Senior Designer, CMF - Soft GoodsNeedham, MAThe OpportunityColor, material, and finish is where a product stops being a spec sheet and starts being something someone wants on their counter. As Senior Designer, CMF, you'll lead that work across multiple products and categories - owning CMF direction from concept development through production implementation, so our products elevate the user experience, differentiate the brand, and earn consumer loyalty.
You'll join the Ninja Design Team: industrial designers, UI/UX designers, and CMF designers working across the brand and its categories. The role partners with cross-functional teams and senior leadership to shape brand-defining design direction, which means the strategic thinking and the material sample in your hand matter equally.
We're looking for a strategic creative thinker with deep expertise in color, material, and finish trends and manufacturing processes, and a track record of driving CMF concepts from strategy through production.
Please include a copy of your resume and portfolio with your application.Key Responsibilities- Lead CMF concept and strategy development that aligns with product design goals, brand identity, and long-term brand vision.
- Own trend forecasting and research on emerging color, material, and finish trends - translating insights into actionable direction for the team.
- Direct the creation of mood boards, color palettes, and material/finish samples, presenting concepts and rationale to senior stakeholders and leadership.
- Lead supplier and manufacturer relationships, driving sourcing and evaluation of new materials and finishes for feasibility, innovation, and cost-effectiveness.
- Own end-to-end CMF specifications and documentation, ensuring accurate and consistent execution across production teams and partners.
- Lead design reviews across multiple projects, providing strategic direction and critical feedback on CMF-related aspects of product design.
- Guide prototype and sample development, driving validation and refinement of CMF concepts through to production sign-off.
- Mentor associate and junior CMF designers, raising the capability and craft of the broader team.
- Establish and maintain the CMF materials library and archive, setting best practices for organization and knowledge-sharing.
- Serve as the team's subject-matter expert on materials, color theory, and manufacturing technologies, sharing insights across the broader design org.
Attributes & Skills- 5-8 years in color, material, and finish design - consumer electronics or consumer products preferred.
- Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, KeyShot, and SolidWorks.
- Deep expertise in color theory, trend forecasting, and manufacturing processes across product categories.
- Demonstrated ability to lead CMF strategy independently, from early concept through production.
- Experience mentoring or providing design direction to junior and associate designers.
- Strong strategic and analytical thinking that translates into innovative, brand-right creative direction.
- Exceptional attention to detail, with a refined sense of aesthetics and craftsmanship.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and align senior leadership and executive stakeholders.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects and shifting priorities.
- A strong portfolio demonstrating CMF strategic leadership, end-to-end process ownership, and production-ready documentation (required).
- Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Interaction Design, or a related discipline - or equivalent professional experience.
Salary and Other Compensation: The annual salary range for this position is displayed below. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include geography/market, skills, education, experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts (HSA) with company contribution, 401(k) retirement plan with matching, employee stock purchase program, life insurance, AD&D, short-term disability insurance, long-term disability insurance, generous paid time off, company holidays, parental leave, identity theft protection, pet insurance, pre-paid legal insurance, back-up child and eldercare days, product discounts, referral bonus program, and more.
Pay Range
$73,500-$105,000 USD
