Director, Soft Goods Product Development

Director, Soft Goods Product Development

Frida · Miami, United States (Hybrid) · — · Posted 2026-11-05

Workplace: hybrid

Department: Project Management

Description

Who We Are

Parenting isn’t picture-perfect. It’s messy, hilarious, exhausting, and life-changing — sometimes all before noon. That’s where we come in.

Founded in 2014 by our CEO Chelsea Hirschhorn, Frida was built to make the raw reality of parenting a little easier to navigate (and a lot less overwhelming). It all started with one legendary snot-sucker — the NoseFrida — and has grown into a 200+ product lineup that supports families through every stage: from fertility and postpartum recovery to baby care and beyond.

We don’t shy away from the stuff no one else wants to talk about — nipple pain, diaper blowouts, or the emotional rollercoaster that comes with keeping a tiny human alive. We call it like it is, solve the problems that actually matter, and build products that help parents feel seen, supported, and totally capable.

You can now find Frida products in 50+ countries and thousands of stores across the U.S., from the biggest national retailers to your neighborhood grocery aisle.

Under Hirschhorn’s leadership, Frida has become a category leader by challenging taboos, championing honesty, and supporting families at every stage of parenthood and beyond, earning acclaim on TIME's 100 Most Influential Companies, TIME Best Inventions, Fast Company Most Innovative Companies and Fast Company Brands That Matter. But the real win? Knowing we’re helping parents everywhere feel a little more human and a little less alone.

How You Will Make an Impact

Frida is seeking a Director, Soft Goods Product Development to join our Product Development team based in Miami, FL. Reporting to the SVP, RD&E, this leader will own technical product development from concept through commercialization, build scalable Soft Goods capabilities and processes, and strengthen business continuity across the portfolio. The ideal candidate combines deep cut-and-sew and soft goods engineering expertise with strategic leadership, hands-on execution, and cross-functional collaboration, thriving in a dynamic, fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

Responsibilities to include:

• Own technical development and execution of Soft Goods products from concept through commercialization and manufacturing launch.
• Translate Industrial Design intent into manufacturable products, balancing consumer experience, performance, quality, regulatory compliance, and cost.
• Partner with internal and external Industrial Design, prototyping partners, Sourcing, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and Project Management to deliver launches on time and within financial targets.
• Lead technical decisions on materials, supplier selection, design for manufacturability (DFM), validation, manufacturing readiness, and production start.
• Collaborate with Brand and Industrial Design to evaluate concepts and category expansion opportunities against consumer needs and supplier capabilities.
• Define and scale the operating model, technical capabilities, and development processes for Soft Goods across apparel, utilitarian products, and knits.
• Identify capability gaps and partner with senior leadership on organizational structure, hiring plans, technical competencies, and external partnerships.
• Develop supplier capabilities and engagement practices in partnership with cross-functional teams.
• Standardize engineering tools, technical documentation, design reviews, Tech Packs, manufacturing readiness, and commercialization practices.
• Improve development efficiency, cycle time, product quality, and manufacturability through scalable processes.
• Lead supplier transitions, second-source qualifications, and product sustainment initiatives to improve supply chain resilience.
• Assess alternate suppliers and drive design or material changes required to support alternate manufacturing sources.
• Drive cost savings, international expansion support, and supply risk reduction while maintaining product quality and consumer experience.
• Support additional projects and responsibilities as business needs and priorities evolve.

What You Will Need

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Mechanical Engineering; specialized education in soft goods manufacturing, construction, or a related field preferred.
• 8–10+ years of product engineering leadership and global product development experience across multiple categories, including at least 5 years in cut-and-sew or soft goods (e.g., apparel, consumables/nonwovens, utilitarian products, or medical devices).
• Experience with companies recognized for innovative design and product development, including building engineering capabilities, teams, processes, and operating models.
• Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and drive alignment without direct authority.
• CAD proficiency; CLO 3D or SolidWorks preferred.
• Soft Goods Tech Pack experience; Illustrator or a similar tool preferred.
• Experience developing Class I and Class II medical devices.
• Strong negotiation skills and ability to deliver premium quality within gross margin parameters.
• Ability to identify and apply emerging trends and technologies to improve existing products and inspire new ones.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with changing requirements and priorities, balancing speed to market, cost, quality, and consumer experience.
• Consumer-obsessed mindset with strong understanding of consumer needs.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
• Excellent project management, organization, and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proactive, action-oriented approach with the ability to operate autonomously and collaboratively as part of a team.

Who You Will Work With

Frida is an organization that values collaboration and community. As the Director, Soft Goods Product Development, you will work closely with Industrial Design, Brand, Sourcing, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, Project Management, external design and prototyping partners, and senior RD&E leadership.

Our Ways of Working

Frida HQ is located in Miami, Florida and approved roles have the flexible option to work remotely both Mondays and Fridays with the benefit of connecting in person Tuesdays - Thursdays.

Why You Will Love Working at Frida

• We offer a comprehensive and thoughtfully designed benefits package to support our employees:
• Robust health benefits including:
• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental plan options
• Employer paid life insurance
• Supplemental insurance options including Accident Insurance, Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability, Cancer Coverage, and more
• FSA & HSA
• 401k matching up to 4% with immediate vesting
• Generous paid time off program including elective PTO days, federal holidays, sick/wellness days, floating holidays, and a birthday day off!
• Pregnancy and parental leave
• Weekly wellness programming in-office
• Dog friendly office - feel free to bring your best buddy with you to work!
• Learning & development opportunities for professional and personal growth
• Company-wide events & outings. Team engagement is at the center of our culture. This ranges from small department-specific teambuilding or informal outings to our annual Fam Jam family carnival that celebrates the people in your life who support you in bringing your best self to work each day. We also host an annual Day of Service to support our local Miami community, and provide a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the year that support our mission to serve parents and children.
• Exclusive employee product discounts

EEO

Frida provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected Veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Privacy Policy

By applying for this position, you acknowledge and understand that your information will be used as described in Frida's Job Applicant Privacy Policy: https://frida.com/pages/fridababy-job-applicant-privacy-policy

Agency and Third-Party Submissions

Please note this is a direct search led by Frida. Applications from agencies and other third parties will not be accepted, nor will fees be paid for unsolicited resumes.

Fraud Disclaimer

Fridababy LLC will never request personal information (i.e. Social Security number, bank account, or payment of any kind) during the application or recruitment process. Fridababy LLC will only contact you through verified methods, not unofficial platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, or personal email accounts. All legitimate communication will come from an official @frida.com or @fridababy.com email address or through our verified recruiting partners.

If you receive any suspicious outreach claiming to represent Fridababy LLC, please report it to [email protected] or [email protected]. Your safety and privacy is our priority.

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