Industrial Designer

Rather Outdoors is a family of industry-leading brands with a common purpose, protecting and nurturing the legendary outdoor brands we grew up with. We are focused on fishing and spending life outdoors while providing outdoor enthusiasts with the right gear for every step of their journey. We’re proud to work with co-workers who share our passions and values, and work as a family to make our mission a success.

The Industrial Designer position will be responsible for creating innovative and functional designs that enhance our product assortment. This role requires a blend of creativity, technical expertise, and project management skills to design and deliver the highest quality fishing tackle. The ideal candidate will have a solid foundation in design principles, sketching, 3D modeling, and rendering, along with a deep understanding of fishing tackle and manufacturing processes.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Design new concepts for rods, reels, and lures from concept to final product, ensuring functionality, aesthetics, and performance in partnership with engineering team.
• Utilize Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator) for 2D design, rendering, and sketching.
• 3D modeling software (Creo preferred) for detailed surface modeling and industrial design
• Use Adobe Suite to develop and manage product artwork, including product cosmetics and product graphics.
• Create high-quality renderings using KeyShot to visualize designs and communicate ideas effectively.
• Produce detailed digital sketches and imagery to convey design ideas clearly.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, manufacturing, and marketing, to ensure designs meet technical and market requirements.
• Manage design projects independently, from initial concept through to launch including prototyping, 3D printing, and tooling.
• Apply knowledge of colors, materials, and manufacturing processes to select appropriate materials and finishes for each design.
• Ensure and manage consistent brand language and visual identity across the product portfolio.
• Stay current with industry trends, competitor products, and emerging technologies to ensure designs remain innovative and competitive.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in product design, with a focus on consumer products, ideally within the fishing or outdoor gear industry.
• Proficiency in Adobe Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), 3D modeling software (SolidWorks or Creo), and rendering tools (KeyShot).
• Experience with animation software (e.g., Blender, Autodesk Maya, Keyshot) is preferred.
• Strong digital sketching skills using Sketchbook Pro, Procreate, or Adobe programs.
• Familiarity with 3D printing and its application in prototyping and product development.
• Knowledge of tooling and machining processes, as well as an understanding of manufacturing processes.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey design concepts effectively to both internal teams and international partners.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects independently, ensuring timely delivery.
• Passion for fishing and hands-on experience with fishing gear preferred.
• Must possess strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Must possess interpersonal and facilitation skills.

Additional Requirements:

This is largely a sedentary role; however, when attending trade shows and other events, standing for up to 8 hours a day may be requires, along with moderate lifting, bending, pushing and/or pulling.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with, or without notice.

Rather Outdoors is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EEO). This means that we do not discriminate based on race, creed, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, or other classification protected under applicable law.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person