The Role
The Director of Design Engineering will develop Gantri's design system, expand product capabilities, and manage a team of design and engineering professionals to deliver high-quality, manufacturable products.
Summary Generated by Built In
Company
Gantri is the first digital manufacturer for design. We enable any designer or brand to create high-quality, sustainable design products 10x faster with no minimums. We manufacture at our Digital Factory in California on-demand at industrial-scale efficiency and ship directly to the end customer. Gantri is the most awarded design manufacturer in America.
Role
We are seeking a Director of Design Engineering to lead and expand Gantri’s design engineering discipline. This leader will own the development of Gantri’s Design System — building new product capabilities, unlocking new categories, and ensuring that every product we produce delivers uncompromising quality, functionality, and design intent.
You’ll lead our team of design engineers to ensure that concepts from our design partners are transformed into real products quickly and at an exceptional quality level. This role is both strategic and hands-on: you’ll partner directly with independent designers and brands to transform their ideas into manufacturable products, while also scaling the capabilities of our internal team and digital factory.
Responsibilities
- Develop Gantri’s design system: Create frameworks, processes, and standards that enable consistent, scalable, and beautiful product development across categories.
- Expand product capabilities: Lead the engineering of new functional capabilities (e.g., wireless, smart features, modularity) and unlock new product categories beyond lighting.
- Bridge design and engineering: Partner with designers and brands to refine concepts into manufacturable, high-quality products that preserve creative intent.
- Lead multidisciplinary teams: Manage and mentor design engineers, mechanical engineers, and electrical engineers, fostering collaboration and innovation.
- Collaborate cross-functionally: Work closely with Design, Manufacturing Engineering, and Manufacturing Operations to ensure seamless integration from concept to production.
- Integrate with manufacturing: Collaborate with Gantri’s factory and automation teams to ensure products are optimized for additive manufacturing, digital assembly, and scalability.
- Champion Gantri’s values: Drive impact, think critically, embrace change, move fast, and empower anti-fragility in your team and across the company.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in design engineering for consumer products (consumer electronics, hardware, or furniture strongly preferred).
- Proven success in bringing complex consumer products to market, from concept through manufacturing.
- Hands-on experience with additive manufacturing, DfM (design for manufacture), and digital fabrication technologies.
- Track record of managing cross-disciplinary engineering teams (design, mechanical, electrical).
- Deep understanding of the balance between design excellence and engineering feasibility.
- Strong leadership and communication skills, with experience working directly with external partners, designers, or brands.
- Fully aligned with Gantri’s Pioneer Spirit and core values: Drive Impact, Think Critically, Champion Change, Move Fast, Empower Anti-Fragility.
Why Gantri
- Join a company reimagining manufacturing and empowering the next generation of designers and design brands.
- Be part of a high-impact, design-driven organization creating a new industry.
- Lead design across both digital and physical experiences in a fast-growing, purpose-driven environment.
- Competitive salary, equity, and benefits.
Benefits
- Competitive salary and equity
- Medical, dental and vision insurance
- 401k
- Paid vacation days and paid holidays
- Access to 3D printers for your personal projects
- Monthly team lunches
- And much more
Top Skills
Additive Manufacturing
Dfm
Digital Fabrication Technologies
Am I A Good Fit?
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.
Success! Refresh the page to see how your skills align with this role.
The Company
What We Do
Gantri is a new kind of design manufacturer. We help designers create high-quality, affordable and sustainable modern designs and sell directly to consumers. Our secret? Manufacturing products on-demand using cutting-edge 3D printing and innovative plant-based materials.
Since launching lighting in 2017, we've collaborated with some of world's best designers, studios and brands, including Ammunition, Dims and Muka Design Lab. We’re the winner of Time’s Best Inventions 2020, Fast Company’s Most Innovative in Design 2020, Gear Patrol’s Top 100 Products of 2020, Architectural Digest’s Cleverest Awards 2020 and many other awards.
