Lead Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Product Designer

Company: Sabi

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design & Engineering

Date Posted: May 07, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (Implied by location and remote work availability, with potential for on-site collaboration in San Francisco)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end industrial design (ID) and mechanical engineering (ME) for Sabi's groundbreaking non-invasive wearable technology, focusing on a sensor-rich textile beanie.

• Drive the seamless integration of complex electronics, including multi-camera and microphone arrays, EEG sensors, and flexible PCBs, into a comfortable and aesthetically pleasing soft-goods product.

• Define and uphold rigorous comfort engineering standards, ensuring optimal pressure distribution, weight balance, thermal management, and fit across diverse user demographics for extended wear.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional hardware, firmware, audio, camera, and reliability engineering teams, as well as external contract manufacturers, to deliver a high-quality, manufacturable product.

• Establish and evolve the physical product design language and material story, ensuring the wearable embodies Sabi's brand identity and technological innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role explicitly mentions owning ID and ME for the wearable end-to-end, integrating electronics into soft goods, and managing overseas CMs. This indicates a hands-on leadership position with significant accountability for the physical product's realization, from initial concept through mass production and beyond. The "Hybrid" work arrangement is inferred from the San Francisco location and the nature of hardware development, which often requires on-site presence for prototyping, testing, and manufacturing oversight, even with remote work flexibility.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete industrial design and mechanical engineering lifecycle for the wearable product, from initial concept sketches and CAD modeling through prototyping, tooling, and Design for Manufacturability (DfM) with overseas contract manufacturers (CMs).

• Spearhead the complex integration of electronic components, including flex PCBs, rigid islands, and onboard batteries, into soft textile materials, ensuring robust transitions, effective weight distribution, and efficient thermal management.

• Define, implement, and rigorously validate comfort engineering specifications, utilizing methods such as pressure mapping and structured wear testing to guarantee optimal user experience for prolonged periods.

• Develop and maintain a strong physical design language and compelling material story that aligns with Sabi's brand identity, ensuring the wearable is both technologically advanced and aesthetically desirable.

• Foster close partnerships with the Electrical Engineering (EE) lead to inform rigid-island layout, antenna placement, and electrode contact, and with Audio and Camera leads to define requirements for acoustic ports, microphone meshes, and lens integration.

• Collaborate with the Reliability lead to ensure the product meets stringent standards for drop resistance, ingress protection, thermal performance, and overall ergonomic robustness.

• Successfully drive the product to mass production by the end of the year and subsequently build and lead the product design function as the company scales its ID and ME capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly outline a senior-level role requiring end-to-end ownership. The emphasis on "own ID and ME for the wearable end-to-end," "lead the integration of electronics into soft goods," and "drive DfM... with overseas CMs" highlights the need for a candidate who can manage complex hardware development cycles and external manufacturing relationships. The mention of shipping the product by year-end and building the function indicates a strategic leadership component.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field is expected, though extensive equivalent experience will be considered.

Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in industrial design and/or mechanical engineering, with a proven track record of successfully shipping multiple consumer wearables or comparable body-worn electronic products.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in the end-to-end product development lifecycle for physical consumer electronics, from concept ideation to mass production.

• Proven experience integrating complex electronics and rigid components into soft goods, apparel, or textile-based wearable products.

• Advanced proficiency in 3D CAD software such as SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or Rhino, coupled with expertise in rendering software like Keyshot for high-fidelity visualizations.

• Strong foundational knowledge and practical application of comfort engineering principles, including pressure mapping, weight distribution, thermal regulation, and user fit across diverse populations.

• Hands-on experience in managing Design for Manufacturability (DfM), overseeing tooling processes, and ensuring quality control with overseas contract manufacturers (CMs).

• Excellent cross-functional collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to effectively partner with EE, FW, audio, camera, and reliability engineering teams. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with high-density biocompatible interfaces, dry electrode arrays, or other advanced sensor-to-skin integrations.

• Familiarity with soft goods sourcing, textile engineering, including knitting, technical apparel, or woven goods manufacturing.

• Experience designing and integrating optical windows, acoustic ports, or specialized sensor windows into consumer products.

• Knowledge of biocompatibility testing, skin contact regulations, and dermatological considerations for body-worn devices.

• A strong design sensibility and a well-articulated point of view on creating beautiful, non-gadget-like wearables.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Must-Haves" and "Nice-to-Haves" directly translate into required and preferred skills. The explicit mention of "10+ years" and "multiple shipped consumer wearables" sets a high bar for experience. The emphasis on "integrating electronics into soft goods" is a critical technical requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 complex consumer wearable or body-worn electronic product projects from conception through to production.

• For each project, clearly articulate your specific role and contributions across Industrial Design and Mechanical Engineering disciplines.

• Provide detailed case studies demonstrating your approach to integrating electronics into soft goods, highlighting challenges and solutions related to textile interfaces, flex PCBs, and component packaging.

• Include evidence of your comfort engineering process, such as pressure mapping data, wear testing methodologies, and iterative design improvements based on user feedback.

• Present CAD models, renderings, and prototype photos that illustrate your design language, material choices, and DfM considerations. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate your process for defining and executing Design for Manufacturability (DfM) and Design for Assembly (DfA), including examples of how you've worked with overseas contract manufacturers (CMs) to optimize for production.

• Illustrate your approach to managing project timelines and deliverables for hardware development, from industrial design concepts to final tooling and mass production.

• Provide examples of how you've collaborated with cross-functional teams (EE, FW, audio, camera, reliability) to translate technical requirements into a cohesive physical product design.

• Showcase your methods for conducting and analyzing user wear testing and comfort studies to drive product iteration and validation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on end-to-end ownership and external manufacturing, a robust portfolio demonstrating practical application of ID/ME principles, particularly in soft goods integration and DfM, is paramount. The portfolio should not just showcase aesthetics but also the engineering rigor and process management required to bring complex hardware to market.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $300,000 - $400,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience and demonstrated impact.

• Meaningful equity package, offering significant ownership in Sabi's growth and success.

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage for employees and potentially dependents.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company matching contributions.

• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, allowing for work-life balance and personal rejuvenation.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with the expectation of flexibility and dedication required for a fast-paced startup environment, particularly during critical project phases like product launch.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is explicitly stated. The benefits listed are standard for a well-funded startup in the tech industry, with equity being a significant component reflecting the early-stage nature of the company and the impactful role. The "40 hours per week" is a standard benchmark, but the context of a startup implies potential for longer hours during critical periods.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI), Wearable Technology, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Sabi is at the forefront of developing novel AI-powered hardware that aims to revolutionize human communication and creativity.

Company Size: Described as a "small team," indicating a startup environment with a high degree of collaboration, agility, and direct impact for each team member. This typically means flatter hierarchies and quicker decision-making processes.

Founded: While the founding date is not explicitly stated, the description ("We are building a next-generation AI companion wearable," "backed by strong investors, moving fast") suggests Sabi is a relatively young, venture-backed startup poised for significant growth and innovation.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will report to the Head of Hardware, indicating a direct line of reporting within the hardware engineering department.

• Regular exposure to the CEO and CTO signifies a high-visibility role where strategic input and execution are critical.

• Close collaboration with technical leads across EE, FW, audio, camera, and reliability engineering is expected, highlighting a cross-functional, integrated hardware development team.

• The role also involves extensive work with external engineering teams at textile, mechanical, and electronics contract manufacturers, emphasizing the need for strong vendor management skills. Methodology:

• Sabi operates at the "frontier of what's possible," suggesting a highly experimental and innovative approach to product development, particularly in AI and BCI.

• The company emphasizes a data-driven approach, leveraging a "Brain Foundation Model" to decode neural signals with high fidelity.

• Product development likely involves rapid iteration, prototyping, and rigorous testing to validate novel technologies and user experiences.

• A strong focus on user-centric design is evident, aiming to create products that are not just functional but also deeply personal and integrated into users' lives.

Company Website: https://sabi.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by innovation, speed, and a mission-driven approach. As a small, well-funded startup in a cutting-edge field, expect a dynamic, collaborative, and high-impact work environment. The emphasis on "solving one of the hardest problems in human-computer interaction" suggests a team that is passionate, technically adept, and driven by ambitious goals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a "Lead" position, signifying a senior individual contributor with significant technical expertise and leadership potential. It's a crucial role for a startup aiming to bring its first hardware product to market. The Lead Product Designer is expected to not only execute but also to shape the product's physical identity and potentially build out the design function.

Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to the Head of Hardware, providing a clear reporting line. However, regular interaction with the CEO and CTO indicates a high degree of visibility and influence across the executive team. This structure offers mentorship from senior leadership while allowing for autonomy in design execution.

Operations Impact: The Lead Product Designer's impact is immense, as they are responsible for the tangible, physical manifestation of Sabi's core technology. The success of the wearable hinges on its ability to be worn comfortably, aesthetically pleasingly, and functionally integrate complex electronics. This role directly influences user adoption, brand perception, and the overall success of Sabi's mission to "give a billion people a direct link between mind and machine."

Growth Opportunities:

• Functional Leadership: The explicit goal to "build and lead the product design function as ID and ME capability scales" offers a clear path to establishing and managing a design team, defining processes, and hiring future talent.

• Strategic Influence: Direct exposure to the CEO and CTO provides opportunities to influence product strategy, company direction, and future product roadmaps.

• Technical Specialization: Deepening expertise in cutting-edge areas like BCI integration, advanced materials for wearables, and human-computer interaction within a pioneering product context.

• Market Impact: Contributing to a product that aims to be a "new category of technology" offers the chance to shape an emerging market and have a significant societal impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: This is a "Lead" role, implying a high level of autonomy and the expectation of shaping the future of the design function. The growth opportunities are significant, particularly in building out a team and influencing strategic direction, which is typical for senior hires in successful startups.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job is listed as "TELECOMMUTE" but with a specific location in "San Francisco, California," suggesting a hybrid work model. This implies that while remote work is an option, regular on-site presence in San Francisco will be expected for critical meetings, prototyping, testing, and collaboration with the core team and potentially manufacturing partners.

Office Location(s): San Francisco, California, United States. This location places the role within a major hub for technology and innovation, offering access to talent and resources.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: As a "small team" in a startup, expect a highly collaborative and integrated workspace, whether in-person or virtually. The role requires close interaction with various engineering disciplines.

• Access to Tools & Technology: The company is developing advanced BCI and AI technology, suggesting access to state-of-the-art prototyping equipment, testing facilities, and design software necessary for hardware development.

• Team Interaction: Significant opportunities for direct interaction with founders, engineering leads, and other key team members, fostering a sense of shared mission and collective problem-solving.

Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied, the startup environment, especially with a product launch goal ("Ship the product by end of year"), will likely require flexibility and dedication. This may involve extended hours during critical development phases or around manufacturing milestones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "TELECOMMUTE" designation alongside a specific city suggests a hybrid model is most probable for hardware roles requiring physical interaction. This environment is likely fast-paced and demanding, characteristic of early-stage, well-funded tech startups.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, relevant projects, and alignment with the role's requirements. Be prepared to highlight specific achievements in wearable design and soft goods integration.

• Technical Deep Dive (Round 1): Likely with the Head of Hardware, focusing on your industrial design and mechanical engineering expertise, CAD skills, DfM experience, and comfort engineering approach. Expect discussions about past projects and problem-solving methodologies.

• Cross-Functional Interviews (Round 2): Meetings with key technical leads (EE, FW, Audio, Camera, Reliability) to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and ability to integrate diverse requirements.

• Executive/Founder Interviews (Round 3): Discussions with the CEO and CTO to evaluate strategic thinking, cultural fit, passion for the mission, and leadership potential.

• Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: A key stage will involve presenting a curated selection of your work, focusing on wearable projects and soft goods integration. You may also be given a design challenge or case study to solve, simulating real-world problems Sabi faces.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on projects that best demonstrate your experience with wearables, soft goods integration, complex electronics integration, DfM, and comfort engineering. Quality over quantity.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the constraints, your design process, the technical challenges (especially electronics in soft goods), the solutions you implemented, and the final outcome/impact. Quantify results where possible (e.g., improved comfort scores, reduced manufacturing defects).

• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly call out your CAD proficiency, rendering capabilities, DfM processes, and comfort engineering methodology. Show, don't just tell.

• Demonstrate Process: Include sketches, CAD progressions, prototyping iterations, and wear-testing documentation to showcase your thought process and problem-solving approach.

• Address the "Soft Goods" Challenge: Dedicate specific attention to how you've successfully integrated rigid electronics into flexible, textile-based products, as this is a core requirement.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Core Problem: Familiarize yourself with Sabi's mission, the technology (EEG/BCI), and the specific challenges of a wearable textile beanie (comfort, integration, aesthetics, manufacturability).

• Think Holistically: Consider all aspects: user experience, technical feasibility, manufacturing constraints, material science, and brand identity.

• Structure Your Approach: For any problem-solving exercise, outline a clear methodology (e.g., define problem, brainstorm solutions, evaluate options, detail proposed solution).

• Focus on Integration: Be prepared to discuss how to balance competing requirements, especially integrating complex electronics into a soft, comfortable form factor.

• Articulate Trade-offs: Demonstrate your ability to make informed decisions by discussing the trade-offs involved in design choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for such a specialized and senior hardware role will be rigorous. A strong portfolio is non-negotiable, and candidates must be prepared to articulate their design and engineering process in detail, especially concerning the unique challenges of integrating electronics into soft goods.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• CAD Software: Deep proficiency required in at least one of the following: SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Rhino. Expect to use these for complex surfacing, part design, assembly, and potentially simulation.

• Rendering Software: Expertise in Keyshot or comparable tools for creating high-fidelity product visualizations for design reviews and marketing.

• Prototyping Tools: Familiarity with various prototyping methods relevant to both rigid and soft components, including 3D printing (SLA, FDM), CNC machining, and potentially soft-goods prototyping techniques.

• Collaboration Platforms: Experience with tools like Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace, and potentially project management software (e.g., Asana, Jira) for team communication and workflow management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a data analytics role, understanding how to interpret data from wear testing, pressure mapping, thermal analysis, and potentially user feedback is crucial. Proficiency in presenting this data to support design decisions is key. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but familiarity with how product design feeds into broader product management and manufacturing execution systems would be beneficial. Specialized Tools (Potential):

• FEA/CFD Software: Experience with simulation tools for stress analysis, thermal management, or fluid dynamics might be beneficial for optimizing mechanical designs.

• Textile Design Software: Basic understanding or familiarity with software used in textile design and manufacturing could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirements revolve around advanced CAD and rendering. The ability to translate complex requirements into manufacturable designs using these tools is paramount. Familiarity with prototyping methods is also essential for rapid iteration.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Frontier Thinking: A drive to push boundaries and solve complex problems in AI, BCI, and human-computer interaction.

• User-Centricity & Empathy: A deep commitment to understanding user needs and creating products that enhance human potential and well-being, focusing on comfort and seamless integration.

• Excellence & Accountability: A dedication to high-quality execution, owning outcomes from concept to production, and holding oneself and the team to rigorous standards.

• Speed & Agility: The ability to move fast, iterate quickly, and adapt to the dynamic nature of a startup environment.

• Collaboration & Transparency: A culture of open communication, shared learning, and mutual support across diverse technical disciplines.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly integrated team where designers, engineers, and leadership work closely together. The role requires bridging the gap between technical engineering requirements and the user experience.

• Open Feedback Loops: A culture that encourages constructive feedback to drive continuous improvement in design and engineering processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: A willingness to share expertise and learn from colleagues, especially given the novel nature of Sabi's technology. This includes sharing insights from wear testing, manufacturing interactions, and design explorations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is a blend of ambitious, cutting-edge technological pursuit and a deep focus on user experience and comfort. This implies a team that is both technically brilliant and deeply empathetic towards the end-user. Collaboration is key, especially in a hardware startup where diverse expertise must converge.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Integrating Complex Electronics into Soft Goods: This is the primary technical challenge. Balancing the requirements of dense sensor arrays, flex PCBs, and batteries with the need for comfort, flexibility, and aesthetics in a textile product is highly demanding.

• Achieving Seamless User Experience: Ensuring the wearable is comfortable for extended wear, aesthetically pleasing in public, and intuitively integrated into a user's life, overcoming the inherent "gadget" perception.

• Managing Overseas Contract Manufacturing: Navigating the complexities of DfM, tooling, quality control, and communication with international CMs to ensure product consistency and timely delivery.

• Pioneering a New Technology Category: Operating at the frontier of BCI and AI wearables means defining new standards, encountering unforeseen technical hurdles, and educating the market.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Expertise in BCI/Wearable Hardware: Deepen knowledge in the rapidly evolving fields of brain-computer interfaces, advanced sensor integration, and next-generation wearable form factors.

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to build and lead a product design function, shaping team structure, processes, and hiring strategy.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gain in-depth understanding of electrical engineering, firmware, audio, camera systems, and reliability engineering through close collaboration.

• Strategic Product Development: Contribute to the strategic vision and roadmap of a company developing category-defining technology.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents significant technical and leadership challenges, particularly around the core problem of soft goods integration. However, these challenges are also the source of substantial growth and learning opportunities in a pioneering tech space.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to integrate complex electronics into a soft or textile product. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on process, materials, and integration techniques).

• "How do you approach comfort engineering for wearables, particularly for long-duration wear? What methodologies do you use to validate comfort?" (Highlight structured testing, pressure mapping, and iterative design).

• "Walk us through your process for taking a product from initial concept sketches to mass production with overseas contract manufacturers. What are the critical DfM considerations?" (Emphasize DfM, tooling, quality control).

• "How would you define the design language and material story for a BCI wearable that aims to be a seamless part of someone's life?" (Focus on brand alignment, aesthetics, and user perception). Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you excited about Sabi's mission to connect mind and machine, and what role do you see product design playing in that vision?" (Show passion for the mission and understanding of the product's significance).

• "How do you handle ambiguity and rapid iteration in a startup environment, especially when working on novel technology?" (Demonstrate adaptability and problem-solving under pressure).

• "Describe your experience working with cross-functional engineering teams. How do you ensure alignment and manage competing priorities?" (Highlight collaboration skills and communication strategies). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, typically by project. For each project, follow a narrative: Problem -> Your Role/Constraints -> Process/Exploration -> Solution -> Outcome/Impact.

• Focus on Integration: Dedicate significant time to detailing the electronic integration into soft goods. Use visuals (CAD, prototypes) to illustrate how components are housed, managed, and connected within the textile.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data to support your design decisions and outcomes (e.g., improved fit scores, reduced manufacturing defects, successful wear tests).

• Highlight DfM: Show examples of how you considered manufacturability throughout the design process, including interactions with CMs.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Expect detailed questions about your CAD techniques, material choices, and engineering decisions. Be ready to explain the "why" behind your choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview will heavily scrutinize your practical experience with soft goods integration and DfM. Be ready to present case studies that clearly demonstrate your ability to solve these specific, challenging problems.

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