Product Design Engineer, Electrics (Lead)

Fellow•San Francisco, CA

31d•Onsite

About The Position

At Fellow, we’re on a mission to help people brew ridiculously good coffee at home. But we’re more than just beautifully designed kettles and grinders—we’re a brand built on innovation, community, and culture. We believe great coffee isn’t just about the final cup; it’s about the experience, the ritual, and the people who make it all happen. This role is based in our office in San Francisco, CA and is required to be in-office 4-days per week. Availability for regular evening calls with team members and partners in Asia is required as well as occasional travel to these locations (once a quarter). As a Product Design Engineer, Electrics (Lead), you will play a pivotal role in leading the mechanical engineering and design efforts for some programs as we expand our lineup of home appliances - such as precision coffee makers, grinders, and kettles. You will help to drive the design, development, and iteration of hardware products from concept through production, ensuring that they meet the highest standards of functionality, user experience, and design appeal. You will work closely with cross-functional teams including industrial design, electrical engineers, software developers, and manufacturing operations to deliver world-class products. As a design lead, you will also direct the efforts of external partners, mentor other engineers, and lead design reviews.

Requirements

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, or equivalent experience.
7+ years of experience in product design and development, with a focus on consumer hardware products.
Proven experience leading design projects from concept to mass production, preferably in the connected home appliance sector.
Experience with packaging electronics and related challenges.
Experience with mechanism design
Mechatronics experience including selecting, qualifying and integrating sensors, actuators, valves, etc..
Experience with heat transfer applications and thermal management
Experience with multiple mechanical fabrication processes (injection molding,
Able to manage large CAD databases. (SolidWorks, Creo, etc.). Able to create detailed technical drawings.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes such as injection molding, die casting, CNC machining, sheet metal, casting, extrusion, hydroforming, etc...
Experience in rapid prototyping, product testing, and validation.
Excellent understanding of product development lifecycle, DFM principles, and quality assurance practices.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and inspire teams.
Passion for innovation and a keen eye for aesthetics, functionality, and user experience.
Ability to travel - up to 10%

Nice To Haves

Experience working on connected devices (IoT) or smart appliances.
Experience with mechanism design
Mechatronics experience including selecting, qualifying and integrating sensors, actuators, valves, etc..
Familiarity with electronics integration, including sensors, connectivity modules, and embedded systems.
Experience with sustainability and eco-friendly design principles.
Knowledge of regulatory standards for consumer electronics.
Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with evolving requirements.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Responsibilities

Lead Product Design Process:
Hands-on ownership of product design and development activities: CAD, analysis, characterization, testing, prototyping, preproduction builds to mass production.
Partner with industrial design, engineering and operations teams to ensure products meet quality, cost and timeline targets.
Oversee the end-to-end design and development of consumer hardware products, focusing on connected home appliances like coffee makers, kettles, and grinders.
Create detailed 3D models, CAD designs, and engineering drawings.
Perform sensor and system characterization
Perform calculations related to fluid mechanics and heat transfer
Perform material selections for challenging applications
Support regulatory compliance efforts
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure designs meet product specifications, technical requirements, and business goals.
Innovation & Concept Development:
Lead the generation of new ideas, driving designs related to product functionality, and user experience.
Prototype & Testing:
Utilize rapid prototyping to test design concepts and gather feedback.
Oversee testing for performance, durability, reliability and user interaction, ensuring product designs meet quality standards.
Iterate on designs based on feedback from internal stakeholders and external users.
Mentorship & Team Leadership:
Provide technical leadership and guidance to the design team, mentoring other engineers and promoting a collaborative work environment.
Lead regular design reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members.
Collaboration with Manufacturing:
Work closely with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure that designs are optimized for cost-effective production.
Oversee the design for manufacturability (DFM) process to minimize production issues and ensure a seamless transition from prototype to mass production.
Project Management:
Work with TPMs to manage manufacturing partners and suppliers. Facilitate communication both internally and externally. Help determine priorities and objectives.
Work with TPMs to communicate project status, risks, and milestones to key stakeholders.
Compliance & Documentation:
Ensure all product designs comply with relevant safety, regulatory, and industry standards.
Maintain comprehensive documentation throughout the design and development process.
Work closely with the Hardware Engineering, Product Management and Program Management Office (PMO) to develop resource plans and program schedules.