Senior Design Engineer

Job description

Furniture Design Engineer Design & Engineering · Product Development Location: Hosur, Tamil Nadu Employment Type: Full-Time Experience: 6+ Years About Wakefit Wakefit is building a next-generation furniture manufacturing ecosystem that combines product design, engineering, technology, and high-scale manufacturing. We are looking for an experienced Furniture Design Engineer to own the end-to-end development of furniture products — from concept and 3D modelling to prototyping, engineering validation, production drawings, and mass manufacturing. This role sits at the intersection of Furniture Design, Engineering and Manufacturing . You will work closely with Product Design, Production, Manufacturing, Procurement and Quality teams to ensure that every product is aesthetically strong, structurally sound, cost-effective, and designed for manufacturing at scale. What Success Looks Like • Furniture products move from concept → prototype → validation → production with minimal rework. • Designs are manufacturing-ready from day one , reducing production defects, rejections, and engineering changes. • Accurate 3D models, production drawings, BOMs, specifications, and assembly documentation are released on time. • Products meet defined standards for quality, durability, functionality, ergonomics, cost, and manufacturability . • Design and engineering decisions improve material efficiency, manufacturing productivity, and product cost . • Product learnings are documented and converted into standardized design practices for future launches. Key Responsibilities 1. Furniture Design & Product Development • Own the end-to-end design and engineering of assigned furniture products from concept to production . • Develop concepts, sketches, layouts, 3D models, assemblies, and detailed engineering designs. • Translate design intent into production-ready furniture solutions . • Design products considering functionality, aesthetics, ergonomics, structural integrity, durability, manufacturability, and cost. • Develop both individual components and complete furniture assemblies. • Design and optimize products across categories such as tables, chairs, beds, storage, sofas, cabinets, and other furniture systems . 2. CAD & Engineering Documentation • Create detailed 3D part and assembly models using SolidWorks . • Prepare accurate 2D manufacturing and assembly drawings with appropriate dimensions, tolerances, material specifications, and finishing requirements. • Develop and maintain BOMs, component specifications, assembly instructions, and engineering documentation . • Ensure drawings accurately reflect the final product and are suitable for manufacturing. • Manage design revisions and ensure engineering changes are properly documented. • Maintain standardized CAD models, templates, components, and design libraries. 3. DFM / DFA & Manufacturing Engineering • Design furniture specifically for Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) . • Work closely with production and manufacturing teams to identify and eliminate manufacturability issues before production. • Understand manufacturing processes including: • CNC machining • Cutting and drilling • Edge banding • Routing • Woodworking • Joinery • Metal fabrication • Welding • Upholstery • Painting and finishing • Assembly • Optimize designs for repeatability, ease of assembly, production efficiency, and quality. • Identify opportunities to simplify components, reduce part count, standardize hardware, and improve assembly processes. 4. Prototyping & Product Validation • Drive prototype development from engineering drawings and CAD models. • Work with prototype and production teams to build and validate first samples. • Conduct design reviews based on fit, form, function, ergonomics, durability, stability, and manufacturability . • Identify design gaps during prototype and pilot production stages. • Implement design changes based on testing, production feedback, quality observations, and customer insights. • Ensure final designs are validated before mass production release. 5. Material & Hardware Selection • Select appropriate materials based on product requirements, performance, aesthetics, availability, and cost. • Strong understanding of: • Solid wood • Plywood • MDF / HDF • Particle board • Laminates • Veneers • Metals • Glass • Foam • Fabrics • Furniture hardware and fittings • Evaluate hardware, joints, fasteners, mechanisms, and fittings for functionality and durability. • Recommend alternate materials or components where they improve cost, quality, availability, or manufacturability . 6. Cost Optimization & Value Engineering • Design products within defined cost and material targets . • Identify opportunities for material optimization and cost reduction without compromising product quality or customer experience. • Partner with Procurement and Manufacturing teams on value engineering initiatives . • Evaluate alternate materials, hardware, construction methods, and component designs. • Contribute to reducing material wastage, assembly time, component cost, and manufacturing complexity. 7. Production & Quality Support • Work closely with Production, Quality, Design QC, and Manufacturing teams during product industrialization. • Resolve design-related issues arising during prototype, pilot, and mass production. • Conduct root-cause analysis for recurring design and manufacturing defects. • Implement permanent engineering solutions rather than temporary fixes. • Support first-piece approval and production release activities. • Ensure products consistently meet defined dimensional, functional, structural, and aesthetic quality standards . 8. CNC / CAM & Manufacturing Data • Understand how CAD designs translate into CNC and other manufacturing processes. • Work with CAM teams to