Product Developer
Location: Hybrid, Los Angeles, CA
Reports to: Chief Merchandising Officer
Type: Full-Time, Salary (Exempt)
About Us
Olive Ateliers is a fast-growing, founder-led lifestyle brand entering a pivotal next chapter. What began as a business rooted in sourcing and retailing vintage objects from around the world is now evolving into a design-led home furnishings company, with rapidly expanding proprietary collections produced through a trusted network of global partners. As we grow from a cult-favorite retail concept into a nationally recognized luxury consumer brand, we’re building a design team that fuses creative ingenuity with technical expertise to bring soulful, meaningful products to life.
The Role
We are looking for a details-obsessed, design-driven Product Developer to help lead our product development department. This is a unique opportunity to grow alongside a brand that blends heritage and innovation. If you love the idea of working with a team that believes in design with feeling, storytelling through visuals, and aesthetics that are both soulful and strategic - this opportunity is for you.
Projects will include leading the development of future collections from initial object ideation through production: creating technical drawings and CAD packages for factories, collaborating with founders on design direction, overseeing samples, running production meetings to ensure timelines are kept and traveling to manufacturing partners to oversee production and uphold Olive Ateliers’ quality standards. You’ll report to the Chief Merchandising Officer (CMO) and work closely with brand marketing and operations. This is a full-time, salary (exempt) role with significant potential for growth within the company. The position requires frequent international travel, averaging 3 or more months per year, to work directly with our manufacturing partners to develop products and ensure standards are achieved.
Responsibilities
Product Design & Development
- Partner with the CMO, Senior Product Developer, founders on product ideation, sketching, and early-stage concept development.
- Execute development across multiple product categories, including but not limited to pottery, ceramics, and stone.
- Translate design concepts into CAD drawings, renderings, and spec packages for manufacturers.
- Ensure designs maintain the integrity and timelessness of Olive Ateliers’ aesthetic and values.
- Drive timely execution at every development stage, delivering high-quality outcomes on or ahead of schedule.
Sampling & Prototyping
- Review prototypes and samples to assess dimensions, proportions, materials, finishes, structural integrity, and overall fidelity to the original design intent.
- Lead product walkthroughs and feedback loops with internal stakeholders.
- Provide actionable feedback to vendors to refine samples and prepare for production.
Production Oversight
- Vet new production partners to ensure capability, reliability, and aesthetic fit.
- Lead weekly cross-functional production meetings to track timelines, resolve issues, and communicate status.
- Travel and work directly with overseas vendors and partners to guide development and ensure quality, accuracy, and fidelity to design intent.
- Maintain and update development calendars, sample trackers, and documentation across all product lines.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with merchandising and operations teams to ensure alignment with assortment strategy, inventory planning, and launch cadence.
- Communicate effectively across departments to support on-time delivery and launch readiness
Requirements
- 5+ years of product development experience in furniture, home furnishings, or related categories.
- Strong design sensibility with the ability to translate creative concepts into manufacturable products.
- Must be willing and able to travel extensively (3+ months per year, primarily internationally).
- Proficiency in CAD and technical drawing programs (SketchUp, AutoCAD, Rhino, or similar).
- Highly organized with excellent project management skills and attention to detail.
- Proven ability to manage multiple fast-moving timelines without sacrificing attention to detail or product integrity.
- Experience working directly with factories, artisans, and production teams.
- Ability to problem-solve, manage multiple timelines, and maintain quality under pressure.
- Strong communication skills, both visual and verbal.
- Collaborative mindset with leadership ability to mentor and guide junior team members.
Compensation
- Competitive base salary dependent on experience
- Long-term incentive program aligned with company growth
Benefits
- Subsidized company health benefits.
- Accrued PTO Vacation and Sick Days
- 401k: Generous employer match; Eligibility requirements and vesting applies.
- $500 quarterly shopping credit to Olive Ateliers.
- 40% off retail merchandise.
- Career-defining opportunity for individuals who thrive in high-growth environments
Why Olive?
We’re not just selling furniture. We’re building a brand that shifts how people experience home—through soul, story, and timeless design. As part of our design team, you’ll help shape the visual voice of an iconic brand redefining home furnishings. You’ll work closely with a small team of aesthetes and strategists, and contribute to a creative culture that values beauty, instinct, and meaning.