Hardware Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Hardware Design Manager

Company: Brick

Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Hardware Operations & Product Management

Date Posted: 2026-08-13T15:41:29

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (2-5 years implied)

Remote Status: Hybrid (4-5 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the conceptualization, development, and launch of new hardware products, from initial sketches to mass production.

• Manage comprehensive product lifecycle processes, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to design specifications.

• Cultivate and maintain robust vendor relationships, including overseas supply chains, to ensure quality and cost-effectiveness.

• Drive P&L impact by owning cost and margin tradeoffs throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Orchestrate cross-functional collaboration between design, supply chain, and marketing teams for seamless product launches.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "builder's role" with significant ownership, implying a need for a proactive individual who can establish and refine processes within a growing hardware product line. The emphasis on P&L impact and vendor management suggests a strong focus on operational efficiency and financial accountability.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee the end-to-end launch of physical products, encompassing concept development, design iteration, material selection, and final packaging.

• Spearhead the hardware design process, defining product specifications, colorways, materials, and packaging solutions from inception to completion.

• Establish and manage key vendor partnerships, including negotiation of timelines, terms, and deliverables to ensure project milestones are met.

• Coordinate and manage multiple sample cycles, overseeing revisions and approvals until designs achieve launch readiness.

• Directly manage cost and margin considerations, understanding and influencing the P&L impact of product decisions.

• Develop and maintain a cross-functional launch calendar, synchronizing efforts across design, supply chain, and marketing departments.

• Proactively identify and mitigate timeline or vendor delivery risks, developing and implementing contingency plans to prevent delays.

• Collaborate closely with the marketing team to ensure product launches are supported by compelling narratives and are strategically timed for market impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a need for strong project management, vendor negotiation, and financial acumen. The emphasis on "owning tradeoffs" and "direct P&L impact" suggests the candidate will be responsible for making critical business decisions that affect profitability.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Design, Business, or a related field is typically expected for such roles, though not explicitly stated.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years in project management or product management, with a demonstrated history of successfully managing multiple concurrent projects and vendor relationships. Experience in direct-to-consumer (DTC) environments, startups, or physical product launches is highly preferred.

Required Skills:

• Proven project management expertise with a track record of delivering complex hardware products.

• Strong vendor management capabilities, including experience with overseas supply chains and negotiation.

• Excellent organizational skills with a demonstrated ability to manage timelines and hit deadlines consistently.

• Effective communication and cross-functional leadership skills to align diverse teams (design, ops, marketing).

• Proficiency in understanding and managing cost and margin tradeoffs, with direct P&L impact awareness.

• Experience with risk assessment and contingency planning for product launches.

• An eye for design, with the ability to critique concepts, renders, and samples. Preferred Skills:

• Background in DTC, startups, or other fast-paced physical product launch environments.

• Hands-on design experience, including CAD software and iterating on renders.

• Familiarity with consumer electronics or technology hardware development.

• Experience with packaging design and material selection.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required" skills are framed around operational execution and project delivery, while "Preferred" skills lean towards a more hands-on, design-centric, and startup-oriented background. The implied experience level of 2-5 years suggests a candidate ready to take on significant responsibility but likely not yet at a senior director level.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Documented examples of end-to-end product launch successes, showcasing ownership from concept to shelf.

• Case studies detailing how you managed vendor relationships, including negotiation strategies and outcomes.

• Demonstrations of how you've managed cost and margin tradeoffs, illustrating the decision-making process and its financial impact.

• Examples of cross-functional project management, highlighting your ability to coordinate design, supply chain, and marketing efforts.

• Evidence of risk identification and mitigation strategies implemented during product development cycles.

• Visuals or descriptions of product designs, packaging, or colorways you have overseen. Process Documentation:

• Workflow diagrams or descriptions of your approach to managing product development lifecycles.

• Examples of launch calendars or project timelines you have created and managed.

• Documentation illustrating your methodology for coordinating sample cycles and managing revisions.

• Processes for identifying and resolving product development bottlenecks or risks.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio demonstrating tangible results in hardware product launches, vendor management, financial oversight, and cross-functional leadership will be critical for this role. Candidates should be prepared to showcase their process for taking a product from idea to market.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $140,000 - $170,000 USD per year, dependent on experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package.

• Meaningful equity participation.

• Comprehensive benefits for employees and their families.

• Flexibility in work arrangements to support sustainable work practices.

• Opportunities for time to recharge.

Working Hours: The role is described as hybrid, requiring 4-5 days per week in the Chicago office. While specific daily hours are not stated, a standard full-time work week of approximately 40 hours is implied, with potential for flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Hardware Design Manager role in a major metropolitan area like Chicago, especially within a startup or high-growth company context. The inclusion of equity and comprehensive benefits points to a company investing in its core team members. The hybrid model is typical for roles requiring hands-on collaboration.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Consumer Electronics, Hardware, Software (Companion App). Brick is positioned in the emerging market of mindful technology and distraction reduction through physical products.

Company Size: The specific size isn't stated, but the mention of a "next wave of hardware," "hero products," and a "builder's role" suggests a growing, potentially mid-stage startup environment where processes are being established.

Founded: Not explicitly stated, but the company's mission and product suggest a relatively modern founding date, likely within the last decade, focusing on current technological and societal trends.

Team Structure:

• The Hardware Design Manager reports to the Sr. Director of Hardware and Supply Chain, indicating a clear reporting line within the hardware and operations division.

• The role requires direct partnership with Design, Supply Chain, and Marketing teams, emphasizing a collaborative and integrated structure.

• The team is likely composed of individuals who are thoughtful, driven, and focused on quality and impact, with a high bar for execution. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is implied through the focus on P&L impact and margin tradeoffs.

• Process optimization is central, with the expectation of driving product launches from concept to factory floor and managing timelines.

• Automation and efficiency are key, as evidenced by the need to "reclaim focus" and "minimize distractions" through their products, which likely extends to internal operations.

Company Website: https://getbrick.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Brick's culture appears to be centered around intentionality, focus, and high-quality execution, mirroring the mission of their products. The "builder's role" nature suggests an environment where initiative and process creation are valued.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a mid-to-senior individual contributor or early management level, focused on direct product execution and ownership. It offers a significant opportunity to shape the hardware product line and establish foundational processes.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Sr. Director of Hardware and Supply Chain, providing direct mentorship and oversight from a senior leader in the hardware domain.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and tangible impact on Brick's revenue through the successful launch and profitability of its physical products. Decisions made by the Hardware Design Manager will directly influence customer acquisition, retention, and overall business growth.

Growth Opportunities:

• Product Line Expansion: Opportunity to lead the development of multiple hardware products, accessories, and future iterations, growing with the company's hardware portfolio.

• Process Development: Chance to build and refine hardware development and launch processes, establishing best practices for a growing organization.

• Leadership Progression: Potential to move into a senior management or director role within hardware engineering or operations as the company scales.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Deepen understanding and influence across design, marketing, and supply chain functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is ideal for someone who wants to make a significant, hands-on impact and grow their career by building out a hardware product line and its associated operational processes. The direct P&L responsibility and vendor management offer substantial professional development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role requires being in the Chicago office 4-5 days a week, indicating a hybrid work environment with a strong emphasis on in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Located in the River North Neighborhood of Chicago, a well-known business and cultural hub, suggesting accessibility and a vibrant urban setting.

Workspace Context:

• The environment likely fosters collaboration, given the requirement for 4-5 days in office and direct partnerships with multiple departments.

• Access to necessary design and project management tools is assumed, supporting the hardware development workflow.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with design, supply chain, and marketing teams will be frequent, facilitating efficient communication and problem-solving.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule is implied, with the flexibility to manage personal time around core in-office days. The hybrid nature allows for focused work in the office and potentially more flexible arrangements on remote days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on being in the Chicago office 4-5 days a week highlights a culture that values face-to-face interaction, team cohesion, and hands-on involvement in product development.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and application to assess experience alignment with the role's requirements, particularly project management, product launch, and vendor management.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the Sr. Director of Hardware and Supply Chain to delve into your experience, leadership style, and understanding of hardware development processes. Be prepared to discuss specific product launch examples and your role in them.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Design, Supply Chain, and Marketing to evaluate your collaboration skills, communication style, and ability to align diverse teams.

• Portfolio Review/Case Study: A deep dive into your portfolio, potentially including a presentation of a past product launch, focusing on your contributions, challenges overcome, and results achieved. You may be asked to walk through your process for managing tradeoffs or vendor negotiations.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a co-founder or senior leadership to assess cultural fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase End-to-End Ownership: Clearly present projects where you managed the entire product lifecycle, from concept to manufacturing.

• Quantify Impact: Use metrics to demonstrate the success of your product launches, such as on-time delivery, margin improvements, cost savings, or sales performance.

• Highlight Tradeoff Management: Detail specific instances where you had to balance cost, design, and timeline, explaining your decision-making process and rationale.

• Demonstrate Vendor Management: Provide examples of successful vendor relationships you've built and managed, including how you navigated challenges.

• Visuals are Key: Include images of products, packaging, or design iterations to illustrate your work.

• Tell a Story: Frame your portfolio pieces as narratives that highlight the problem, your solution, and the positive outcome.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for questions about how you would approach specific challenges related to launching a new hardware product in a startup environment.

• Practice articulating your process for managing vendor relationships, especially with overseas suppliers.

• Prepare to discuss how you would handle conflicting priorities between design aesthetics, cost targets, and delivery timelines.

• Familiarize yourself with Brick's mission and products to articulate how your skills align with their goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess a candidate's practical experience, problem-solving abilities, and collaborative skills. A strong, well-documented portfolio that demonstrates tangible results in hardware product management and launch is essential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Project Management Software: Tools like Asana, Jira, Monday.com, or similar platforms for tracking project progress, timelines, and tasks.

• Collaboration Tools: Slack, Microsoft Teams for daily communication and team coordination.

• Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) Software: (Likely) though not explicitly stated, PLM systems are common for managing product data and workflows.

• Design Software: Familiarity with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, Fusion 360) and rendering tools (e.g., Keyshot, Adobe Suite) is a plus, given preferred skills.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Spreadsheet Software: Advanced proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets for financial analysis, P&L tracking, and data manipulation.

• Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Experience with tools like Tableau or Power BI could be beneficial for analyzing product performance data, though not explicitly required.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing a CRM, understanding how hardware product launches integrate with sales and marketing efforts (often supported by CRMs like Salesforce or HubSpot) is advantageous.

• Familiarity with inventory management or supply chain software may also be relevant.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes tools for project management, communication, and data analysis, with a preference for design-related software. The ability to leverage data for financial decision-making is crucial.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership: Taking full responsibility for product launches from start to finish.

• Focus: Minimizing distractions and prioritizing what matters most to achieve intentional outcomes.

• Quality & Impact: A commitment to high standards in both product execution and its effect on users.

• Data-Driven: Making decisions based on financial impact (P&L) and performance metrics.

• Collaboration: Working effectively across design, supply chain, and marketing to achieve shared goals.

• Efficiency: Streamlining processes to ensure timely and cost-effective product delivery.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional integration is a core requirement, demanding strong communication and partnership with diverse teams.

• A proactive approach to problem-solving and risk mitigation is expected.

• Feedback exchange is likely encouraged to refine designs and processes.

• Knowledge sharing, particularly around vendor management and product development best practices, will be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Brick's values emphasize intentionality, ownership, and high performance, aligning with the demands of a growing hardware company. The collaborative style is crucial for navigating the complexities of product development.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Competing Priorities: Continuously managing tradeoffs between design integrity, cost targets, and aggressive timelines in a fast-paced environment.

• Overseas Supply Chain Complexity: Navigating the logistical, quality control, and communication challenges inherent in working with international manufacturers.

• Process Establishment: Building and refining hardware development and launch processes within a growing startup, requiring adaptability and strategic thinking.

• Rapid Iteration: Adapting quickly to market feedback and design changes, ensuring agility in product development.

• P&L Responsibility: Directly accountable for the financial success of hardware products, requiring sharp financial acumen.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Hardware Development: Gain extensive experience across the entire hardware product lifecycle, from ideation to mass production.

• Strategic Sourcing & Vendor Management: Develop advanced skills in negotiating with and managing global supply chains.

• Financial Acumen: Hone P&L management and cost optimization skills within a product development context.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Enhance abilities to lead and influence teams across different departments.

• Startup Growth Experience: Contribute to and learn from the rapid scaling of a hardware-focused technology company.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents significant challenges that are directly tied to substantial growth opportunities. The ability to navigate complexity and drive results will lead to significant professional development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you successfully launched a physical product from concept to market. What was your specific role, what were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?"

• "How do you approach managing tradeoffs between product cost, design aesthetic, and time-to-market? Provide a specific example."

• "Walk me through your process for building and managing relationships with overseas vendors. How do you ensure quality and reliability?"

• "How would you establish a launch calendar for a new hardware product, ensuring alignment between design, supply chain, and marketing?"

• "Imagine a critical component supplier is facing delays. What steps would you take to mitigate this risk and keep the launch on track?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Brick's mission to help people minimize distractions and reclaim focus?"

• "How do you embody the values of ownership, focus, and quality in your work?"

• "What is your experience with hybrid work environments, and how do you ensure effective collaboration?"

• "How do you stay updated on trends in hardware design and consumer electronics?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio by product launch, clearly outlining the objective, your role, the process, challenges, solutions, and quantifiable results (cost savings, margin improvements, timeline adherence).

• Quantify: Use numbers wherever possible (e.g., "Reduced manufacturing cost by 15%", "Delivered 3 weeks ahead of schedule", "Managed a budget of $X").

• Visuals: Showcase product designs, renders, packaging, and prototypes.

• Tradeoff Scenarios: Be ready to discuss specific examples of difficult tradeoffs you've made and the rationale behind them.

• Vendor Management: Detail your approach to vendor selection, negotiation, and ongoing relationship management.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating practical experience, strategic thinking, and a clear understanding of the operational and financial aspects of hardware product development. The portfolio is a key tool for showcasing these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Brick careers page.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in project management, product management, hardware design, vendor management, and P&L responsibility, using keywords from the job description. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 strong examples of physical product launches you've managed. Focus on showcasing end-to-end ownership, tradeoff management, vendor negotiations, and quantifiable results. Prepare to walk through these examples clearly.

• Prepare for Case Studies: Anticipate questions about hypothetical product launch scenarios, risk mitigation, and vendor management challenges. Practice articulating your thought process.

• Research Brick: Understand their mission, products, and target audience. Be ready to articulate why you are a good fit for their culture and how you can contribute to their success.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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