Industrial Designer - Entry Level

Industrial Designer – Entry Level

Beer & Beverage Industry | Austin, TX

Location: Austin, Texas (On-Site, Full-Time)

Taphandles is an award-winning design and manufacturing company specializing in custom product solutions for the beverage industry. From tap handles and dispense towers to branded point-of-sale materials and experiential marketing elements, we help breweries and beverage brands stand out where it matters most — at the bar.

We’re expanding our Austin headquarters and hiring an early-career Industrial Designer with exceptional foundational skills — especially in sketching, ideation, and critical thinking. While this is entry level in terms of experience, the creative bar is high.

This is a hands-on, in-office role for someone who wants to turn bold ideas into real, manufactured products — and see them installed in bars and restaurants within months, not years.

You’ll work alongside experienced designers and collaborate cross-functionally with account managers, engineers, and global production partners. We move quickly. We value originality. And we design products that must actually get made.

What You’ll Do

• Translate creative briefs into original, thoughtful product concepts
• Generate high-level hand sketches and rapid ideation drawings
• Explore multiple directions before refining toward strong solutions
• Create presentation-ready renderings and visual storytelling assets
• Build and refine 3D models (training provided where needed)
• Apply design-for-manufacturing principles from early concept stages
• Identify missing information and proactively seek clarity
• Balance whimsical creativity with practical manufacturability
• Support prototyping, sampling, and production documentation
• Manage smaller projects independently while contributing to larger initiatives

Who You Are

• 0–2 years of professional experience (internships count)
• Portfolio demonstrating exceptional sketching ability and visual thinking
• Strong conceptual skills — you generate ideas, not just execute them
• Natural problem-solver who asks smart questions when information is incomplete
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and finding pathways forward
• Fluent in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• Foundational 3D modeling experience (Rhino or similar preferred)
• 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

We care far more about raw ability, design taste, and problem-solving instincts than years on a résumé. If you can sketch beautifully, think dimensionally, and navigate uncertainty with logic and creativity, we can teach you the rest.

Extra Experience (Not Required)

• KeyShot or other rendering software
• ZBrush or digital sculpting tools
• SolidWorks or other parametric modeling platforms
• Exposure to branding, packaging, or beverage-related products

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: $55,000 – $65,000 annually (dependent on experience and portfolio strength)
• Comprehensive benefits package
• Paid time off
• 401(k) with 4% company match

Equal Opportunity

Taphandles is an equal opportunity employer.

To Apply

For best consideration, email your resume and portfolio (PDF under 10MB) along with a brief introduction to recruit@taphandles.com.