Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Superfeet

Location: Ferndale, WA 98248

Job Type: Full Time - salary

Category: Product Design / Industrial Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-30

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead industrial design initiatives for assigned product categories and projects, from initial concept through to production, ensuring alignment with consumer insights, biomechanical intent, brand strategy, and commercial objectives.

• Drive innovation by pushing the boundaries of design language, form, and function while meticulously maintaining performance goals and developing manufacturability.

• Translate complex briefs, research findings, and market insights into clear, actionable product concepts and robust product architectures that balance performance, comfort, durability, aesthetics, manufacturability, and cost.

• Effectively communicate design intent through various mediums including sketches, 3D CAD models, renderings, prototypes, detailed product specifications, and compelling presentations to facilitate rapid, aligned decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is described as an individual contributor with no direct reports, serving as the primary internal design resource. The emphasis on "owning design intent from concept through commercialization" highlights a significant level of responsibility and autonomy. The mention of "biomechanical intent" and "performance goals" strongly suggests a focus on functional product design within the sporting goods or performance wear sector.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete industrial design process for assigned product categories or specific projects, from ideation and concept development through to final production, ensuring all design outputs align with Superfeet's mission and business goals.

• Champion innovative design solutions by exploring new forms, materials, and functionalities while rigorously upholding performance requirements and ensuring designs are feasible for manufacturing.

• Develop clear and compelling product concepts and architectures based on consumer needs, biomechanical data, brand guidelines, and market analysis, ensuring a holistic balance of performance, comfort, durability, aesthetics, cost, and manufacturability.

• Produce and present detailed design documentation, including sketches, 3D CAD models, renderings, prototypes, and comprehensive product specifications, to effectively convey design intent and drive decision-making with internal and external stakeholders.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, Product Development, Engineering, Marketing, and Operations, to iterate on designs, refine prototypes, and deliver market-ready solutions.

• Actively participate in Design for Manufacturing (DFM), cost, and technical review meetings, making informed trade-offs to optimize designs without compromising core design intent or performance.

• Manage relationships with external design and visualization partners as needed, contributing to broader innovation efforts and fostering trusted, collaborative relationships.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a full product lifecycle ownership for design. The emphasis on "DFM, cost, and technical reviews" and "making smart tradeoffs" suggests a need for pragmatic design skills, not just conceptual creativity. The mention of "Operations" in cross-functional collaboration points to the importance of understanding manufacturing and supply chain considerations early in the design process.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or a related field.

Experience: 5+ years of experience in designing and developing physical consumer products, with a preference for sporting goods, footwear, or performance-related products. Proven experience managing products from initial concept through production is essential.

Required Skills:

• Strong design fundamentals with proficiency in sketching, prototyping, and technical communication.

• Expertise in 3D CAD software, with a preference for Rhino.

• Proficiency in rendering software and the Adobe Creative Suite.

• Ability to translate athlete and consumer insights, along with performance requirements, into compelling and manufacturable product concepts and clear design direction.

• Excellent functional problem-solving skills, including experience with product architecture and line-building.

• Clear articulation of design decisions and their underlying rationale.

• Knowledge of color, materials, finishes, manufacturing processes, product construction, prototyping techniques, tooling, and production considerations.

• Ability to provide strategic direction for color, materials, and finishes, contributing to broader product and material strategies.

• Strong communication and presentation skills, capable of effectively collaborating with engineering, development, vendors, and manufacturing partners.

• Robust organization and project management skills, with the ability to align teams, manage competing priorities, and consistently deliver high-quality outcomes.

• A demonstrated passion for innovation, sports, movement, sustainable design, and creating products that positively impact users' lives. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in footwear or sporting goods design.

• Familiarity with sustainable design practices and materials.

• Experience managing external design or visualization partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills list is extensive and specific, particularly regarding software (Rhino preference) and technical knowledge (materials, manufacturing, DFM). The emphasis on a portfolio demonstrating "functional problem-solving, product architecture and line-building, and thoughtful design rationale—not aesthetics alone" is a critical requirement for candidates to highlight. The "people enjoy working with you" point is a soft skill indicator of cultural fit.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a strong track record of functional problem-solving in product design.

• Evidence of expertise in product architecture and line-building strategies.

• Demonstrations of thoughtful design rationale that goes beyond aesthetics, explaining the "why" behind design choices.

• Case studies or examples of products that have successfully moved from initial concept through to production.

• Visualizations of the design process, including sketches, 3D CAD models, renderings, and prototypes.

• Examples of collaboration with engineering, development, and manufacturing teams. Process Documentation:

• Documentation of how you translate consumer insights and biomechanical intent into tangible design concepts.

• Examples of your approach to balancing performance, comfort, durability, aesthetics, manufacturability, and cost in product development.

• Showcasing your methods for communicating design intent through technical specifications and presentations.

• Demonstrating your experience with Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles and cost-optimization in design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job description explicitly requires a portfolio that demonstrates "functional problem-solving, product architecture and line-building, and thoughtful design rationale—not aesthetics alone." This indicates that the hiring team will scrutinize the portfolio for depth of thought, technical execution, and a clear understanding of the product development lifecycle, not just visual appeal.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $85,000 - $95,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Company Bonus opportunities

• SMART Bonus opportunities

• 100% employer-paid medical insurance premiums

• 100% employer-paid dental insurance premiums

• 100% employer-paid vision insurance premiums

• Life insurance

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Paid holidays

• Paid vacation

• Paid sick leave

• Paid volunteer days

• Employer-matched 401(k) (traditional or ROTH options)

• $1,000 annual donation to the charity of your choice

• Free Superfeet insoles for employees and their families

Working Hours: Standard 40 hours per week, with a hybrid work arrangement allowing for flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific. The benefits package is exceptionally comprehensive, with a strong emphasis on employer-paid premiums for core health benefits and unique perks like annual charity donations and free products. The hybrid nature of the work arrangement is also detailed.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sporting Goods / Footwear Accessories (Insoles)

Company Size: The provided data does not specify company size, but Hireology's typical clients range from small businesses to enterprises. Superfeet is a well-established brand in its niche, suggesting a medium to large organization.

Founded: The founding date is not provided.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will be an individual contributor, serving as the primary internal design resource.

• This role will partner closely with the Product Management team, Product Development, Engineering, Marketing, and Operations departments.

• While there are no direct reports currently, the role implies leadership in design direction and potentially managing external contractors or partners. Methodology:

• Design process emphasizes translating consumer insight and biomechanical intent into innovative, manufacturable solutions.

• A strong focus on balancing performance, comfort, durability, aesthetics, manufacturability, and cost is core to their product development methodology.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a key aspect of their workflow, ensuring alignment across departments from concept to commercialization.

• The company expresses a passion for innovation, sport, movement, and sustainable design.

Company Website: Superfeet.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Superfeet's mission, "Designed for movement. Built to change lives," is central to their culture. The emphasis on performance, innovation, and positive impact is likely to permeate the team's ethos. The industry context of performance footwear accessories suggests a focus on technical detail, biomechanics, and athlete-centric design.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a senior-level Product Designer, focusing on industrial design and product development. It's an individual contributor role with significant ownership and influence over product design outcomes.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report into a Product Management or Product Development leadership role, acting as the lead design expert within the product creation process.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's impact is directly tied to the innovation, performance, and market success of Superfeet's physical products. By translating consumer needs and technical requirements into well-designed, manufacturable goods, they directly contribute to the company's revenue, brand reputation, and mission to help athletes move better.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific product categories (e.g., performance footwear, biomechanical design) or advanced design software and manufacturing techniques.

• Design Leadership: Potentially move into a Lead Designer or Design Manager role, guiding a team and setting design strategy for broader product lines.

• Cross-Functional Advancement: Opportunities to move into Product Management or Product Development roles, leveraging design expertise to drive product strategy.

• Innovation Focus: Contribute to R&D and innovation streams, exploring new technologies and materials for future product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not strictly an "operations" role in the RevOps or SalesOps sense, this Product Designer role requires a deep understanding of the operations of product creation, including manufacturing, cost, and DFM. Career growth would likely involve deepening expertise within the product development lifecycle or moving into management roles within design or product teams.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model, with required in-person time in Ferndale, WA.

Office Location(s): Ferndale, WA 98248.

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative environment is implied through cross-functional partnerships with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Operations.

• Access to design tools and technology, including preferred software like Rhino and Adobe Creative Suite, is expected.

• Opportunities for hands-on work with prototyping and product samples.

• The company culture emphasizes innovation, sport, and movement, suggesting an energetic and potentially active workspace.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week. The hybrid arrangement offers flexibility, allowing for a balance between remote work and in-office collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid arrangement indicates a balance between focused individual work (potentially remote) and collaborative team sessions (in-office). The company's mission related to movement and sport suggests a dynamic and potentially health-conscious work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio against required qualifications. Emphasis will be placed on the portfolio's demonstration of functional problem-solving and design rationale.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion of experience, design philosophy, and alignment with the role's responsibilities. Preparation to discuss specific projects from your portfolio is crucial.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Product Management, Engineering, and potentially Marketing/Operations to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and ability to integrate design into the broader product development process.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where candidates will present their portfolio, highlighting specific projects that showcase their skills in concept development, problem-solving, manufacturability, and design rationale. Be prepared to discuss tradeoffs made and the impact of your designs.

• Final Interview/Offer: Potentially a final discussion with senior leadership.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Ensure your portfolio clearly illustrates your design process, from initial sketches and ideation to CAD, prototyping, and final product.

• Highlight Functional Problem-Solving: Dedicate significant space to projects where you solved complex functional challenges, explaining the problem, your approach, and the solution's impact.

• Demonstrate Product Architecture: Include examples of how you've approached line-building or creating cohesive product families.

• Articulate Design Rationale: For each project, clearly explain why you made specific design choices, linking them back to consumer needs, biomechanical intent, brand strategy, or business goals.

• Include Technical Details: Showcase your understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, DFM, and cost considerations.

• Tailor to Superfeet: If possible, include projects related to sporting goods, footwear, or performance products. Emphasize any experience with sustainable design.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach a new product brief from Superfeet, considering their mission and target audience.

• Anticipate questions about managing competing priorities, collaborating with engineers on manufacturability, and making design tradeoffs.

• Practice articulating your design process and the business impact of your work concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio that showcases "functional problem-solving, product architecture and line-building, and thoughtful design rationale—not aesthetics alone" is a critical point that applicants must address thoroughly in their application materials and interview presentations.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• 3D CAD Software: Rhino (preferred), or other industry-standard CAD software.

• Rendering Software: Tools for creating photorealistic product visualizations.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc., for graphic design, image editing, and layout.

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with physical prototyping methods and potentially digital prototyping tools.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for this role, understanding how product performance data and consumer feedback are used to inform design decisions is beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but understanding how product information flows into sales and marketing systems may be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Rhino as a preferred CAD software is a key technical requirement. Proficiency across the entire design workflow, from sketching to 3D modeling, rendering, and prototyping, is essential.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Movement & Performance: A deep appreciation for sports, physical activity, and designing products that enhance performance and comfort.

• Innovation: A drive to push creative boundaries and develop novel solutions.

• Impact: A commitment to creating products that positively influence users' lives and contribute to their well-being.

• Sustainability: An interest in environmentally conscious design practices and material choices.

• Collaboration: A belief in working effectively with diverse teams to achieve common goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expected to work seamlessly with Product Management, Engineering, Marketing, and Operations to ensure design feasibility and market alignment.

• Open Communication: Encouraged to clearly articulate design intent and rationale, and to actively listen to and incorporate feedback from various stakeholders.

• Partnership with External Vendors: Capable of managing and collaborating with external design and visualization partners effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated mission and values ("Designed for movement. Built to change lives.") are central to their culture. Candidates should demonstrate alignment with these principles, particularly regarding innovation, performance, and creating impactful products.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Competing Priorities: Juggling consumer needs, biomechanical requirements, brand strategy, manufacturing constraints, and cost targets simultaneously.

• Driving Design Innovation: Continuously pushing creative boundaries within the specific context of Superfeet's product line and brand identity.

• Technical Integration: Effectively translating innovative design concepts into manufacturable and cost-effective physical products, requiring close collaboration with engineering and production teams.

• Managing External Partnerships: Ensuring external design/visualization partners meet Superfeet's quality standards and project timelines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Biomechanics & Foot Health: Expanding knowledge in specialized areas relevant to Superfeet's core product.

• Advanced CAD & Rendering Techniques: Mastering new software features or exploring advanced visualization methods.

• Material Science & Sustainable Design: Staying current with emerging materials and eco-friendly manufacturing processes.

• Product Development Lifecycle Mastery: Gaining deeper insights into all phases of product creation, from market research to post-launch analysis.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Learning from and contributing to the expertise of engineering, marketing, and product management teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for a pragmatic and collaborative designer who can navigate complex requirements and deliver tangible results. Growth opportunities focus on deepening domain expertise and expanding influence within the product development ecosystem.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a new insole for a specific sport, considering biomechanical factors and athlete feedback?" (Prepare to discuss your process, research methods, and initial concept ideation.)

• "Describe a time you had to make significant design tradeoffs due to manufacturing constraints or cost limitations. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your problem-solving skills and ability to balance competing demands.)

• "How do you ensure your designs align with both brand strategy and functional performance requirements?" (Prepare examples showcasing your ability to integrate different strategic inputs.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Superfeet's mission and products?" (Research the company's history, values, and recent product launches.)

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment, especially when working with engineers or marketing teams?" (Provide examples of your cross-functional communication and teamwork.)

• "How do you stay updated on trends in product design, sporting goods, and sustainable practices?" (Showcase your commitment to continuous learning.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or by showcasing your end-to-end process.

• Storytelling: For each key project, tell a compelling story: the problem, your ideation process, the challenges encountered, your design solutions, the technical considerations, and the final outcome/impact.

• Visuals: Use high-quality images, sketches, CAD renderings, and photos of prototypes or final products.

• Focus on Rationale: Clearly articulate why you made specific design decisions. This is crucial for demonstrating thoughtful problem-solving.

• Technical Depth: Be ready to discuss materials, manufacturing processes, and DFM considerations relevant to your projects.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time and focus on the most impactful aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice emphasizes demonstrating a strategic, problem-solving approach to design, rooted in understanding Superfeet's specific context and values. A strong portfolio presentation is critical for showcasing these abilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on careers.hireology.com.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience and skills directly relevant to industrial design, product development, and the specific requirements mentioned (e.g., Rhino, DFM, consumer product design). Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating functional problem-solving, product architecture, design rationale, and a complete design lifecycle from concept to production. Include examples that align with Superfeet's focus on performance and movement.

• Prepare for Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your selected portfolio projects, clearly articulating your design process, decision-making, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss technical aspects and tradeoffs.

• Research Superfeet: Familiarize yourself with Superfeet's mission, values, product lines, and recent innovations to articulate your interest and cultural fit effectively.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions to provide a comprehensive overview. All details, especially regarding specific processes and expectations, should be verified directly with the hiring organization during the application and interview stages.