Position Summary

We are seeking a hands-on Industrial Design Manager to lead the design and development of
innovative safety knives and cutting tools. This will start as a player/coach role, responsible
for both executing high-quality design work and leading internal and external design resources.
This position offers a unique opportunity to help build and scale the industrial design
function as the company enters a period of significant growth. You will play a key role in
shaping not only products, but also the processes, tools, and team structure that support a
world-class design organization.
You will drive product design from concept through production while shaping innovation
pipelines, facilitating ideation, and evolving the visual brand language—delivering user-
centered, safety-driven products that meet commercial and manufacturing objectives.
The position will be based in Atlanta, GA but will be remote in the beginning.

Key Responsibilities
Design Leadership & Execution
 Lead and actively contribute to the design of safety knives and cutting tools from concept through commercialization
 Create and review sketches, CAD models, and prototypes to communicate and refine design intent
 Drive ergonomic and safety-focused solutions that improve user performance and reduce risk
 Partner with engineering to ensure designs are manufacturable (injection molding, metal components, assembly)
 Define materials, textures, colors, and finishes (CMF) in product specifications Team Leadership, Coaching & Function Building
 Establish design processes, workflows, and best practices as the team grows
 Play a key role in building and scaling the industrial design team in line with company growth
 Foster a culture of curiosity, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement
 Act as the design lead across engineering, product management, and commercial teams
 Present concepts, strategies, and design rationale to stakeholders and leadership
 Balance user needs, technical constraints, and business goals in decision-making

External Design Resource Management
 Identify, onboard, and manage external industrial design firms, freelancers, and consultants
 Develop clear design briefs, scopes, timelines, and deliverables
 Direct and review external work to ensure alignment with internal standards and brandvision
 Integrate external concepts into internal development and drive them through to production
 Manage budgets and timelines related to external design efforts Trend Scouting & Innovation
 Lead ongoing trend research across tools, consumer products, PPE, and adjacent industries
 Identify emerging materials, technologies, and user behaviors that inform future opportunities
 Translate insights into concept pipelines, product roadmaps, and innovation strategies
 Drive early-stage concept development, from ideation through functional prototypes
 Identify whitespace opportunities and support long-term product planning Workshops & Ideation Leadership
 Plan and facilitate cross-functional ideation workshops with design, engineering, and commercial teams
 Develop workshop frameworks, exercises, and visual stimuli (trend boards, concept prompts, etc.)
 Guide teams to generate actionable concepts and align on innovation priorities
 Synthesize outputs into clear design directions and next steps Visual Brand Language & Design Identity
 Lead the development and evolution of the product visual brand language
 Define and maintain consistency in form language, CMF, and detailing across the portfolio, reinforcing a cohesive, differentiated brand identity
 Create design guidelines, mood boards, and concept narratives
Testing, Validation & Continuous Improvement
 Oversee usability, safety, and durability testing of new and existing products
 Ensure validation reflects real-world use cases (e.g., cutting cardboard, shrink wrap, strapping)
 Translate insights into design improvements and next-generation features
 Drive continuous improvement with designs

Qualifications
 Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design or related field
 6–10+ years of experience in industrial design, in consumer products, tools, or PPE
 Proven track record of bringing products from concept to production
 Strong portfolio demonstrating both execution and strategic thinking
 Advanced proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar)
 Deep understanding of manufacturing processes (injection molding, metal fabrication,assembly)

Preferred Experience
 Experience designing hand-held tools, safety products, or industrial equipment
 Prior experience in a lead or management role
 Experience managing external design partners or agencies
 Strong background in ergonomics and human factors
 Experience developing visual brand language and CMF strategies

Key Competencies
 Ability to balance hands-on design work with team leadership (player/coach mindset)
 Strategic thinker with a growth-oriented mindset
 Strong facilitation and workshop leadership skills
 Ability to build structure in a fast-growing, evolving environment
 Excellent communication and storytelling skills
 Hands-on, solutions-oriented approach

What You’ll Work On
 Next-generation safety knife platforms and modular systems
 Advanced safety mechanisms and ergonomic innovations
 Development of a cohesive and recognizable product design language
 Exploration of new materials, finishes, and construction methods
 Innovation pipelines that define future product categories

What You’ll Gain
 Opportunity to build and scale a design function within a company poised for growth
 Ownership of both design execution and team development
 Ability to shape long-term product strategy and innovation direction
 Experience managing external partners while growing internal capabilities
 Direct impact on products that improve real-world safety and performance