What are the responsibilities and job description for the Industrial Designer position at Pilgrim?
Location
Redwood City, CA
Employment Type
Full time
Location Type
On-site
Department
Creative
As an Industrial Designer at Pilgrim, you will work hands-on with our engineering team to design and develop ruggedized components, enclosures, and mission-critical hardware that operates at the intersection of biological and engineered systems. This is not an agency or studio role, you will build real products that must survive field conditions, integrate with sensors and electronics, and be manufacturable on CNCs, printers, and injection-molded pathways. You will own the visual and functional design of hardware from early concept through prototype iterations and production-intent models. The ideal candidate combines strong aesthetics with practical engineering instincts and has experience designing parts meant to be used, abused, and trusted.
Responsibilities
Redwood City, CA
Employment Type
Full time
Location Type
On-site
Department
Creative
As an Industrial Designer at Pilgrim, you will work hands-on with our engineering team to design and develop ruggedized components, enclosures, and mission-critical hardware that operates at the intersection of biological and engineered systems. This is not an agency or studio role, you will build real products that must survive field conditions, integrate with sensors and electronics, and be manufacturable on CNCs, printers, and injection-molded pathways. You will own the visual and functional design of hardware from early concept through prototype iterations and production-intent models. The ideal candidate combines strong aesthetics with practical engineering instincts and has experience designing parts meant to be used, abused, and trusted.
Responsibilities
- Conceptualize and develop hardware forms, housings, and interfaces for ruggedized systems used in field environments.
- Translate sketches and early concepts into detailed 3D CAD suitable for machining, printing, and downstream fabrication.
- Design components with attention to reliability, ergonomics, manufacturability, sealing, mounting, and integration of sensors, displays, and connectors.
- Develop photorealistic renderings and visualization assets for internal reviews, demonstrations, and agency-facing materials.
- Work with mechanical and electrical engineers to ensure form, fit, and function integrate cleanly across assemblies.
- Support material selection, surface treatments, coatings, and finishes appropriate for thermal, chemical, and mechanical stresses.
- Prototype parts using FDM/SLA printing and assist with shop fabrication (CNC machining, laser cutting, basic metalworking).
- Incorporate MIL-STD considerations (environmental, shock/vibration, ingress protection, human factors) into design decisions.
- Drive a consistent design language across Pilgrim hardware while adapting geometry to varying mission and integration requirements.
- Participate in field tests, observe operator interaction with prototypes, and refine designs based on real-world constraints and feedback.
- Experience in industrial design, product design, or equivalent hardware-focused role (defense, robotics, medical devices, automotive, or similar).
- Strong portfolio demonstrating concept development, 3D modeling, mechanical awareness, and ability to take designs from sketch to functional prototype.
- Proficiency in industry-standard CAD and visualization tools (Fusion 360, SolidWorks, Rhino, Keyshot or equivalent).
- Experience designing ruggedized enclosures, field-deployable components, or products subject to shock, vibration, weather, or contamination.
- Understanding of human–machine interfaces, ergonomics, and physical interaction patterns.
- Comfort working directly with mechanical and electrical engineers on tolerances, manufacturability, sealing, and integration.
- Hands-on prototyping experience with 3D printing, laser cutting, or CNC machining.
- Ability to iterate rapidly, manage multiple projects, and operate in a fast-moving R&D environment.
- Clear communicator able to collaborate across engineering, fabrication, and leadership.
- Experience with MIL-STD-810, IP ratings, or rugged-device design guidelines.
- Familiarity with sensors, connectors, cable routing, and embedded systems packaging.
- Background in biomedical devices, field instrumentation, or human-centered design for technical systems.
- Basic exposure to FEA or simulation tools for structural or thermal considerations.
- Visual design skills for creating presentation-quality renders and assets for external audiences.