Upholstery Design Engineer

About the role

Koala is seeking an Upholstery Design Engineer to lead technical development of its upholstery product line. The role will work closely with designers, product managers, quality teams and external suppliers to create efficient, cost‑effective, and compliant upholstery solutions that enhance the customer experience.

Key responsibilities

• Take technical ownership of assigned projects, including material selection, specification, construction design and validation with production‑friendliness in mind.
• Develop packaging solutions for upholstery products.
• Create detailed product documentation and specifications for frames and covers to guide supplier manufacturing.
• Produce clear assembly instructions for the upholstery category.
• Collaborate with designers to optimise part design, minimise complexity and control cost.
• Identify and implement engineering improvement opportunities across the upholstery range.
• Ensure compliance with legal requirements and relevant standards.
• Work with quality teams to develop in‑house testing capabilities, including lifecycle and performance testing.
• Communicate technical agendas with suppliers and development partners, and support the Furniture Engineer Leader in problem solving and stakeholder communication.

Required profile

• 3–5 years of experience in design engineering or a similar role, preferably in high‑volume manufacturing.
• Proven ability to work cross‑functionally with design, product, quality and supplier teams.
• Strong understanding of material properties, packaging, and product compliance.

Required skills

• Advanced proficiency with CAD software, specifically SolidWorks.
• Solid knowledge of CAD principles and techniques.