Technical Project Leader

Job description

Who We Are:

Caraway is a home goods brand on a mission to craft well-designed, non-toxic essentials that thoughtfully raises the standards of what you cook with. We’re passionate about creating elevated products, made without forever chemicals, that are better for you, your family, and the planet. We prioritize a holistic approach to the creation of Caraway products. We partner with ethical manufacturers where their employees are safe, paid fairly, given benefits, and work regulated hours. Our eco-friendly manufacturing process emits less CO2 than traditional non-stick coatings, and we use sustainable packaging practices and ship in packaging made from recycled materials. We pride ourselves on continuously striving to do and be better—for you and the planet—in every step of the process.

Since launching in November 2019, we’ve become one of the fastest growing digitally-native brands of the last decade and are now sold in retailers including Target, Bloomingdale’s, Crate & Barrel, The Container Store, Costco, Zola, and many more.

We’ve amassed over 150,000+ five-star reviews from more than 2.5M+ happy customers and thousands of press hits from the likes of Vogue, Domino, Good Housekeeping, Food & Wine, Architectural Digest, PureWow, Fortune, and CNN.

Caraway is a fully-remote company filled with motivated and hardworking innovators and doers. We’re continually developing programs to support our distributed team to ensure a successful remote experience. If you’re looking to join a brand that folks love, read on and apply!

The Opportunity:

Caraway Home is  looking for a highly skilled and experienced Technical Project Leader to join our existing team in China. This role will work closely with the Product Development team to improve existing products and create new ones to expand our market offerings.

This role will be the second mechanical engineer in the region, you will play a key role in the  success of our projects. You will manage the mechanical design, manufacturing, and sourcing activities with both internal and external teams. As one of the main technical team members in this region, you will need to clearly direct and communicate project details to factory teams to meet our product requirements.

This job is ideally based in Guangzhou and reports to our Technical Project Manager - Engineering.

Who You Are:

You have a background in mechanical or systems engineering and 7-10 years of relevant experience. You enjoy building new products and systems from the ground up, using your technical knowledge to build CAD models, properly select internal components, improve system design, determine proper validation strategies, and solve technical problems.

You have strong manufacturing knowledge across processes such as metal forming, stampings, extrusions, castings, injection molding, coatings, assembly, and tool design (preferred), and you’re comfortable supporting  DFM/DFA activities throughout development.

To excel in this role, you are highly  self-motivated,  hands-on (both at the factory and during internal prototyping), , and a creative problem solver who can work independently and collaboratively.. You can synthesize information from multiple sources, draw clear conclusions, and translate analysis into actionable guidance for suppliers and factory partners. . You communicate confidently and professionally with vendors, manufacturers, and cross-functional internal teams, and you’re comfortable driving alignment and accountability.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct mechanical design and analysis activities, including 3D modeling, prototyping, component selection and validation, and design for manufacturing/assembly (DFx), to make sure designs are strong and optimized
• Work closely with supplier(s) to develop and specify engineering components, following the size constraints of the industrial design CAD models, for new product development
• Partner with suppliers, our internal Quality Engineering team, and US-based teams (Product, Customer Support, etc) to resolve technical issues, implement design improvements, and improve manufacturability. Knowing root cause and corrective action (RCCA), statistical process control (SPC), and Six Sigma is a plus
• Oversee the manufacturing process, work with internal teams and external suppliers to make sure production is efficient and products are delivered on time to Caraway’s high quality standards. Identify opportunities to improve cost, quality, and efficiency
• Lead and manage projects from start to finish, ensuring vendors and internal team members stay aligned to timelines, budgets, and quality standards, with clear and proactive communication throughout the process
• Support supplier sourcing and selection by evaluating vendors from a technical perspective and ensuring they can meet Caraway’s requirements
• Ensure compliance with relevant industry standards, regulations, and best practices in mechanical design and manufacturing

Knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Must be fluent in Chinese and English, with excellent written and spoken communication skills in both
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, mechanical design, manufacturing, or a related role.
• Experience in kitchen and home goods required; direct kitchen appliance experience also required
• Proficiency with CAD software (such as SolidWorks, AutoCAD, etc) and experience with mechanical design and analysis tools
• Hands-on experience and strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, such as machining, casting,  injection molding, sheet metal fabrication, coatings, and assembly
• Ability to create looks-like and works-like prototypes for evaluation using internal and external resources over the course of development to assess design and engineering feasibility
• Ability to create and interpret  technical drawings, specifications, and engineering documentation
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills; able to identify and resolve technical issues quickly and efficiently
• Comfortable working independently and making sound engineering decisions with limited oversight
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work well with different teams and external stakeholders
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to effectively prioritize tasks, manage deadlines, and adapt to changing project needs
• Must be able to travel 25-50% of the time to our manufacturing partner’s facilities, sometimes on short notice, for up to 2 weeks at a time
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field; advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred
• Familiarity with supplier management and sourcing practices preferred
• Knowledge of industry standards such as ISO 9001, ASME, and ASTM preferred

Please note that the duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the role. Additional tasks and responsibilities may be assigned as needed to meet business needs.

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Life at Caraway:

Team: You will be joining a passionate and collaborative fully-remote crew that prides itself on high-quality work, supporting one another, sharing our successes, and building a brand we truly love, together.

Culture: At Caraway, we value continuous learning and career growth. We strive to continually optimize our processes, ensuring that we’re thoughtful in everything we do, both internally and externally. We listen to our employees, celebrate our wins, and constantly look for ways to be better for our crew, and the world.

Workplace: Being a fully-remote company, we have no headquarters and are truly distributed across the US and internationally. Our leadership team sits in the US. We offer a monthly stipend towards co-working space should folks need to switch up their working environment every now and then.

Benefits: We value you and your family. With this in mind, full-time eligible employees are provided:

• A Setup that works for you: From MacBook to PC, we’ve got you covered. Let us know what you prefer and we’ll get your at-home set up stocked!
• Elevate your Workspace: Annual reimbursements for you to elevate your workspace, from standing desks to desktop succulents, you got it!
• Fully Remote: Need to pick up the kids? No problem. Have a doctor’s appointment? Enjoy! Flexibility when you need it most.
• Coworking Reimbursement: Need a break from the home setting? Monthly reimbursements for you to get out of the house and work from anywhere. From day passes, to monthly memberships, the world is your oyster, we mean office.
• Events + Swag: Connection is top of mind (Yes, even in our completely remote environment). We have monthly virtual events, company wide offsites, and many opportunities for new Caraway swag!
• Leveling Up with Caraway: In addition to exciting opportunities and exposure in your day-to-day work, we offer annual reimbursements to all full-time employees to support their professional development aspirations!
• #AwayFromCaraway: We believe healthy, happy humans do better work. We offer PTO in addition to annual holidays and quarterly wellness days.
• Wellness Reimbursement: Monthly reimbursements for you to stay well. From meal services to gym memberships to monthly massages, we want our team to have the flexibility to choose what wellness means for them.
• Employee Discount: We provide an employee discount on all Caraway Home products so you can continue to level up your kitchen and home life, too!
• Home Upgrade(s): Complimentary product as a new hire + continuous  to expand your Caraway Home collection.

Caraway is an Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any testing, or otherwise participating in this hiring process, please direct your inquiries to [email protected]. Only requests related to accommodations will be responded to.