Head of Hardware Production & Sourcing for Wearable Tech / Fashion
The Company: ALLY Entertainment is a Chicago-based firm launching a new brand venture focused on creative, premium lifestyle accessories. We have secured foundational, patent-pending utility for an innovative line of wearable accessories and are moving through the prototyping phase and approaching short-run production. We are gearing up for a substantial Kickstarter launch and preparing for other strategic funding sources, and we need a production leader to help us scale.
Your Role: We are looking for a unique talent: someone who speaks the rigorous language of global sourcing and manufacturing and has a deep appreciation for the arts and fashion. Your primary mission will be transitioning our products from prototype to mass production. An industrial design background is a major plus. You will work with our lead industrial designer to bring an additional perspective to the team and act as the ultimate bridge between our creative studio and the factory floor.
What You Will Do:
- Sourcing & Vendor Management: Identify, vet, and connect with manufacturing vendors (locally and overseas) specifically for hard goods, consumer electronics, and fashion hardware.
- Transition to Mass Production: Take our locked, multi-material prototypes and build the manufacturing roadmap to produce them at scale to meet ramping demand.
- Manage the BOM: Oversee a complex Bill of Materials, negotiating with suppliers to drive down unit costs without sacrificing premium aesthetic quality.
- Collaborate on Design: Work alongside our creative team, providing a fresh perspective on Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and material selection.
What You Bring:
- Proven experience managing production runs and sourcing for physical consumer products (wearable tech, electronics, or hard fashion goods).
- An understanding of assembling products that use multiple distinct materials and processes (CNC, 3D printing, precision metals, polymers, etc.).
- A background or strong experience in Industrial Design is highly desired.
- A deep passion for the arts, the maker community, and the fashion-forward market.
Compensation: Base Rate: $25/hour (Pre-Kickstarter / Bootstrapping rate).
- The Upside: This is an initial, pre-funding trial rate. Upon successful funding milestones and transition to mass production, this role is designed to scale into a senior salary structure.
- Additional Upside: Milestone Bonuses + Long-term Equity/Joint Venture potential for the right partner.