Senior Designer, CMF - Soft Goods

SharkNinja•Needham, MA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Color, material, and finish is where a product stops being a spec sheet and starts being something someone wants on their counter. As Senior Designer, CMF, you'll lead that work across multiple products and categories — owning CMF direction from concept development through production implementation, so our products elevate the user experience, differentiate the brand, and earn consumer loyalty. You'll join the Ninja Design Team: industrial designers, UI/UX designers, and CMF designers working across the brand and its categories. The role partners with cross-functional teams and senior leadership to shape brand-defining design direction, which means the strategic thinking and the material sample in your hand matter equally. We're looking for a strategic creative thinker with deep expertise in color, material, and finish trends and manufacturing processes, and a track record of driving CMF concepts from strategy through production. Please include a copy of your resume and portfolio with your application.

Requirements

5–8 years in color, material, and finish design — consumer electronics or consumer products preferred.
Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, KeyShot, and SolidWorks.
Deep expertise in color theory, trend forecasting, and manufacturing processes across product categories.
Demonstrated ability to lead CMF strategy independently, from early concept through production.
Experience mentoring or providing design direction to junior and associate designers.
Strong strategic and analytical thinking that translates into innovative, brand-right creative direction.
Exceptional attention to detail, with a refined sense of aesthetics and craftsmanship.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and align senior leadership and executive stakeholders.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects and shifting priorities.
A strong portfolio demonstrating CMF strategic leadership, end-to-end process ownership, and production-ready documentation (required).
Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Interaction Design, or a related discipline — or equivalent professional experience.

Responsibilities

Lead CMF concept and strategy development that aligns with product design goals, brand identity, and long-term brand vision.
Own trend forecasting and research on emerging color, material, and finish trends — translating insights into actionable direction for the team.
Direct the creation of mood boards, color palettes, and material/finish samples, presenting concepts and rationale to senior stakeholders and leadership.
Lead supplier and manufacturer relationships, driving sourcing and evaluation of new materials and finishes for feasibility, innovation, and cost-effectiveness.
Own end-to-end CMF specifications and documentation, ensuring accurate and consistent execution across production teams and partners.
Lead design reviews across multiple projects, providing strategic direction and critical feedback on CMF-related aspects of product design.
Guide prototype and sample development, driving validation and refinement of CMF concepts through to production sign-off.
Mentor associate and junior CMF designers, raising the capability and craft of the broader team.
Establish and maintain the CMF materials library and archive, setting best practices for organization and knowledge-sharing.
Serve as the team's subject-matter expert on materials, color theory, and manufacturing technologies, sharing insights across the broader design org.