Product Engineer III, Upholstery

Position Summary

The Product Engineer III plays a key role in bringing innovative, high-performance furniture concepts to life. This role translates design intent into manufacturable, cost‑efficient, and durable solutions by applying advanced engineering principles, cross‑functional collaboration, and design‑for‑manufacturing (DFM) expertise. The ideal candidate is a problem‑solver with deep technical skill, strong design sensitivity, and experience driving projects from concept to production.

Salary Range: $ – $

• Lead the engineering of new product introductions (NPI) from concept through production readiness.
• Apply DFM/DFA and Value Engineering principles to balance aesthetic intent, performance, and cost.
• Create and maintain accurate 3D CAD models, drawings, BOMs, and specifications within PDM systems.
• Conduct structural analysis (FMEA), material selection, and validation testing for performance and reliability.
• Support prototype builds, assess manufacturability, and implement design refinements for scalability.

• Partner with Product Development, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain to align on design feasibility, production standards, and tooling readiness.
• Collaborate with Quality and Customer Experience to embed learnings from field data into future designs.
• Support smooth handoff from development to production through pilot builds and issue resolution.

• Contribute to standardization of engineering documentation, construction methods, and DFM/DFA practices.
• Support digital tool adoption (simulation, PDM, 3D validation).
• Identify opportunities to compress development timelines and improve yield.

• Research and propose new materials, joinery and upholstery techniques, and mechanisms to improve performance and ease of assembly.
• Champion engineering excellence and knowledge sharing across product categories.
• Be a champion for AI-driven design and engineering tools.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in product or mechanical engineering.
• Proven record of bringing complex, modular products from concept through production.
• Proficiency in Solid Works (or equivalent CAD) and PDM/PLM systems.
• Strong understanding of materials (metal, plastics, wood) and structural design.
• Demonstrated experience applying DFM/DFA, Lean, or VAVE methodologies.
• Excellent problem‑solving, communication, and cross‑functional collaboration skills.

• Experience with near‑shore manufacturing (e.g., Mexico) or global supply chains.
• Background in furniture engineering or consumer goods.
• Furniture experience or consumer good experience.
• Knowledge of digital simulation, structural testing, and material validation methods.
• Familiarity with sustainability or certification standards (e.g., FSC, GREENGUARD).
• Passion for continuous improvement, craftsmanship, and innovation.

• Competitive Salary:
  Our compensation philosophy is to be externally competitive, internally fair, and not win or lose on compensation. Salary ranges are developed with the support of national benchmarks and industry best practices that adjusts to your cost of labor, years of relevant experience, skill set, and education.
• Employee Discounts:
  We offer our employees discounts across all of our product lines.
• Hit our Numbers Lunch:
  When we hit our monthly milestones, we all celebrate!

Exemplis is an Equal Opportunity Employer and our company adheres to the equal employment opportunity guidelines set forth by federal, state, and local laws. Read our full statement on our careers page.