R&D Product Manager - Innovation & Product Design

Overview
Engineer by trade. Woodworker by hobby. Builder at heart. If that sounds like you, keep reading.
We are seeking an exceptional R&D Product Manager to drive the next generation of innovation in the woodworking and maker space.
This role is built for a rare hybrid: someone who combines engineering rigor with a builder’s mindset. You have strong intuition for what will succeed in the market, the ability to design and prototype physical products, and the discipline to bring ideas from concept to commercialization.
This is not a traditional product role. You will play a key role in shaping the future of the company’s product line, with real ownership over what gets built next and how it comes to market.
You will lead end-to-end product development—from identifying real-world problems to designing, validating, and launching solutions that are practical, intuitive, and built to perform. This role requires a deep commitment to usability, safety, and design for manufacturability.

WHO YOU ARE
You are likely a Product Design Engineer, R&D Engineer, Mechanical Engineer (consumer products), or Innovation Engineer who thinks like an engineer but builds like a craftsman. You enjoy working with your hands as much as solving technical problems and are driven to simplify, improve, and iterate.
You have an  inventor’s mindset —the ability to create something entirely new, approach problems in unexpected ways, and design solutions that are not only functional but genuinely inventive and potentially productizable.

You have  hands-on experience designing and building woodworking jigs, fixtures, or custom shop solutions , and you understand how these creations solve real problems for real users. As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide  examples of inventive jigs or designs that demonstrate your creativity, problem‑solving ability, and craftsmanship.
If you’ve ever spent your weekends in a garage, shop, or workspace building something just because you wanted to make it better, you will feel at home here.

WHAT YOU WILL DO
Product Discovery & Innovation

• Conduct hands-on research in real environments including user interviews, shop visits, testing, and observation
• Identify unmet needs within the woodworking and maker communities
• Maintain a pipeline of high-quality product concepts with multiple ideas in development at all times

HOW YOU WILL DO IT
Product Design & Prototyping

• Translate ideas into physical prototypes using CNC, 3D printing, and hands-on shop tools
• Design and build jigs, fixtures, and test setups to validate concepts
• Refine designs through iterative prototyping and user feedback
• Collaborate with engineering and suppliers to ensure feasibility, quality, and scalability

Product Management & Commercialization

• Develop and own product requirements
• Define user personas, jobs to be done, and product positioning
• Run validation processes to confirm product‑market fit
• Collaborate cross-functionally to bring products to market successfully

Collaboration & Leadership

• Act as a thought partner in shaping product direction and innovation strategy
• Contribute to a high-performance, builder-focused culture
• Bring curiosity, humility, and accountability to a fast-paced R&D environment

Required Skills & Experience

• Strong proficiency in  SolidWorks is required
• 5 to 10+ years in product development, mechanical engineering, or R&D engineering
• Proven experience designing and developing physical products from concept through production
• Portfolio demonstrating hands-on product design work is required
• Demonstrated experience designing and building woodworking jigs, fixtures, or custom shop solutions
• Experience with prototyping methods such as CNC, 3D printing, and shop tools
• Hands-on familiarity with woodworking tools or similar build-focused environments
• Strong problem-solving ability with a focus on practical, real-world solutions
• Solid project management and documentation skills

Bonus Experience

• Prior invention work, patents, or IP contributions
• Experience designing jigs, fixtures, or tool-related products (beyond the required examples)
• Experience with CAM or additional CAD platforms such as Autodesk Fusion 360