Senior Industrial Designer

VIRA Insight

  • North Carolina
  • 3 days ago

    Highlights

    Collaborate with cross-functional leaders and project resources in sales, creative solutions, product strategy, and marketing, to ensure early concepts align with the broader portfolio/project roadmap. Once a product concept and development strategy is defined, the Senior Industrial Designer facilitates a comprehensive handoff to a Product Development Manager, who then leads the engineering, manufacturing, and final execution phases.

    Numbers & Facts

    LocationNorth Carolina

    Description

    It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they're doing!
    We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business.

    POSITION SUMMARY:


    The Senior Industrial Designer serves as a senior individual contributor on the Product Development Team, acting as a creative catalyst for new product initiatives. This role is deployed dynamically across high-priority projects to drive front-end innovation, user research, and early-stage concept development.

    The position provides leadership through project vision and design strategy rather than direct people management. Once a product concept and development strategy is defined, the Senior Industrial Designer facilitates a comprehensive handoff to a Product Development Manager, who then leads the engineering, manufacturing, and final execution phases.

    KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

    • Lead the ideation and conceptualization phases for new products, translating market trends, user insights, and business requirements into compelling design solutions.

    • Develop sketches, wireframes, 3D models, or physical prototypes to effectively communicate design intent to stakeholders.

    • Conduct rapid iteration and feasibility testing to refine early concepts before they move into the formal development pipeline.

    • Act as a flexible, specialized resource, deploying onto various product pods at the inception of a project to establish the core design language and user experience.

    • Collaborate with cross-functional leaders and project resources in sales, creative solutions, product strategy, and marketing, to ensure early concepts align with the broader portfolio/project roadmap.

    • Define the initial project scope, aesthetic direction, and fundamental feature sets for each assigned initiative.

    • Create comprehensive design specification packages that clearly articulate the conceptual vision, materials, user interactions, and critical design requirements.

    • Partner closely with Product Development Managers to transition validated concepts, ensuring a seamless handoff for detailed engineering, sourcing, and commercial execution.

    • Remain available as a consultative subject matter expert during the engineering phase to resolve design compromises and protect the original design intent without actively managing the execution timeline.

    • Perform other related duties as assigned.

    SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

    • This position has no direct reports. 

    POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

    • Demonstrated ability to influence and lead cross-functional projects at a manager level without relying on formal reporting structures.

    • High proficiency in design and prototyping tools, including CAD, SolidWorks, Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, or comparable platforms.

    • Strong understanding of manufacturing and engineering constraints and the ability to incorporate those considerations into early-stage concepts.

    • Ability to translate market trends, user insights, and business requirements into compelling design solutions.

    • Exceptional visual and verbal communication skills, including the ability to pitch concepts to stakeholders and clearly document requirements for technical teams.

    • Strong cross-functional collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively with creative solutions, product strategy, marketing, sales, engineering, and manufacturing teams.

    • Demonstrated end-to-end conceptual thinking, from initial sketch through final handed-off design specifications.

    REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

    • 7+ years of experience in product design, industrial design, or a closely related field.

    • Proven track record of bringing early-stage concepts to life through sketches, 3D models, prototypes, and design specifications.

    • Experience developing and communicating product concepts while balancing user experience, business requirements, and manufacturing constraints.

    • A robust portfolio showcasing end-to-end conceptual thinking, from initial sketch to final handed-off design specification.

    OTHER JOB REQUIREMENTS:

    • Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear.

    • Ability to operate a computer keyboard and other standard office equipment.

    • Ability to read and interpret technical information, engineering documentation, specifications, and other business materials.

    • Ability to sit for extended periods of time.

    • Ability to communicate effectively by telephone, email, and other electronic communication methods.

    • Ability to carry and lift materials or equipment up to 25 lbs., as required.

    Similar Jobs