Director of Industrial Design

Job Opportunity: Director of Industrial Design with Formative 3D in Falls Church, VA

Are you highly skilled in 3D design and CAD, with a strong understanding of DFM/DFA principles? Do you enjoy leading product development, prototyping, and cross‑functional collaboration? Are you excited to shape product strategy, innovation, and long‑term growth through design? If you answered yes, we want to speak with you!

As the Director of Industrial Design you will take ownership, think like a builder, and balance creative vision with practical execution. This role requires strong leadership, advanced design expertise, and the ability to move seamlessly from concept development to production problem‑solving while collaborating cross‑functionally to uphold high design and industry standards.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead near-, mid-, and long‑term design initiatives that inform the product roadmap and expand future opportunities.
• Drive rapid, iterative prototyping through sketching, modeling, and physical builds to support discovery and development.
• Translate design exploration and research into actionable product, R&D, and growth strategies.
• Define and maintain a clear product roadmap with aligned priorities, timelines, and deliverables.
• Lead the full product development lifecycle from concept through production across multiple concurrent projects.
• Partner with engineering, manufacturing, and client service teams to align design intent with feasibility, cost, and go‑to‑market plans.
• Establish tools, workflows, and cadences to track progress, improve execution, and manage risk.
• Guide concept development across furniture, lighting, and emerging built‑environment categories.
• Identify new opportunities beyond current product lines, including architectural systems and additive-enabled solutions.
• Recruit, mentor, and lead a multidisciplinary design team, fostering accountability, curiosity, and innovation.
• Collaborate with leadership and external partners to align vision, expand influence, and position design as a strategic driver of the business.

Qualifications:

• 8-12+ years of industrial design experience bringing complex physical products from concept through production.
• Advanced expertise in 3D modeling and CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Rhino, Fusion 360).
• Strong knowledge of DFM/DFA principles and production-ready design documentation.
• Experience with additive manufacturing processes and related materials, tolerances, and finishes.
• Proven ability to lead iterative prototyping, testing, and performance validation.
• Experience with parametric or computational design is a plus.
• Ability to create and manage detailed drawings, specifications, and BOMs for production handoff.

Why Join Formative 3D?

We’re building the next generation of manufacturing through advanced 3D printing. What begins with furniture and lighting is quickly expanding into a broader ambition: to rethink how the built environment is conceived, designed, and realized. Formative 3D is building a new model of manufacturing for the built environment using advanced 3D printing, robotics, and automation. We design and manufacture products that range from high-end furniture systems and architectural lighting to jigs, fixtures, and tooling. We’re looking for a leader to drive the creative and strategic direction of our product ecosystem.

Apply online today to join a great team!

Formative 3D is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to hiring and developing the most qualified individuals based on job‑related experience, skills, and merit. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We value a respectful, inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. Formative 3D maintains a drug‑free workplace consistent with applicable local, state, and federal laws.

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