unfolding.

We’re here for it. We think you should be too. We’re looking for a driven professional with an inclusive mindset to join our team as a Furniture Design Engineer.

The Furniture Design Engineer will work closely with and mentor the furniture and lighting design team throughout the engineering and product development phases, leveraging their expertise to teach innovative approaches to building designs that maintain the original design intent while achieving target margins. They will guide the team in creating precise and comprehensive orthographic spec packages, ensuring all necessary manufacturing details are clearly communicated to facilitate successful execution by factory partners. They will collaborate with cross-functional teams on company initiatives to drive cost-saving efficiencies across departments.

This position is a 4 day hybrid position based out of our Headquarters located in Northbrook, Illinois

A day in the life as a Furniture Design Engineer…

• In partnership with the Vice President of Design, lead the design team in effective engineering and product development strategies across all furniture categories, including case goods, upholstery, outdoor, and lighting
• Apply deep expertise in furniture manufacturing methods to achieve target retail pricing set by merchant teams, utilizing value engineering to develop innovative design solutions while maintaining an elevated aesthetic
• Oversee the full product development cycle from an engineering standpoint from initial concept to final production, ensuring development milestones and deadlines are met
• Manage the team's drafting and spec out process, ensuring we deliver precise and comprehensive orthographic drawings that communicate all necessary design details to factories, reducing the need for multiple prototypes
• Utilize SolidWorks and KeyShot to support the design team during peak development periods, ensuring timely submission of technical specifications
• Provide strategic input on material selection and manufacturing techniques, collaborating closely with the design team to enhance both feasibility and innovation
• Work in close partnership with sourcing leadership and overseas agent teams to communicate and execute designs effectively, balancing target costs with design intent and ensuring seamless engineering feedback to manufacturers
• Participate in weekly cross-functional meetings with sourcing, packaging, supply chain, and distribution center (DC) teams to address product development challenges, improve furniture handling, and develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) that enhance quality, optimize home delivery standards, reduce damage costs, and improve the overall customer experience
• Evaluate and resolve technical feasibility, design optimization and production issues
  
  

What You’ll Bring To The Table…

• Experience in furniture manufacturing, working with factories directly to create products as well as keeping up with current manufacturing technology
• Extensive knowledge with materiality and finishes
• Extensive knowledge with construction and testing / compliance
• Extensive experience with International Sourcing
• Ability to execute quality control inspections with a critical eye setting a standard for our cross functional teams and factories
• Proven track record in problem solving and coming up with design innovations when it comes to engineering case good, upholstery and outdoor furniture and lighting
• Understanding small to large scale production ranging from low-end, mid to high-end luxury furniture
  
  

We’d love to hear from you if you have…

• Must provide Portfolio link (including password) on resume or PDF samples
• Bachelor's degree in Furniture Design, Industrial Design or related field
• 5 years of relevant experience in Product Design, Development and/or Furniture Engineering
• Expert in AutoCAD drafting and rendering programs; Solid Works, AutoCAD, Keyshot, Adobe Creative Suite
• Experienced rendering orthographic specs
• Ability to manage a design team and meet deadlines
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-department teams as well as independently to drive business outcomes
• Excellent attention to detail and problem solving skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
  
  

Minimum Starting Rate: $83,000.00 Annually

Up to: $114,000.00 Annually

Pay ranges will be adjusted upward as needed to comply with applicable state and local law. In addition to your salary, based on your role, associates may be eligible for other compensation including bonuses, sales incentives, and long term incentives.

Crate: Corporate Office