Seating Engineer

Kalogon•Melbourne, FL

21h•Hybrid

About The Position

Kalogon, a smart seating startup based in Melbourne, seeks a Seating Engineer or Designer to help us open up new product lines and to cross-pollinate ideas across all of the verticals we serve. The ideal candidate will have experience in designing or developing seating for extended seating durations and has excellent knowledge of human anatomy, ergonomics, and a drive to innovate seating to help everyone have a healthier seated life. This role is flexible and could be contract, part, or full time.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, or related field to seating
Minimum 10 years of professional experience designing seating with at least 3 full product development cycles under your belt
Proven track record of successfully completing complex engineering projects from concept to production
Familiarity and previous delivery of products that combine soft goods, hardware, and connected devices
Proficiency in 3D CAD software (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Creo, or similar)
Strong knowledge of engineering fundamentals including mechanics, thermodynamics, materials science, and manufacturing processes
Understanding a wide range of manufacturing processes such as machining, welding, casting, injection molding, and sewing)
To conform to the U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Nice To Haves

Medical device experience
Experience in seating ergonomics or seating engineering
Knowledge of aviation or aerospace seating standards and certification requirements
Experience with rapid prototyping technologies (3D printing, CNC machining)
Understanding of software development processes and agile methodologies

Responsibilities

Conceptualize and design seating system products and features for novel systems while managing them through the full lifecycle that meet customer needs and desires
Balance key required attributes such as health benefit, safety, functionality, comfort, aesthetics, cost, mass, schedule, and sustainability with the realities of what is feasible, on budget, and desirable
Leverage detailed information about human anatomy, ergonomics, and desired seated behaviors to create novel seating systems
Create detailed 3D models, assemblies, and technical drawings using CAD software
Provide direction to development team relating to surface and product form development- working to bring Kalogon’s brand values and product requirements to life
Develop and maintain design documentation, including specifications, test procedures, and technical reports to meet criteria for inclusion in required reporting
Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including product development, sales, and manufacturing, to ensure seamless integration of design solutions
Research and identify new materials, processes, or approaches that not only improve the design and functionality of seating systems, but that can generate unique IP - whether forms, approaches, or patentable ideas
Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines and budget constraints
Coordinate with suppliers, vendors, and manufacturing partners to ensure design feasibility and cost-effectiveness
Participate in design reviews, risk assessments, and failure analysis investigations
Cultivate empathy with end users and ensure you understand their perspective and how it applies to your work
Stay abreast of industry developments and incorporate those into the team knowledge and workflow
Contribute to the development of engineering standards and procedures
Support and manage engineering development and certification testing, including creation of test plans, oversight of test article builds, and coordination with regulatory authorities
Work with internal team members on key external validations for partners or help team with documentation for key certifications
Design and execute test protocols to validate product performance, reliability, and safety
Analyze test data and implement design improvements based on findings
Support prototype development and participate in design verification activities
Troubleshoot technical issues and implement corrective actions