Manager, Industrial Design

About Us 

SharkNinja is a global product design and technology company, with a diversified portfolio of 5-star rated lifestyle solutions that positively impact people’s lives in homes around the world. Powered by two trusted, global brands, Shark and Ninja, the company has a proven track record of bringing disruptive innovation to market, and developing one consumer product after another has allowed SharkNinja to enter multiple product categories, driving significant growth and market share gains. Headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts with more than 3,600+ associates, the company’s products are sold at key retailers, online and offline, and through distributors around the world.  

 

As the Manager of Industrial Design at SharkNinja, you will play a pivotal role in leading and overseeing the industrial design process from concept to mass production. You will be responsible for managing and mentoring a team of industrial designers, creating breakthrough design solutions, ensuring the successful execution of design projects, while adhering to aggressive timelines and cost targets. This role will work collaboratively with senior leaders of Industrial Design department, and cross-functional teams on design requirements, manufacturing feasibility, and market-driven design strategies, you will translate design briefs into innovative product solutions that meet both market demands and SharkNinja's brand vision. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Design Leadership and Mastery: 

• Lead and mentor industrial designers, fostering collaboration and professional development while maintaining a 50/50 approach to hands-on design and design management. 

• Practice user-centered design, translating consumer insights into innovative product solutions. 

• Articulate design intent for manufacturing execution, leveraging proven experience in concept-to-production mastery and manufacturing knowledge and providing team leadership. 

• Provide guidance and support, ensuring team members' growth and success within the organization. 

Cross-functional Collaboration: 

• Work closely with global cross-functional teams, including engineering, marketing, and product development, to ensure seamless integration of design concepts into the product development process and uphold design integrity throughout the cycle. 

• Coach and mentor designers, setting clear expectations and deliverables, and conducting brainstorming sessions and design reviews to foster creativity and innovation. 

Quality Standards and Innovation: 

• Maintain high quality standards for design throughout the product lifecycle, staying updated on industry trends, innovations, and materials. 

• Solve complex problems by challenging assumptions and driving innovative approaches through emerging product trends or technologies. 

• Establish and promote design guidelines, best practices, and standards to ensure consistent quality and innovation. 

Process Improvement and Project Management: 

• Identify areas for process improvement within the design department, implementing enhancements to streamline workflows and optimize efficiency. 

• Oversee the full industrial design workload across team members, spanning multiple product categories from concept ideation to final product delivery, while developing and maintaining project timelines to ensure projects are completed on schedule and within budget constraints. 

Strategic Vision and Brand Alignment: 

• Understand SharkNinja's brands and contribute to defining the company's future product development strategies, aligning with business objectives and customer needs. 
• Demonstrate a high level of knowledge of the full product development cycle, navigating technical and business constraints to achieve optimal quality outcomes. 

ATTRIBUTES & SKILLS: 

• BA or BS in Industrial Design or a related discipline; MS in Industrial Design or related field preferred. 

• 8+ years of professional experience as a designer in small appliances, consumer electronics, medical devices, or related industries, demonstrating a proven track record of successfully delivering products through the production process. 

• 3+ years of leadership or management experience, demonstrating the ability to effectively lead and mentor a team. 

• Exceptional verbal, written and visual communication, adept at fostering effective collaboration across teams, and proficient in delivering impactful key messages through compelling storytelling, tailored for cross-discipline teams and senior leadership communication. 

• Solid understanding and proven experience in mass-production part design and manufacturing principles. 

• Proficiency in 2D/3D design tools including sketching, Adobe Creative Suite, SolidWorks and Keyshot. 

• Familiarity with AI-driven design techniques is desirable. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel). 

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, with strong analytical skills and attention to detail. 

• Skilled in driving team collaboration and conducting workshops to foster innovation, while accelerating the delivery of high-quality outcomes within tight timeframes without sacrificing quality. 

• Proven ability to meet deadlines and react swiftly to new information, with the capacity to work independently or collaboratively as part of a team, while leading and inspiring team members to achieve collective goals. 

• A robust portfolio showcasing original creative work that highlights the product development process.