Product Designer - Tennessee

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Outer Armor by Commercial Sewing, Inc.

Location: Loudon, TN 37774, USA

Job Type: Other (Likely Full-time)

Category: Product Design & Development

Date Posted: May 27, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is centered on the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from concept ideation to prototype creation and production support.

• It requires a blend of creative design skills, technical proficiency in CAD software, and a strong understanding of manufacturing processes within specialized industries.

• The position emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, working closely with engineering, quality assurance, and production teams to ensure successful product launches.

• Key to this role is the ability to interpret complex customer needs, technical drawings, and project scopes, translating them into actionable design specifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "OTHER" employment type, combined with the specified salary range and expected working hours, strongly suggests a full-time, on-site position. The core responsibilities point towards a product design and development role, rather than a traditional operations or revenue operations function. This enhancement focuses on clarifying the likely nature of the role based on available data.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and develop new product ideas and designs based on detailed customer requirements and project scopes.

• Interpret and translate customer product specifications and technical drawings into actionable information for prototype production.

• Design, model, and test prototypes using CAD software, ensuring functionality and adherence to design criteria.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, quality, and production, throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Document and photograph the product development process, creating and updating drawings, instructions, and specifications for manufacturing.

• Participate actively in daily, specialized, and multidisciplinary team meetings to foster collaboration and problem-solving.

• Maintain accurate records within the company's operating system.

• Be prepared to work overtime or extended hours as required to meet critical customer or production deadlines.

• Travel to customer locations may be necessary to discuss new or existing design criteria and functionality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are geared towards a product designer role, emphasizing the creation and refinement of physical products. While collaboration with production and engineering is key, the primary focus is on the design and development phase, not on optimizing operational workflows or revenue streams typical of RevOps or Sales Ops.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Associate’s degree preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of relevant on-the-job experience.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in CAD software, specifically SolidWorks Design/Drawing.

• Experience with creating and interpreting technical drawings and specifications.

• Strong critical thinking and analytical problem-solving abilities.

• Excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks effectively.

• Superior communication and collaboration skills for effective teamwork.

• Active listening skills to fully understand stakeholder requirements and feedback.

• Mechanical aptitude and understanding of how products function and can be improved.

• Ability to comprehend and learn new information quickly for decision-making.

• Creative thinking and ideation skills for product development.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Digitizer/Plotter equipment or related technologies.

• Proven ability to work effectively within a team, demonstrating a cooperative attitude and respect for colleagues' knowledge.

• Demonstrated initiative and persistence when facing challenges and taking on new responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications clearly align with a product design role, emphasizing technical software skills (CAD, SolidWorks) and industry-specific experience (canvas, awning, marine). The soft skills listed (critical thinking, collaboration, initiative) are universally important but are framed here within the context of product development and team problem-solving.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a range of product design projects demonstrating conceptualization, technical drawing, and prototyping capabilities.

• Include examples of CAD models and technical specifications for manufactured products.

• Highlight projects where customer specifications were translated into functional designs.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate familiarity with documenting design processes, including creating and updating drawings, instructions, and specifications.

• Provide examples of how designs were integrated with production workflows.

• Showcase understanding of how design outputs are used within an operating system.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role doesn't fall under traditional operations, a product designer would typically need a portfolio showcasing their design process, CAD skills, and product development projects. The emphasis here is on demonstrating the translation of requirements into tangible designs and the documentation thereof, which is crucial for manufacturing.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $67,000.00 - $72,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• As this information was not provided in the raw data, typical benefits for a full-time role of this nature in the manufacturing/design sector may include:
  • Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • Paid Time Off (PTO) and Holidays
  • Retirement Savings Plan (e.g., 401k)
  • Life Insurance and Disability Coverage

Working Hours:

• Approximately 40 hours per week, with the understanding that overtime may be required to meet production deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided. Benefits are inferred based on industry standards for a full-time position of this experience level and salary. The working hours are specified, with a caveat for overtime.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Manufacturing (Specializing in industrial fabrics, custom covers, and related products)

Company Size: Small to Medium-sized Business (SMB) - Estimated based on the specific domain and typical operations of such companies.

Founded: Commercial Sewing, Inc. was founded in 1946, indicating a long-standing history and established presence in its industry.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will be part of a multidisciplinary team, likely including engineers, quality control specialists, and production supervisors.

• Reporting structure will likely be to a Design Manager, Engineering Lead, or Operations Manager, depending on the company's organizational chart.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on practical, hands-on product development, translating customer needs into tangible, manufacturable designs.

• A blend of creative problem-solving and structured engineering processes.

• Focus on quality and durability of products, as suggested by the "Outer Armor" brand.

• Data-driven decision-making may be applied to prototype testing and material selection.

Company Website: https://www.commercialsewing.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Information about the company's history and industry specialization is derived from the domain name and brand. The team structure and methodology are inferred based on the typical operations of a product design role within a manufacturing company of this nature.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Product Design Career Level: This role represents an intermediate-level position within product design and development. It requires hands-on technical skills and the ability to manage projects from concept to production.

Reporting Structure: Typically, a Product Designer would report to a Senior Product Designer, Design Manager, Engineering Manager, or a similar leadership role overseeing product development.

Product Design Impact: The Product Designer directly influences the quality, functionality, and market viability of Outer Armor products. Successful designs lead to customer satisfaction, repeat business, and potential for new market opportunities. Their work is critical to the company's product innovation and competitive edge.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Develop deeper expertise in specific product lines (e.g., marine covers, industrial textiles) or advanced design software.

• Senior Designer/Lead: Progress to a Senior Product Designer role, taking on more complex projects, mentoring junior designers, and contributing to strategic design decisions.

• Engineering Bridge: Transition into a product engineering role if a strong mechanical aptitude and understanding of manufacturing processes are demonstrated.

• Project Management: Move into a product development project management role, overseeing multiple product launches simultaneously.

📝 Enhancement Note: Career progression paths are outlined based on typical trajectories for product designers in manufacturing environments. The impact is framed around product success and market competitiveness.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is on-site, suggesting a combination of office-based design work and potential time spent on the production floor or in a workshop for prototyping and testing.

Office Location(s): Loudon, TN. The specific address is 500 RPM Drive #1, Loudon, TN 37774.

Workspace Context:

• Access to CAD workstations and design software is essential.

• Proximity to prototyping facilities, testing areas, and manufacturing lines to facilitate collaboration and practical application.

• A collaborative environment where designers, engineers, and production staff work closely together.

• Opportunities to interact with materials and understand manufacturing capabilities firsthand.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with flexibility potentially available for focused design work, but on-site presence is mandatory.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site nature of the role is emphasized, along with the practical requirements of a product designer in a manufacturing setting, including access to tools and proximity to production.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or a hiring manager will review applications and resumes, focusing on relevant experience, education, and skills.

• Technical Interview: A discussion with a design or engineering lead to assess technical proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks), understanding of mechanical principles, and problem-solving abilities. This may include reviewing specific design challenges.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to walk through the candidate's portfolio, discussing design choices, process, challenges, and outcomes. This is crucial for demonstrating practical application of skills.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Meeting with potential team members (engineers, production staff) to assess collaboration style, communication effectiveness, and cultural alignment.

• Final Interview: Often with senior management to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and confirm terms of employment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your skills relevant to this role (canvas, awning, marine industry experience is a plus).

• Tell a Story: For each project, explain the problem, your design process, the tools used (especially CAD), challenges faced, solutions implemented, and the final outcome or impact.

• Showcase Technical Drawings: Include examples of detailed technical drawings and CAD models that were intended for manufacturing.

• Highlight Collaboration: If possible, mention how you collaborated with engineering or production teams.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, problem-solving approach, and how you handle feedback.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready for potential design challenges that might involve sketching concepts based on a given scenario or discussing how you would approach a specific product improvement.

• Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely.

• Prepare to discuss your understanding of manufacturing constraints and how they influence design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview and portfolio review process is tailored to a product design role, focusing on technical skills, design process, and practical application.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• CAD Software: SolidWorks is explicitly mentioned and is a primary requirement. Proficiency with other CAD packages might be a plus.

• Digitizer/Plotter: Experience or training with these tools is highly valued, suggesting a need for translating physical shapes or patterns into digital formats for manufacturing.

• 3D Modeling Software: Beyond SolidWorks, other 3D modeling or rendering tools may be beneficial for visualization.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly data analytics, designers will need to interpret performance metrics from prototypes and customer feedback to inform design iterations.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design function, but understanding how product specifications are managed within an operating system is important.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on design and manufacturing tools, with SolidWorks and digitizer/plotter experience being key requirements.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Product Design Values:

• Innovation & Creativity: Encouraging new ideas and novel solutions to product challenges.

• Quality & Durability: A commitment to designing products that are robust and meet high standards.

• Collaboration: Fostering an environment where teamwork and knowledge sharing are paramount.

• Customer Focus: Designing with the end-user and customer requirements at the forefront.

• Persistence & Initiative: Encouraging individuals to tackle challenges head-on and drive projects forward.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, requiring close interaction with engineering, production, and potentially sales teams.

• Emphasis on clear communication, active listening, and respectful exchange of ideas to achieve optimal design outcomes.

• A team-oriented approach where collective problem-solving leads to better product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: Company values are inferred from the required skills and the nature of the product design role in a manufacturing context.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Ambiguous Requirements: Interpreting vague customer needs or technical specifications into concrete design solutions.

• Balancing Design and Manufacturing Constraints: Ensuring designs are aesthetically pleasing and functional while being cost-effective and feasible to manufacture.

• Meeting Tight Deadlines: Juggling multiple projects and meeting demanding production schedules, which may require overtime.

• Iterative Design and Testing: Managing the process of prototyping, testing, and refining designs based on feedback and performance data.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced CAD Training: Deepening expertise in SolidWorks or learning new design software.

• Material Science: Gaining a better understanding of industrial fabrics, their properties, and applications.

• Manufacturing Processes: Learning more about the specific production methods used by the company.

• Industry Certifications: Pursuing certifications relevant to product design or specific manufacturing technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges and growth opportunities are framed within the context of a product designer's daily work and career progression.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to interpret a complex technical drawing. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure accuracy?" (Assesses technical comprehension and problem-solving.)

• "Walk us through your process for developing a new product concept from initial idea to a manufacturable prototype. What tools did you use, and what were the key decision points?" (Assesses design process and tool proficiency.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Outer Armor and Commercial Sewing, Inc. specifically?" (Assesses research and genuine interest.)

• "Describe your experience working in a multidisciplinary team. How do you handle disagreements or differing opinions with engineering or production colleagues?" (Assesses collaboration and conflict resolution.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Process: For each showcased project, spend time explaining your design methodology, the problem you were solving, and the steps you took.

• Highlight CAD Skills: Be ready to demonstrate your proficiency with SolidWorks, perhaps by sharing specific model features or design iterations.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If your designs led to cost savings, improved performance, or increased customer satisfaction, be prepared to articulate this.

• Showcase Technical Drawings: Ensure your technical drawings are clear, well-annotated, and demonstrate an understanding of manufacturing requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions and preparation strategies are tailored to assess the specific skills and experience required for a product designer role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on paycomonline.net.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience with CAD software (especially SolidWorks), technical drawing, prototyping, and any relevant industry experience (canvas, awning, marine). Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate your strongest design projects, focusing on those that demonstrate your ability to interpret specifications, create technical drawings, and develop prototypes. Be ready to walk through your process for each.

• Research the Company: Familiarize yourself with Outer Armor and Commercial Sewing, Inc., their product lines, and their history. Understand their market position.

• Practice Interview Questions: Prepare thoughtful answers to common design, technical, and behavioral interview questions, drawing on specific examples from your experience.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Outer Armor by Commercial Sewing, Inc. before making application decisions.