Who We Are:
UPC has been designing and manufacturing retail store fixtures and point-of-purchase displays in Madison, Wisconsin since 1978. We operate out of a 120,000 sq ft facility, and we're family-owned, growing, and hands-on at every level. If you've ever walked into a store and noticed how a product was presented - the fixture that held it, the display that drew your eye - there's a good chance someone like you built it.
We work with real customers on real problems, and our design and engineering team is central to that. We're not a big anonymous corporation. Your ideas will be seen, your work will be built, and your fingerprints will be on the final product.
The Role:
We're looking for a practical, creative designer who can take a concept from idea to production-ready - independently, and without a lot of hand-holding. This isn't a role for someone who only sketches and hands off to someone else. You'll own the full arc: conceive it, model it, document it, and hand it to the shop floor ready to build.
The right person thinks visually, works methodically, communicates clearly, and finds genuine satisfaction in seeing their design become a physical thing. Some background in manufacturing or fabrication - even as a hobbyist - is a real advantage here.
What You'll Do:
Take customer needs and translate them into original design concepts - from rough sketches to refined models.
Build 3D models and produce complete, accurate drawings and BOMs ready for shop floor production.
Manage your own projects: file organization, version control, drawing updates, and design documentation.
Work directly with production teams to make sure what you designed can actually be built as intended.
Support the adoption of new tools and processes that make the team faster and more consistent.
Contribute to continuous improvement - when you see a better way to do something, you say so.
What You Bring We're more interested in what you can do than what your resume says. That said, here's what tends to predict success in this role:
Solid working knowledge of AutoCAD. Blender or other 3D modeling experience is a strong plus.
Ability to produce clear, complete technical drawings and BOMs - not just pretty renders.
Comfortable managing your own work: you don't need someone checking in on you every day.
Enough IT fluency to manage files, formats, cloud storage, and design tool integrations without getting stuck.
Good communicator - you can explain your design decisions to people who aren't engineers.
Experience with or exposure to an ERP system (we use Odoo) is helpful, not required.
2+ years in a manufacturing, design, or fabrication environment is preferred - but show us your portfolio and let's talk.
Recent technical college grads with strong portfolios are encouraged to apply. So are career changers who've spent time in a shop or fabrication environment and taught themselves CAD. We care about capability and drive, not just credentials.
Tools You'll Use AutoCAD (primary CAD platform)
Blender (3D modeling)
Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator - as needed)
Odoo ERP (for project and BOM management)
Google Drive / file sharing and cloud collaboration tools
Benefits 401(k)
Paid holidays
Health insurance
Stable, family-owned workplace
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Your work gets built - guaranteed
UPC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.
