Furniture Product Development Lead — Upholstered, Smart & Mechanized Furniture
DanKen Industries is seeking an experienced Furniture Product Development Lead to help develop high-end upholstered, smart, and mechanized furniture from concept through sample production and production-readiness.
We are an early-stage furniture startup focused on luxury furniture, smart furniture, mechanized furniture, sofas, sectionals, upholstered beds, mattresses, bedroom furniture, recliners, and related products. Our products may include electric recline systems, motors, actuators, LED lighting, Bluetooth/audio, USB/Type-C charging, wireless charging, TV lifts, fireplace inserts, smart controls, service-access panels, and other integrated technology features.
We are preferably looking for someone with strong, verifiable experience in high-end furniture development, especially mechanized furniture involving electric recliner mechanisms, actuator systems, motion components, smart modules, and integrated technology.
This is not just a visual design role. We already have designers and engineering support in place. We need someone who understands how furniture is actually built internally and can guide the full development process, including frames, upholstery, foam, cushioning, springs, support systems, mechanisms, hardware, smart component placement, wiring layout, comfort, durability, safety, manufacturability, and sample-to-production execution.
The candidate must also help ensure each design meets or exceeds applicable U.S. requirements, safety expectations, quality standards, and regulatory considerations for furniture, upholstered products, electrical/smart components, and consumer use.
Responsibilities
- Review product ideas, sketches, images, videos, and reference furniture
- Advise on feasibility, construction methods, materials, comfort, durability, safety, and production direction
- Help determine internal structure, including frames, support systems, foam, cushioning, springs, upholstery layers, hardware, and mechanisms
- Guide development of sofas, sectionals, beds, recliners, mattresses, bedroom furniture, and smart/mechanized products
- Advise on integration of actuators, motors, recliner mechanisms, TV lifts, LED lighting, charging modules, Bluetooth/audio, controls, wiring, and service-access areas
- Coordinate with CAD designers, mechanical engineers, electrical specialists, renderers, suppliers, and manufacturing partners
- Help create or review CAD, 2D drawings, exploded views, BOMs, cut lists, material specs, assembly notes, DFM notes, QC notes, and production-readiness documents
- Support prototype/sample planning, sample review, revisions, supplier/component evaluation, and manufacturing-readiness
Desired Experience
We are looking for verifiable experience in:
- High-end upholstered furniture product development
- Sofas, sectionals, beds, recliners, mattresses, or bedroom furniture
- Smart/mechanized furniture, electric recliners, actuators, motors, and motion systems
- Frame construction using plywood, MDF, hardwood, metal, or mixed materials
- Foam density, cushion sizing, springs, comfort layers, support systems, upholstery methods, ergonomics, durability, and material quality
- Furniture manufacturing, factory production, sample development, BOMs, supplier coordination, and production documentation
- U.S. furniture requirements, safety expectations, and quality standards
Engagement Structure
DanKen is an early-stage startup, so we prefer a practical, flexible, phased structure, starting with one product or product set to evaluate fit, communication, technical ability, and deliverable quality. If successful, this can become an ongoing long-term role across multiple furniture products and product lines.
Please Include
1. Your experience with high-end, upholstered, smart, mechanized, or electric recliner furniture
2. Examples of products you helped develop from concept to sample or production
3. Your experience with internal construction, foam, cushioning, springs, upholstery, mechanisms, actuators, motors, smart components, and manufacturing
4. Whether you create CAD/technical drawings or mainly guide/review development
5. Verifiable portfolio examples, project examples, photos, drawings, BOMs, sample-development notes, or references
We are looking for someone who thinks like a true furniture product developer — someone who understands design, construction, engineering, comfort, materials, safety, manufacturing, and production-readiness.
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