Product Development Manager (India)

The Role

We make products all over the world, and our promise to customers is simple: deliver them beautifully made, perfectly finished, and on time. As our Product Development Manager (India), you will act as the vital bridge between our UK design team and our Indian manufacturing partners. This is a highly creative, hands-on role where you will turn CAD designs into physical reality. You won’t just be managing samples; you will be the on-the-ground expert ensuring every piece meets our exact standards, navigating complex safety testing, and maintaining rigorous data integrity in our PIM systems.

What You’ll Do

• Bring CAD designs to life by working directly with factory technicians to iterate, refine, and perfect prototypes.
• Lead the feasibility review process, ensuring that aesthetic designs are structurally sound and logistically viable for international transit.
• Provide creative input and "on-the-spot" problem solving to translate 3D models into final, marketable products.
• Manage the full sample approval cycle, ensuring gold seal samples are approved and ready for photography and production.

Technical Compliance & Quality:

• Champion our quality and safety standards, ensuring all products undergo and pass mandatory safety and drop tests.
• Act as the technical lead on the factory floor, identifying construction risks and ensuring specific Swoon requirements (e.g., joinery, material thickness) are strictly adhered to.
• Partner with our local QC teams to align on expectations, reviewing development samples against CAD specifications.
• Review QC reports and analyse defects in bulk production compared to the agreed Gold seal sample, providing feedback to suppliers.

Data & Systems Management:

• Own the product data collection process; you will be responsible for populating our Product Information Management (PIM) system with accurate, verified information for every SKU.
• Maintain absolute data accuracy across all internal development trackers and shared supplier grids.
• Collaborate with the UK-based PD and Merchandising teams to ensure PIM and BCP data aligns perfectly with tendering and production timelines.

Communication & Coordination:

• Serve as the primary constant contact for the UK PD team, providing weekly updates on development progress, project risks, and design roadblocks.
• Build and maintain strong, productive relationships with local factory leadership.
• Translate complex manufacturing feedback into clear, actionable briefs for the design team.
• Frequent travel will be required to visit different suppliers in India, including Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Ratangarh.

Requirements

What We’re Looking For

• The Technical Expert: 3+ years of experience in furniture development, with a deep understanding of manufacturing processes, materials, and construction techniques.
• The CAD Specialist: You have an eye for detail and the ability to interpret and critique CAD designs, offering creative solutions to bring them to production-ready status.
• The Data Steward: Highly disciplined with data. You understand the importance of the PIM system and take ownership of inputting and verifying product specifications. You have excellent knowledge of Google sheets.
• The Communicator: You are a natural bridge-builder. You can explain complex production issues to the UK team clearly while maintaining a firm, collaborative relationship with suppliers.
• The Problem Solver: You don’t wait for answers; you identify potential failures early, suggest solutions, and keep the development timeline moving.

Benefits

What We Offer

• The opportunity to lead product development for a fast-paced, design-led, and data-driven brand.
• Creative autonomy to shape how our designs transition from digital files to finished furniture.
• A collaborative environment where your technical expertise directly influences our core product range.

Life at Swoon

Upbeat, ambitious, and collaborative—that’s us. We’re a lean team, so if you relish responsibility and like to directly influence outcomes, this is your place. As a consultant, you will have the independence to manage your own workflow and site visits across your region, while staying in constant, close contact with our central teams in the UK.