About Tin Can

Tin Can is building a safer, simpler way for kids to connect — without smartphones. We’re creating screen-free, delightful devices and services that let families call the people who matter most, free from the noise of today’s digital world.

We’re building a bold, authentic, nostalgic, and kinda quirky brand that resonates with folks who want something simpler & better for their kids than the tech-infused lives we’re currently living (and who have a sense of humor about it). As we gear up to scale to thousands of families, we’re ready to bring on a designer to help make it happen.

The Role

We’re looking for an Industrial Designer to help shape the physical form and execution of Tin Can’s hardware products. This is a hands-on role focused on bringing ideas to life—from early concepts through production—while working within real-world constraints like cost, durability, and manufacturability.

You’ll work closely with the founding team, Head of Industrial Design, product, engineering, and manufacturing partners to evolve our existing product, support development of future iterations, and explore new ideas. You’ll contribute to translating insights from customer research, real-world use, and factory feedback into thoughtful, buildable designs.

This role is ideal for a designer who enjoys both concept development and the realities of production—someone who can take direction, push ideas forward, and execute with care and attention to detail. You should be comfortable working through ambiguity, making informed tradeoffs, and contributing to a growing design system over time.

We believe industrial design can help change the role technology plays in childhood by creating physical products that are simple, durable, and meaningful enough to stand apart from the attention-driven devices that dominate today.

What You’ll Do

• Contribute to the design and development of Tin Can’s physical products across concept, refinement, and production

• Translate user needs, requirements, and technical constraints into clear design solutions

• Create sketches, CAD models, prototypes, and presentation assets to communicate ideas effectively

• Prototype and test iteratively to validate design decisions

• Collaborate with engineering and manufacturing partners to ready designs for production

• Help build and maintain a cohesive design language across products and touchpoints

• Contribute to packaging and hardware-software interactions that shape the experience

• Lead CMF (color, material, finish) exploration to inform and refine product aesthetics

• Occasional late-night supplier calls and annual China travel possible

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor's in Industrial Design (or equivalent) with 7+ years designing and shipping consumer hardware

• Strong aesthetic judgment and creative problem-solving

• Solid mechanical design fundamentals and real-world usability sensibility

• Strong sketching and visualization skills, proficient in 3D CAD (SolidWorks/Rhino) and rendering (KeyShot)

• Hands-on experience in 3D printing, iterative prototyping, and manufacturing processes

• Experience in CMF exploration and execution

• Experience working with engineering teams and global manufacturing partners

• Experience integrating generative AI into design workflows

• Self-directed and adaptable in a small, fast-moving team

Portfolio Requirement Candidates must submit a portfolio showcasing their design skills in PDF or website format (preferred)

Why Join Tin Can

• We’re building tech that protects childhood: We’re on a quest to give kids a more analog childhood—one with real conversations, real connection, and way less screen time. No doomscrolling, data mining, or dopamine traps—just a simpler, better way for kids to stay in touch. At Tin Can, security isn’t a checkbox — it’s how we earn and keep the trust of every family we serve. This is a rare opportunity to build something that truly matters: technology that protects what’s most precious.

• You'll have real ownership, not just responsibility: This is the dream role for a designer who wants to fully own the physical form of a product—from early concept through production—with the full backing of the founding team. You'll have both the autonomy and the responsibility to shape Tin Can's design vision as we scale.

• Small, high trust team: Every company says “team,” but at Tin Can it means something different. We’re a small, mission-driven group that genuinely has each other’s backs — professionally and personally. You’ll be joining a tight-knit crew where your ideas and instincts matter from day one.

• Room to explore, not just execute: You'll have the space to explore new ideas, challenge assumptions, and build products that reflect our values of trust, simplicity, and care.

If you're excited about designing thoughtful, well-made hardware that helps families connect in a simpler way, we'd love to hear from you.

Compensation Range: $120K - $140K