Industrial Design Contractor
About the job
- A Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree, or equivalent, in industrial design is required.
- Have 1–3 years of industrial design experience; co-op experience counts.
- Provide a portfolio demonstrating the design process, sketching, computer-aided design, and rendering work, with a link or PDF included in the application.
- Be familiar with color, material, and finish development and specification.
- Be proficient in 3D computer-aided design solid and surface modeling; SolidWorks is preferred.
- Be proficient with Adobe Creative Cloud applications, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Lightroom/Bridge.
- Be able to communicate concepts through hand and digital sketching, computer-aided design, renderings, mockups, and prototypes; KeyShot is preferred for rendering.
- Be familiar with human factors, ergonomics, and user-centered design methods.
- Have experience creating or contributing to prototypes and evaluating designs through hands-on testing.
- Be able to work collaboratively with engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and other cross-functional team members.
- Have strong attention to detail and be able to balance aesthetics, usability, manufacturability, cost, and technical requirements.
- Be able to manage multiple design tasks, incorporate feedback, and iterate quickly in a product-development environment.
- Generate and refine design concepts through hand and digital sketching, ideation, and design research.
- Develop 3D computer-aided design models, renderings, and color, material, and finish specifications to move concepts toward production.
- Build mockups and prototypes and evaluate designs through hands-on testing.
- Communicate and present designs to the team and clients through sketches, computer-aided design, renderings, mockups, and prototypes.
- Work closely with engineers, manufacturers, and suppliers to deliver high-quality, manufacturable designs.
- Support multiple concurrent projects involving other designers and engineers.
- Have a basic understanding of design for manufacturing and assembly, with familiarity in common manufacturing processes and materials such as injection molding, sheet metal fabrication, and computer numerical control machining.
- Have experience with web design and website development.
- Have experience using Figma and familiarity with general user experience and user interface design processes and workflows.
- Have experience managing projects, schedules, staffing plans, and budgets.
About the company
Acorn Product Development provides end-to-end product development services by combining mechanical engineering, industrial design, and program management to turn ideas into manufacturable products. They offer turnkey programs and subassemblies, including engineering analysis, materials and manufacturing cost analysis and reduction, UX/UI design, research strategy, and brand identity, with global design centers in Silicon Valley, Boston, Denver, and China. Their approach integrates design, engineering, and supply-chain planning to establish supply chains and plan for manufacturing and delivery, helping clients bring reliable, cost-effective products to market quickly. Their goal is to help clients bring reliable and cost-effective products to market rapidly while preserving profitability throughout the product life cycle.
Company Size
51-200
Company Stage
N/A
Total Funding
N/A
Headquarters
Newark, New Jersey
Founded
1993
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Acorn posted fresh 2026 hiring for mechanical engineers in Waltham, signaling active demand.
- Its 2026 work page highlights robotics, data centers, and life sciences, all active markets.
- Acorn’s medical-device and manufacturing expertise matches clients facing tougher validation and regulatory burdens.
What critics are saying
- The company’s website shows hiring, but no disclosed funding, limiting expansion visibility.
- Consulting revenue depends on winning projects; one stalled client program can quickly crush utilization.
- Specialization in hardware development faces substitution risk from in-house engineering teams and cheaper offshore firms.
What makes Acorn Product Development unique
- Since 1993, Acorn has shipped concept-to-production engineering across robotics, medical, and industrial hardware.
- Its Boston, Silicon Valley, Atlanta, and China design centers support around-the-clock client execution.
- Acorn’s portfolio includes Ghost Robotics, Teradyne, Intuitive Surgical, and Cisco.
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Benefits
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
- Remote Work Options
- Paid Vacation
- Paid Holidays
- 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Company Social Events