Design Engineer

Turf Design is an architectural acoustics company that designs and produces interior architectural installations with an emphasis on functional, sophisticated, and easy to install acoustic solutions. We exist at the intersection of architecture and product design - "between a chair and a building," as many of our designers put it. We're a design company, but we're also a manufacturer with fabrication and prototyping at our core. We're a group of tinkerers, makers, product designers and former architects that left the field of architecture to work at the scale of architectural installations - small scale architecture with faster project timelines and half the red tape.

Job Output

This is a full-time in office position, requiring a minimum of 3-5 years of industry experience in the field of architecture, product and/or industrial design. The ideal candidate is flexible, technically oriented and has a general understanding of the architectural design and construction cycle. Architectural Designers work with clients, contractors, and the design and production teams, drafting interior product solutions at an architectural scale with Turf's premium and standard product lines. They work from construction documents to translate the client's initial drawings into something that can be easily manufactured and installed while evaluating and rationalizing design intent.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• The Architectural Designer (AD) develops drawings and documentation through the lifecycle of projects from Design to Engineering and stewards the drop into Production.
• ADs have shared ownership of projects from assignment through to install, ensuring successful implementation at every stage and clean handoffs. They work together with the various departments as needed and coordinate time and project needs with their teammates.
• Communicates schedule and project needs to the DM (Design Manager) to ensure accurate loading and scheduling, while also managing their own schedules and project timelines.
• Dedicated to delivering quality work at all times.

Project

• Verifies product layout and use, communicating with the various project and process leads to ensure accuracy.
• Follows Turf design drawing standards, creating all project drawings, drafting, and documents for Design, Engineering, and Production.
• Develops custom design solutions and product for custom and boutique projects in tandem with the DM. Architectural Designers are makers who validate through prototyping all proposed custom solutions and their feasibility for mass manufacture.
• Seeks peer review for projects and customizations to evaluate and verify product use.
• Involvement in client meetings to discuss feedback and maintain product requirements.
• Packages the complete product specification for Design, Engineering, and Production.
• Advocates and balances the client's best interests with Turf's.

Internal

• Works on internal product development or special projects in tandem with the project or process leads.
• Follows best practices in digital housekeeping of project files and documentation, ensuring accuracy and organization.
• Maintains a physical presence and assistance on the Production and Assembly floor at the Gilberts facility as scheduled.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None

Travel: Some travel required

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Minimum 3-5 years in architecture and/or product design. Comfortable in high tolerance CAD/CAM production via CNC, as well as the production of shop drawings. Experience with digital fabrication techniques as well as CNC and/or prototyping experience is a must.

Additional Competencies & Skills

• Ability to read and translate construction documents, ideation and form development, knowledge of materials and manufacturing process, hands-on experience in mock-ups, prototyping & mechanical aptitude. Able to prioritize and manage multiple project deadlines.
• High degree of proficiency in Rhino 3D and Adobe CC (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator) required. Experience with Grasshopper/Dynamo, Revit/AutoCad preferred. Visualization skills in vRay, 3DS Max, etc. also a plus.

Education and/or Experience

Degree in Architecture, Industrial Design or a related field. MA preferred, but not required.

Location & Reporting

This position works out of the Firehouse (Chicago office) and reports to the Design Manager. This is a salaried position and exempt from overtime pay. Occasional travel to the manufacturing plant (Gilberts) is to be expected. Occasionally requires lifting 10-20lbs, could accommodate wheelchair, non-walker.

Physical and Mental Demands

The demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: sit for prolonged periods; repetitive motion of hands/wrists/fingers; concentrate and repeat the same physical or mental activities over and over; think analytically and be exact or highly accurate; make decisions such as to identify complex problems, develop options and implement solutions; work in a team; ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with the ADAAA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards; pay attention to and remember details; communicate effectively including active listening to understand points being made, and asking appropriate questions and not interrupting inappropriately; speak to convey information effectively; write to communicate effectively as appropriate for the needs of the audience; read to understand work related documents; move between different physical locations within and between buildings; and push, pull, carry and lift in the normal course of travel.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Requires working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions with standard level of noise common to an office environment including office equipment and co-workers speaking to each other and on phones. Employees are required to wear personal protective equipment when entering the floor of manufacturing facilities based on the specific requirements of each location.

Turf Design is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants receive consideration for positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.