Industrial Designer, Entry Level

About the Role

Junior Industrial Designer at Taphandles in Austin, Texas. This is an on-site, full-time, early-career role focused on designing custom tap handles, dispense towers, and branded point-of-sale for breweries and beverage brands. You will learn from experienced designers, take ideas from sketch to manufactured product, and see your work installed in bars and restaurants.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate customer briefs into original, thoughtful product concepts.
• Generate hand sketches and rapid ideation drawings.
• Explore multiple design directions before refining toward strong solutions.
• Create presentation-ready renderings and visual storytelling assets.
• Build and refine 3D models with training and mentorship from senior designers.
• Apply design-for-manufacturing principles from early concept stages.
• Prepare production-ready artwork in Adobe Illustrator for factory and global production partners.
• Ask smart questions to close gaps in a brief.
• Support prototyping, sampling, and production documentation.
• Own smaller projects end to end as skills grow.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Portfolio showing strong sketching ability and visual thinking.
• Strong conceptual skills; ability to generate and carry ideas through.
• Comfortable working through ambiguity to find a path forward.
• Fluent in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
• Foundational 3D modeling (Rhino preferred) and rendering (KeyShot) experience.
• Deep interest in physical products and how things are made.
• Open to feedback and able to iterate quickly.
• Clear communicator with strong critical thinking skills.
• Permanent U.S. work authorization.

Qualifications

• 0–2 years of professional experience; recent and upcoming graduates welcome, and internships count.
• Strong sketching ability and visual thinking.
• Strong conceptual skills.
• Comfortable working through ambiguity.
• Fluent in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
• Foundational 3D modeling (Rhino preferred) and rendering (KeyShot) experience.
• Deep interest in physical products and how things are made.
• Open to feedback and able to iterate quickly.
• Clear communicator with strong critical thinking skills.
• Permanent U.S. work authorization.

Bonus Experience

• ZBrush or digital sculpting tools.
• Exposure to branding, packaging, or beverage-related products.