Director of Design Engineering

Gantri•San Leandro, CA

About The Position

Company Gantri is the first digital manufacturer for design. We enable any designer or brand to create high-quality, sustainable design products 10x faster with no minimums. We manufacture at our Digital Factory in California on-demand at industrial-scale efficiency and ship directly to the end customer. Gantri is the most awarded design manufacturer in America. Role We are seeking a Director of Design Engineering to lead and expand Gantri’s design engineering discipline. This leader will own the development of Gantri’s Design System — building new product capabilities, unlocking new categories, and ensuring that every product we produce delivers uncompromising quality, functionality, and design intent. You’ll lead our team of design engineers to ensure that concepts from our design partners are transformed into real products quickly and at an exceptional quality level. This role is both strategic and hands-on: you’ll partner directly with independent designers and brands to transform their ideas into manufacturable products, while also scaling the capabilities of our internal team and digital factory.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in design engineering for consumer products (consumer electronics, hardware, or furniture strongly preferred).
Proven success in bringing complex consumer products to market, from concept through manufacturing.
Hands-on experience with additive manufacturing, DfM (design for manufacture), and digital fabrication technologies.
Track record of managing cross-disciplinary engineering teams (design, mechanical, electrical).
Deep understanding of the balance between design excellence and engineering feasibility.
Strong leadership and communication skills, with experience working directly with external partners, designers, or brands.
Fully aligned with Gantri’s Pioneer Spirit and core values: Drive Impact, Think Critically, Champion Change, Move Fast, Empower Anti-Fragility.

Responsibilities

Develop Gantri’s design system: Create frameworks, processes, and standards that enable consistent, scalable, and beautiful product development across categories.
Expand product capabilities: Lead the engineering of new functional capabilities (e.g., wireless, smart features, modularity) and unlock new product categories beyond lighting.
Bridge design and engineering: Partner with designers and brands to refine concepts into manufacturable, high-quality products that preserve creative intent.
Lead multidisciplinary teams: Manage and mentor design engineers, mechanical engineers, and electrical engineers, fostering collaboration and innovation.
Collaborate cross-functionally: Work closely with Design, Manufacturing Engineering, and Manufacturing Operations to ensure seamless integration from concept to production.
Integrate with manufacturing: Collaborate with Gantri’s factory and automation teams to ensure products are optimized for additive manufacturing, digital assembly, and scalability.
Champion Gantri’s values: Drive impact, think critically, embrace change, move fast, and empower anti-fragility in your team and across the company.