Product Engineer | Soft Goods - ZipRecruiter : Job Details

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Product Engineer | Soft Goods

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About Us

Are you inspired by innovation, continuous improvement, rapid vertical growth, and genuine, forward-thinking culture? Do you want to help families and communities connect to the great outdoors—all while doing something meaningful for future ? Join our team at POLYWOOD, the leading brand of sustainable outdoor furniture.

POLYWOOD is a U.S.-based company that proudly operates from our original headquarters in Syracuse, Indiana, with an additional facility in Roxboro, North Carolina, and a burgeoning remote workforce. Since day one, we've upheld our founder's original mission of stewardship by designing, engineering, and building beautiful outdoor furniture using sustainable materials, including landfill- and ocean-bound plastics, all with a zero-waste mindset. Our positive and inclusive culture is best described by our teams as an atmosphere of energy — a place where there is trust among each other and ongoing opportunity. Pair that with competitive pay and a suite of benefits, and you've got yourself a truly unique place to work. If you're ready for an exciting and fulfilling career, explore our available job opportunities today.

Position Summary

At POLYWOOD, we're passionate about designing beautiful, sustainable outdoor products that bring comfort and style to every space. As a Product Engineer – Soft Goods, you'll play a pivotal role in bringing our cushioned and upholstered products to life—engineering innovative, manufacturable solutions that balance comfort, durability, aesthetics, and efficiency.

In this hands-on role, you'll collaborate closely with design, production, and sewing teams to transform concepts into functional prototypes and production-ready solutions. From creating and refining patterns to selecting materials and troubleshooting production challenges, you'll be a key driver in delivering soft goods that meet our high standards for quality, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. You'll pair your technical expertise in CAD and pattern design with a deep understanding of sewing and upholstery techniques, ensuring each product is engineered for both beauty and manufacturability.

If you're an engineer who thrives at the intersection of creativity, craftsmanship, and technical problem-solving, this is your opportunity to join an innovative team and contribute to POLYWOOD's growing portfolio of premium outdoor soft goods.

Selling Points:

• Growth potential
• You would be joining an AWESOME team
• Collaborative environment

Responsibilities:

• Design and develop prototypes for cushions, seat pads, and upholstered components using Solidworks (or similar CAD software) and hands-on fabrication techniques.
• Engineer solutions for soft goods products, balancing aesthetics, comfort, manufacturability, and durability requirements.
• Create and modify patterns, sewing guides, and assembly instructions for prototype and production sewing teams.
• Work directly with sewing and upholstery teams to develop prototypes, ensuring designs are functional, manufacturable, and production-ready.
• Select appropriate materials (fabrics, foams, thread, fasteners) for soft goods based on performance, cost, and manufacturability requirements.
• Provide consistent engineering documentation, including material callouts, assembly drawings, and technical specifications for soft goods components.
• Partner with Product Managers, Design, and Production teams to launch new soft goods products from concept through full production release.
• Test prototypes and pre-production samples for fit, function, and durability; iterate designs as needed based on real-world performance.
• Recommend improvements to processes and product designs to optimize manufacturing efficiency, cost, and quality.
• Maintain clear communication with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot and resolve technical challenges during development and launch.

Requirements:

• 3–5 years of experience in product development or engineering roles, with a focus on soft goods, upholstery, or sewn products.
• Strong understanding of sewing techniques, pattern creation, and soft goods construction methods.
• Experience with CAD software (Solidworks, Rhino, Pathworks, or similar) for part modeling, pattern flattening, and technical documentation.
• Ability to create and interpret sewing patterns and technical drawings for manufacturing.
• Skilled in working with different types of textiles, foams, and upholstery materials.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with a hands-on approach to prototyping and product refinement.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple development projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work collaboratively with both engineering and production teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to support clear documentation and cross-functional teamwork.

Bonus points if:

• Experience in furniture, outdoor products, automotive interiors, or other upholstered goods industries.
• Hands-on sewing or upholstery skills for prototype development.
• Knowledge of durability and wear testing standards for soft goods.

POLYWOOD is an equal opportunity employer. POLYWOOD evaluates qualified applicants without regard to characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Requirements: