Computational Designer

Tiffany & Co.•New York, NY

4h•$90,000 - $110,000•Onsite

About The Position

Tiffany & Co. is hiring a Computational Designer for its Jewelry Design and Innovation Workshop (JDIW), located on East 23rd Street in New York City. The role expands JDIW’s 3D CAD capabilities in support of design, manufacturing, and digital innovation, with an emphasis on advanced parametric solutions and custom design-automation tools for jewelry design and development. The designer partners with internal and external CAD development teams to implement, maintain, and optimize Grasshopper definitions while collaborating across functions. The role develops computational workflows and tools that translate design intent into product-development and manufacturing solutions. It also establishes scripting standards and documentation, evaluates new applications and plug-ins, supports CAD systems, and helps ensure that models and parametric solutions meet industry best practices and manufacturing standards. The Computational Designer shares knowledge with CAD collaborators, contributes to project planning and communication, and researches emerging technologies and processes relevant to CAD and generative design.

Requirements

BA or MA in Industrial Design, Computational Design, or a comparable field.
At least 3 years of progressive Computational Design experience.
Strong proficiency in Rhino and Grasshopper, computational geometry, version control, and documentation standards.
Portfolio demonstrating computational and generative design applied to product design and development.
Extensive experience with high-precision complex geometry in Rhino and a strong understanding of NURBS, SubD, and mesh modeling.
Strong proficiency in Python and C#.
Ability to ideate and apply generative methods that inspire and lead future design.
Interest in sharing knowledge through tutoring, mentoring, and organizing training workshops.
Interest in developing new digital tools and design methods and putting them into practice.
Ability to work independently and in a team.
Ability to collaborate effectively with people at all organizational levels and build relationships with colleagues, partners, and customers.
Ability to interpret scientific and technical documents.
Innovative thinking and commitment to keeping current with technology.
Demonstrated ability to think conceptually and drive design concepts.
Ability to proactively manage and conduct multiple priority projects.
Good interpersonal skills and a team-oriented approach.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Blender and Z-Brush.
Familiarity with rendering software such as KeyShot, V-Ray, or Maxwell.
Formal goldsmithing and/or metalsmithing training.
Three to five years of experience as a custom bench jeweler.
Gemological training with a GIA or FGA diploma.
Formal gem- and diamond-setting training and experience.
Industry certification.
Familiarity with web development.
Experience with RhinoCommon.

Responsibilities

Build and refine end-to-end digital pipelines that translate design intent into iterative computational workflows.
Develop solutions to streamline complex geometry creation across collections, including size-run automation.
Use scripting to optimize and automate repetitive tasks where possible.
Partner with CAD designers, engineers, jewelers, and external partners to accelerate product development and manufacturing innovation.
Establish and maintain standards, documentation, and shared scripting practices for consistency, scalability, and long-term maintenance.
Evaluate and validate generative design applications and plug-ins for compatibility with Tiffany’s application ecosystem.
Ensure models and parametric solutions follow industry best practices and manufacturing standards.
Convert frequently used Grasshopper definitions into scalable, maintainable Python and C# applications.
Establish and monitor individual timelines, meet project timelines, and communicate schedule risks and roadblocks with proposed solutions.
Follow departmental procedures for metrics, project tracking, and status reporting in documents and meetings.
Participate in brainstorming, flag issues that could affect manufacturing or design aesthetics, and provide timely solutions.
Present to teams and cross-functional partners.
Train internal and external CAD collaborators in basic and advanced computational design concepts.
Collaborate with CAD teams across the company to document, standardize, and optimize Grasshopper scripts and workflows.
Proactively identify opportunities and propose solutions that position collections for successful parametric execution.
Update Senior CAD Designers, Managers, Directors, and cross-functional departments on project direction, CAD-file reviews, timelines, and potential challenges.
Participate in departmental management meetings and provide feedback on standards, templates, and processes.
Research, develop, and implement innovative tools, technologies, and processes for CAD and generative design across the design-development lifecycle.
Develop and enhance 3D CAD capabilities, using existing data where applicable.
Create supporting documentation and training tools as needed.
Stay current with industry knowledge and standards related to CAD programs, model making, goldsmithing, metalsmithing, and material properties across manufacturing processes.
Partner with IT and management to implement, support, and improve CAD systems and technology.