About Desert Steel
Desert Steel is a Wichita-based, independently owned company that designs and fabricates unique steel landscape sculptures for residential and commercial spaces around the world. Our work blends nature, art, and metal to create pieces that are as durable as they are beautiful.
Job Summary
We’re looking for a creative and innovative Industrial Designer/CAD Designer to lead the conceptualization and development of unique steel products, from initial sketches to final prototypes. This role combines artistic vision, technical expertise, and a deep understanding of manufacturing processes to create functional, aesthetically compelling designs. This person would be heavily involved with creating new products, refining existing designs, and ensuring manufacturability. This role would also be involved in refining the manufacturing process of products though design, finding ways to produce them faster and with more efficiency. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives on variety, creativity, and growth.
Responsibilities
- Conceptualize and design innovative steel products, including plant sculptures, planters, and other landscape features, balancing aesthetics and functionality.
- Create sketches, renderings, and 3D models to communicate design concepts.
- Develop detailed 2D and 3D CAD drawings for fabrication, ensuring designs are manufacturable.
- Transform conceptual designs into practical, production-ready solutions, considering material properties and fabrication techniques.
- Collaborate with artists, production, shipping, marketing, and landscape designers to align designs with brand vision and client needs.
- Participate in prototyping and testing to validate design performance and durability.
- Refine existing products for improved aesthetics, functionality, or manufacturing efficiency.
- Program parts for cutting on Amada Fiber lasers using Amada software (job training provided).
- Maintain organized digital design files and contribute to systematic file management.
- Also would get involved in our quickly expanding landscape design service creating 3D models of landscapes for commercial and residential spaces using a CAD plug in called LandFX and/or Sketchup.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- Demonstrated proficiency in Rhino 3D (version 7 or higher) or similar CAD software.
- 2+ years of experience in industrial design or product design (or equivalent training).
- Strong portfolio showcasing creative design solutions and technical proficiency.
- Basic understanding of sheet metal fabrication, welding, or other metalworking processes.
- Exceptional creativity with a keen eye for aesthetics and detail.
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
- Eagerness to learn and apply new skills in a dynamic environment.
Preferred (not required):
- Familiarity with Grasshopper plug-in for Rhino or other parametric design tools.
- Experience with AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or Fusion 360.
- Proficiency in rendering or visualization software (e.g., KeyShot, Blender).
- Experience with 3D modeling software like SketchUp.
- Background in sculpture, architecture, or landscape design.
- Hands-on experience in a fabrication or shop environment.
Work Location
1101 E. Central Ave, Wichita, KS 67214