The Industrial Product Designer will be a key member of the Suncast innovation team, which has a significant role in the overall direction of the organization. This employee will be responsible for refining product design and feature concepts, translating them into final CAD data that will then be used to evaluate manufacturing, packaging, and costing and provide the information necessary to produce a concept model and/or prototype. This employee will sketch and make renderings to explain design solutions, build concept models and assist in building prototypes to show and explain different ideas for a product solution. This employee will be required to work with engineering, manufacturing, tooling, and packaging departments to determine concept viability and produce costing based on input from these departments before handing off projects for final engineering development.
Responsibilities:
The following duties are considered essential to this position. Other responsibilities may be assigned.
- Perform competitive product analysis by evaluating manufacturing methods, part configuration, part materials, performing testing of product attributes and performance characteristics.
- Develop control drawings on the CAD system to finalize part designs for concept to build initial concept models and final prototypes. These drawings may be for injection molded, blow molded resin parts, fabricated metal parts and other outsourced components.
- Assist model maker in building initial and final concept models to illustrate size and explain functions to marketing and customers using materials such as foam board, wood and modeling board via CNC machining, resin materials via 3D printing, and outsourcing of other fabricated and purchased components.
- Work with tooling and manufacturing departments to develop possible tooling configurations and manufacturing requirements and use that information to develop preliminary costing for proposed design.
- Sketch and render products based on concepts outlined by the sales and marketing departments.
- Develop early concept sketches often by hand using markers, pencils and electronic sketch software.
- Develop later renderings by hand or with the assistance of a computer-based rendering program. These computer renderings may be photo-realistic and used for sales presentations.
- Work with marketing department to coordinate the product finish, such as texture or polish, on products.
- Perform preliminary patent searches. Understand features and designs that may be protected.
- Perform consumer research to evaluate preferences for major design alternatives.
- Read trade journals and technical publications regularly to stay informed of technological changes. The employee should suggest trade shows and seminars that will inform him or her of new techniques and materials.
- Support and comply with all Suncast safety policies, quality standards, and housekeeping methods at all times. Suncast policies have been developed to ensure compliance with employee law.
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design (BFA or BID), Art, Architecture, or a similar discipline required. Five years of design experience with consumer products or fifteen years of consumer product design experience with an emphasis on injection molded and blow-molded product design strongly desired.
- Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to communicate information clearly and respond to questions from managers and coworkers.
- Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry, and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
- This position requires a high degree of computer literacy with a variety of PC-based programs, including word processors, spreadsheets, CAD, graphics programs and rendering programs. Ability to learn to use new programs and features by reading literature and other information supplied with the program. Advanced Internet search skills are required. AS400 skills are a plus.
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing these duties, the employee will spend most of his or her time in an office environment. Typically, offices are climate controlled and have a moderate noise level for an office. About 20% of this employee’s time will be spent in the engineering model shop. The workshop is temperature controlled, although it may be subject to some seasonal variations in temperature and humidity. Noise level is moderate for a workshop. In addition, Suncast is a manufacturer, and it will be necessary to enter the manufacturing area to complete some tasks or to enter some office areas. Manufacturing areas are subject to seasonal variations in temperature and humidity. Noise level is generally moderate for manufacturing. Safety equipment is required while in the model shop and manufacturing areas. Some travel to outside vendors may also be required.
The Anticipated Pay Range for This Position: $65,000-$85,000 annually.
Suncast offers a comprehensive benefits package including:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
- Telehealth benefits
- Life insurance
- 401K with employer match
- Paid vacation time off
- Paid parental leave
- Short- and long-term disability coverage
- Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) & Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) for health and dependent care
- Paid Parental Leave (maternity & paternity)
- Educational Assistance Program
- Tuition Reimbursement
