Product Designer

About the Team

It's no surprise people are passionate about the health and happiness of their pet and our Merchandising (buying) team is no different. When it comes to the products and solutions in our stores, our incredible teams of merchandising associates have everything covered – from head to tail! From keeping up with the top trends to developing new, innovative solutions, our buyers help ensure every pet parent can find exactly what their pet needs n our team and show your love for pets by creating products as special as pets themselves!

Collaborative Work Environment:At Pet Smart, teamwork and connection are core to how we thrive. This role is based at our Phoenix Home Office, with an expectation of working a minimum of four days in the office each week. In a standard work week, associates may work up to one remote “flex day” (with leader approval). Our hybrid approach is designed to foster strong collaboration while also supporting flexibility and individual success.

This role will be responsible for developing innovative solutions for a variety of product categories; particularly in dog and cat product. As a Product Designer, you’ll participate in trend and market research and be responsible for translating those learnings into fun, creative, and unique designs, which you will take from concept stage to sample stage.

Working in a fast-paced corporate environment requires a creative thinker with a passion for design who is able to effectively communicate their ideas and receive feedback. They need to be comfortable working on several different projects at once, adhering to calendar dates and milestones. Must be proficient at following processes.

Candidate will work under the supervision of the Manager and will work collaboratively and cross-functionally with key partners to ensure objectives are met. With that, the ideal candidate will have a positive attitude, versatility, flexibility, creativity, and aesthetic sensibility.

Please submit a portfolio/work samples with your application.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participates in competitive retailing, developing trend and concept boards
• Creates print, pattern and graphics for seasonal product collections
• Manages multiple projects at a time from concept through pre-production and manages the full scope of deliverables, including design specifications and technical drawings
• Communicates and presents designs to cross-functional partners and all levels of leadership
• Works closely with cross-functional partners to provide adequate information and/or sample feedback
• Participates/presents in weekly design meetings; aligning and preparing content for design reviews
• Conceptualizes multiple creative solutions and design options to address project strategies and product needs within given cost parameters
• Drives innovation by following the latest trends and using those learnings to develops creative concepts that translate into production-ready 3D products
• Collaborates with cross-functional partners, including brand, buying, legal, and quality assurance teams to make sure objectives are met

QUALIFICATIONS AND TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Demonstrates proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite – particularly Adobe Illustrator
• 5+ years professional experience designing and developing products for mass production
• Ability to translate 2D artwork into specification via AI format for production
• Sketching, brainstorming, ideation skills
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to learn and receive feedback from colleagues
• Must be a self‑motivated team player with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
• Basic knowledge of mass manufacturing techniques in soft and hard goods
• Experience working with overseas vendors and travel to Asia is a plus

Additional

• Excellent time management and organizational skills.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Illustration skills and/or experience designing toys (plush and/or molded) is a plus
• Apparel experience is a plus

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in design or related field
• 5+ years professional experience designing and developing products for mass…