Furniture Product Design and Engineering

Location: North Wilkesboro, NC

Company: Johnston Casuals

Position: Full-time, onsite

Johnston Casuals is seeking a highly hands-on Furniture Product Development Engineer to help turn ideas into production-ready furniture—quickly.

This is not a desk-only design position. We need someone who can move comfortably between product design, CAD, engineering, prototyping and the factory floor. You will help develop new chairs, stools, tables and upholstered seating from initial concept through working prototype and production.

The right person takes ownership, solves problems and keeps projects moving. When a prototype needs a CNC-cut component, revised wood frame, welding fixture, upholstery change or new drawing, you help make it happen. You work directly with our designers, welders, woodworkers, upholsterers, CNC operators, vendors and management rather than stopping when a task falls outside a narrow job description.

• Develop furniture from sketches, renderings, existing samples and design concepts.
• Create accurate 2D and 3D CAD drawings, shop drawings and production-ready files.
• Design and engineer wood seat and back frames, molded components, upholstered parts, metal frames and attachment methods.
• Work hands-on with CNC equipment and shop personnel to cut or modify prototype components.
• Build, assemble and evaluate prototypes directly on the factory floor.
• Solve problems involving comfort, ergonomics, upholstery fit, construction, strength and manufacturability.
• Guide pattern making, sewing and upholstery development for fabric, vinyl and leather.
• Develop practical attachment methods for upholstered seats, backs, cushions and armrests.
• Make rapid design corrections based on what happens during prototyping.
• Create specifications, bills of materials, hardware details and clear production instructions.
• Coordinate with outside suppliers for molded wood, foam, hardware, textiles and specialized components.
• Help move approved products from prototype into repeatable, cost-effective production.
• Improve existing products and manufacturing processes when quality, fit or efficiency problems arise.
• Work with urgency, communicate clearly and follow projects through completion.

• Experience in furniture product development, furniture engineering, industrial design or a closely related manufacturing field.
• Strong CAD ability; SolidWorks and AutoCAD experience are preferred.
• Practical knowledge of furniture construction, including wood, metal, foam, fabric, vinyl and leather.
• Experience developing upholstered seating, seat and back frames, patterns or production samples is highly desirable.
• Comfortable using tools, working around machinery and collaborating directly with production employees.
• Able to evaluate a physical prototype and quickly determine what must change.
• Resourceful, curious and willing to learn unfamiliar processes.
• Strong sense of ownership and a “let’s figure it out” approach.
• Able to balance appearance, comfort, strength, cost and manufacturability.
• Organized enough to document solutions so they can be repeated in production.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where priorities can change quickly.

You enjoy building as much as designing. You do not wait weeks to make a small correction that can be tested today. You ask questions, find resources, involve the right people and stay with a problem until there is a workable answer.

You are willing to roll up your sleeves, work alongside the factory team and take a product from an idea to something we can manufacture and sell. You understand that successful furniture development requires creativity, engineering judgment, practical craftsmanship and persistent follow-through.

If you are energized by solving real manufacturing problems and seeing your work become a finished product, we would like to hear from you.

• Please submit your résumé, portfolio or examples of furniture, seating, prototypes, CAD drawings or production-development work.