Director, Product Design (Physical Products)

About KiwiCo: KiwiCo is an innovative eCommerce company dedicated to sparking creativity and curiosity in kids (and kids at heart!). Through both online and offline materials, we provide fun and engaging ways for kids to explore, create, and learn. Our primary offering is a subscription service where we deliver "whoa awesome," hands-on projects to kids. We also manage an e-commerce storefront and a content platform to inspire and educate. We take great pride and ownership in the products we build and in the community of parents and kids we serve. Our office is located in Mountain View, CA within walking distance to the Caltrain station. This position follows a hybrid work schedule, with 3-4 office days per week (depending on your team) and the remainder of the week working remotely. About the Job: We are looking for an experienced, extraordinary Director of Product Design who is passionate about spearheading the development of compelling and innovative STEAM products for kids. You are a strategic thinker who rolls up your sleeves to get things done. You have built and nurtured loved consumer products, cultivated high performing teams, and managed a high bar for quality standards. You’re a tireless champion for the customer and the KiwiCo brand. You are inherently curious and creative. You look for better ways of approaching problem solving, get energized by tough problems, and like collaborating with others to get things done. This position reports directly to the Chief Product and Merchandising Officer and will be in the office 4 days a week. In this role, you will bring a deep technical understanding of how products are designed, engineered, and manufactured at scale. You are fluent in 3D design, materials, and manufacturing processes, and can seamlessly bridge concept, form, and function. Role and Responsibilities: Own the strategy and execution of translating the KiwiCo brand to our physical subscription lines. Create innovative product lines that exceed customer expectations, while pushing the boundaries of what can fit into a 3”x7”x10” crate. Build and lead an exceptional product design team. Mentor and grow the team, while ensuring consistency and alignment. Manage a team of junior and mid-level product designers. Establish product vision and direction, while efficiently and effectively driving project timelines. Maintain a high bar for quality around all products designed by the team. Ensure manufacturability, durability, safety, and cost targets are met, and that KiwiCo suppliers maintain the same standards in manufacturing. Develop processes and systems that scale. Actively seek areas of continuous improvement across design, prototyping, and production workflows. Work in a highly iterative and collaborative way, directly alongside sourcing, editorial, graphic design, and marketing. Partner closely with suppliers and manufacturers (primarily overseas) to troubleshoot design challenges, optimize tooling, and ensure production quality. Drive prototyping excellence, from early proof-of-concept models through production-ready prototypes. Required Qualifications: We seek team players with an infectious positive energy, great initiative, and a get-it-done attitude. Candidates must thrive in ambiguity and love a rapid pace. You must have a strong desire to learn and improve. Excellent organizational, communications, and multi-tasking skills are must. Required qualifications include: 10+ years of experience designing and shipping physical consumer products, with a strong emphasis on industrial design and mechanical product development. Deep expertise in 3D CAD modeling (SolidWorks, Fusion 360, Creo, or similar) and ability to review and guide complex part and assembly design. Strong understanding of design for manufacturing (DFM), design for assembly (DFA), and design for cost (DFC). Hands-on experience with injection-molded plastics, mechanisms (gears, linkages, springs), and manufacturing processes (tooling, molding, fabri…