Product Design and Development Specialist (NOT A UX Designer Position - Real world products you'd take on a picnic!)

Job Title: Product Design and Development Specialist

Company: Picnic Time, Inc. DBA Picnic Time Family of Brands

Picnic Time is a successful & sunny SoCal-based wholesale supplier of premium outdoor leisure, gift, and promotional products established in a garage in 1982. (Don't worry, we have a real office now.) We know picnic, we love picnic, and we live picnic – it's literally in our name.

Who we are: The Picnic Time Family is all about the people. We're a diverse team of hard-working yet easy-going people that care about what we're doing. If it weren't for the amazing group of people at Picnic Time, we wouldn't be where we are today.

What we do: We create quality products that are thoughtful, sustainable, and fun.

When we do it: We've been innovating since 1982 and we don't have any intention of slowing down. The hope is that we'll be here creating great stuff for your kids' kids' kids!

Where the magic happens: We were born in a small garage in West Hills, CA and moved to a bigger (ware)house in a small town, Moorpark, CA, in 1990. We've been rockin' the suburbs ever since!

Why we do what we do (this is the big one): Our purpose for existing is to bring family and friends together so that they can make lasting memories...because that's what happiness is all about. Each and every decision we make is ultimately geared toward that goal.

How we do it: We're constantly driving towards our purpose via our 8 core values of Fun, Growth, Integrity, Collaboration, Innovation, Service, Productivity, and Passion.

Mission Statement: To create products that inspire friends and family to come together and make lasting memories – and have a great time doing it.

Job Description: The Product Design and Development Specialist is responsible for implementing assigned product development initiatives for the Picnic Time family of brands. This is a fun and rewarding position for someone who enjoys using their creativity in a collaborative team environment with a focus on completing complex projects on deadline and on budget. It is an entry-level position with growth potential for someone looking to start a career in product design and development.

Responsibilities include:

• Based on designs produced by a Product Designer, develop new products

• Track product development using timelines from concept to approval of top-of-production samples

• Coordinate the production of prototype samples with suppliers for product development

• Prepare and participate in product development meetings and presentations

• Assist in the creation and updates of Style Guides for each PTFOB brand and for design standards

• Perform research and create proposals for potential product slots and rationale that fit within the budget and the company brand strategy

• Conduct trend research and initiate competitive analysis on selected design concepts.

• Create and initiate surveys and research sessions to gather feedback and empathize with brand demographics

• Create tech packs to illustrate sewing and/or connection details, hardware, measurements, functions, label placement, and Bill of Materials for new items and custom entertainment items

• Create redlines (design revisions) for design modifications and update drawings as needed

• Work with Quality Assurance Coordinator to ensure products meet required testing standards

• Other work as assigned

Specific Skills Required:

• Creativity
• Project Management
• Communication Proficiency
• Collaboration Skills
• Problem Solving/Analysis
• Strategic Thinking
• Positive energy
• Focused and goal-driven
• Minimum of 2 years of product design/development experience in consumer products preferred
• Proficient with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Google Suite
• Intermediate level Excel/Google Sheets

Reports to: Product Design and Development Manager

Location: Moorpark, CA 93021
Hours: 7:30 AM – 4 PM Monday-Friday
Salary: $25.00 per hour
Employee Type: Full Time, Non-Exempt
Benefits: Picnic Time offers company-subsidized health plans through ADP (Aetna, Kaiser, etc.), a 401 (k) plan, paid holidays, and vacation time, subject to eligibility requirements. Group dental, vision, life and disability plans are also available.
Perks: We pride ourselves on always being appropriately perky and rarely overdoing it. Perks for you include actually fun employee events, the product lending program, growth library, employee discounts, a tuition reimbursement program, and some pretty cool co-workers.