Associate Product Engineer, Finishes - Rejuvenation

About the Team

The Rejuvenation product development team consists of highly creative, collaborative, and technical designers and engineers. As a key member of the team, you will bring combine your engineering skills and attention to detail to support all product categories by leading the development of finishes, from concept to launch.

Position Summary
As the Associate Product Engineer for Finishes, you will bring forward a strong attention to detail to ensure all finishes for the brand are consistent and aligned with quality expectations. Finishes for the brand are applied a wide array of metal substrates, domestic and exotic hardwoods, wood veneers, ceramics, glass, marble, and more. In this role, you will be a key member on the product development team, partnering with the VP of Product Development to communicate status updates for onboarding new finishes, recalibrating existing finishes, and resourcing finishes across new and existing vendors for the brand. The Associate Product Engineer for Finishes will lead with intention, remain flexible, and collaborate with the Product Development team to fulfill business needs on a quarterly launch cadence.

Responsibilities

• Onboard new and core finishes with existing vendors across the brand's vendor network.
• Lead resourcing of core finishes with new vendors across the brand's vendor network.
• Ensure new and core finishes pass brand testing protocol and quality expectations.
• Follow the brand's SOP for finish development, proposing amendments to processes as needed.
• Create a strong working relationship with each lead designer to address and solve in-consistency of finishes across all product categories.
• Collaborate with the VP of Product Development to define finish alignment and expectations by product type and collection each season.
• Manage and update the brand's finish tracker in Airtable to efficiently track status of all finish developments and finish resourcing projects in one program.
• Track and ship finish samples through the finish development process.
• Create accurate documentation for comments, inclusive of objective feedback and photographs, for vendors overseas.
• Maintain consistent communication with internal and external partners via email.
• Lead monthly finish product development meetings, providing key updates to lead designers and cross functional partners.
• Partner with the Director of Engineering to ensure core finishes continue to meet quality and consistency within the brand's lighting factory in Portland, Oregon.
• Collaborate with the Senior Lighting Designer to refresh seasonal color palette for indoor and outdoor lighting, assisting with painting in-house prototypes for presentation and review.
• Manage and organize the brand's in-house finish library by creating an organized system for archiving finishes by vendor and check-in / check-out of finish swatches for presentations.
• Partner with designated finish engineers by country to ensure development of finishes are consistent and meeting expectations by each vendor.
• Participate in weekly and bi-weekly calls with overseas vendors to solve finish related issues throughout the design and development processes.
• Travel overseas to meet with international vendors and finish engineers to solve problems in-person on an as-needed basis.
• Participate in building a creative culture that inspires others by offering a wide knowledge of materials and manufacturing techniques.
• Ensure deliverables are delivered efficiently and on time, building strong accountability within the Product Development team.
• Ensure sustainable goals and are being met by making intentional design choices that align with the brand's sustainable initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3-5 years engineering and product development experience with a focus in hard goods for home products and home retailers.
• Proven track record developing products on a quarterly launch timeline.
• Highly detail-oriented, excellent time management skills, and naturally collaborative.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to operate, both, independently and with a team.
• Ability to inspire cross functional partners by presenting creative solutions that align with business objectives and market trends.

• Knowledgeable in all aspects of manufacturing for Hard Good products, including metal, wood, glass, ceramics, marble, and more.

• Domestic and overseas manufacturing experience is required.
• Working proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud applications: Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
• Working proficiency in 3D programs, Rhino and Keyshot, are a plus.
• Ability to produce technical drawings proficiently.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present solutions and design strategies efficiently and effectively.
• Strong communication skills, both, written and verbally.
• Experience employing design strategies to achieve business goals.
• Ability to make thoughtful engineering decisions that align with "good, better, best" pricing tiers and quality standards of the brand.
• A positive attitude, remaining flexible and solution oriented to be a successful leader and team player.

Our Culture & Values

We believe that taking care of our people is vital to our success and we strive to offer equitable and transparent practices for all. We prioritize connection, growth, and wellbeing.

People First

Putting People First means investing in overall well-being and opportunities to grow and advance within the organization. Depending on the position and location, here are a few highlights of what benefits may be available:

Benefits

• A generous discount on all WSI brands
• A 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities
• Paid vacations, holidays, and time off to volunteer
• Health benefits, dental and vision insurance, including same-sex domestic partner benefits
• Tax-free commuter benefits
• A wellness program that supports your physical, financial and emotional health

Continued Learning

• In-person and online learning opportunities through WSI University
• Cross-brand and cross-function career opportunities
• Resources for self-development
• Advisor (Mentor) program
• Career development workshops, learning programs, and speaker series

WSI will not now or in the future commence an immigration case or "sponsor" an individual for this position (for example, H-1B or other employment-based immigration).

This role is not eligible for relocation assistance.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, or other applicable state or local laws and ordinances.