Senior Designer, CMF - Soft Goods

Needham, MA

The Opportunity

Color, material, and finish is where a product stops being a spec sheet and starts being something someone wants on their counter. As Senior Designer, CMF, you'll lead that work across multiple products and categories — owning CMF direction from concept development through production implementation, so our products elevate the user experience, differentiate the brand, and earn consumer loyalty.

You'll join the Ninja Design Team: industrial designers, UI/UX designers, and CMF designers working across the brand and its categories. The role partners with cross-functional teams and senior leadership to shape brand-defining design direction, which means the strategic thinking and the material sample in your hand matter equally.

We're looking for a strategic creative thinker with deep expertise in color, material, and finish trends and manufacturing processes, and a track record of driving CMF concepts from strategy through production.

Please include a copy of your resume and portfolio with your application.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead CMF concept and strategy development that aligns with product design goals, brand identity, and long-term brand vision.
• Own trend forecasting and research on emerging color, material, and finish trends — translating insights into actionable direction for the team.
• Direct the creation of mood boards, color palettes, and material/finish samples, presenting concepts and rationale to senior stakeholders and leadership.
• Lead supplier and manufacturer relationships, driving sourcing and evaluation of new materials and finishes for feasibility, innovation, and cost-effectiveness.
• Own end-to-end CMF specifications and documentation, ensuring accurate and consistent execution across production teams and partners.
• Lead design reviews across multiple projects, providing strategic direction and critical feedback on CMF-related aspects of product design.
• Guide prototype and sample development, driving validation and refinement of CMF concepts through to production sign-off.
• Mentor associate and junior CMF designers, raising the capability and craft of the broader team.
• Establish and maintain the CMF materials library and archive, setting best practices for organization and knowledge-sharing.
• Serve as the team's subject-matter expert on materials, color theory, and manufacturing technologies, sharing insights across the broader design org.

Attributes & Skills

• 5–8 years in color, material, and finish design — consumer electronics or consumer products preferred.
• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, KeyShot, and SolidWorks.
• Deep expertise in color theory, trend forecasting, and manufacturing processes across product categories.
• Demonstrated ability to lead CMF strategy independently, from early concept through production.
• Experience mentoring or providing design direction to junior and associate designers.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking that translates into innovative, brand-right creative direction.
• Exceptional attention to detail, with a refined sense of aesthetics and craftsmanship.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and align senior leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional collaboration in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects and shifting priorities.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating CMF strategic leadership, end-to-end process ownership, and production-ready documentation (required).
• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Interaction Design, or a related discipline — or equivalent professional experience.