Junior Product Development

fullTime

Full-time
,

submitted by
Zachary Bitner

posted on
03.03.2026

contact
[email protected]
Junior Product Development

Junior Product Development (Training Provided)

Zachary A. Design - Chicago, IL (On-site)
Full-time | Ideal for early-career / recent grad | 3-month paid training + long-term mentorship

The Opportunity

We’re hiring someone to grow into our Product Development lead role. This is a rare chance to learn a specialized craft in-house: 3 months of direct training with an experienced team, plus ongoing mentorship from the owner. You won’t be expected to know everything on day one. This role is built for someone who learns fast, works carefully, and wants to master hands-on fabrication over time.

About Us

Zachary A. Design is a high-end outdoor furniture and sculptural design studio known for lightweight fiberglass pieces with the texture and presence of stone. We produce made-to-order work for residential, hospitality, and commercial clients.

What You’ll Learn and Grow Into

You’ll start by assisting and learning our process, then gradually take ownership in these areas:

Prototyping & master building: sculpting and building full-scale masters using foam, plaster, wood, clay, resin, and other materials.
Tooling & mold-making: building production molds (fiberglass, silicone/latex, wood), improving durability and reducing seam work.
Casting systems: resin + filler blends, pigmenting, stone aggregate mixes, gel/cure timing, and repeatable batch methods.
Troubleshooting: solving issues like bubbles, cracking, warping, delamination, cure inhibition, contamination, and uneven pigmentation.
Finish development: scaling sample finishes to production with recipes, variation ranges, and repair methods.
Production coordination: working with the production team to hit lead times and maintain quality; helping with materials planning and inventory.
Client-facing support (as you’re ready): understanding finishes, care, and custom capabilities; helping with drawings/samples as needed.

We’re looking for an observant, hands-on builder. Mindset is more important than experience.

You might be a fit if you have:
A degree or training in industrial design, sculpture, fabrication, furniture design, engineering, architecture, or similar (or equivalent hands-on experience).
Comfort working with your hands and learning physical processes.
Strong attention to detail and patience for repeatability and quality.
Curiosity about materials and how things are made.
Reliability, humility, and the ability to take feedback and improve quickly.
Nice to have (not required): shop experience, mold-making, composites/resin familiarity, finishing/painting, CAD exposure, or production internships.

Work Environment

On-site in Chicago in an active production facility.
This role is hands-on and collaborative. Expect to be in the shop learning by doing.

How to Apply

Send:
1. A resume (or work history)
2. A short note describing your most relevant experience (mold-making, composites/casting, finishing, production leadership)
3. A portfolio or photos/video of past work (highly encouraged, even informal documentation is great).

Contact Info:
Zachary Bitner
[email protected]

Job Type: Permanent

Compensation: $20-$25/hr to start.

Location: Humboldt Park Chicago