Lead and mentor the Research and Development teams focused on creating new products in the mobile accessories and small domestic appliance (SDA) sectors, providing guidance and training as needed.
Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team, including Product, Design & Engineering, Research Advocates, and Materials Design Engineers at varying levels of expertise.
Contribute to new product development, from category planning and early concept stages to market-ready trials, aligning with development strategy, quality systems, and processes.
Review technical reports and design documentation, such as product evaluation reports and specifications for materials, samples, tooling, and packaging, ensuring accuracy and relevance.
Oversee new product, material, and process development, including initial characterization, verification, and validation as per company procedures.
Manage the Product Category roadmap.
Create cost and time plans for ARD & RD projects, monitoring adherence and implementing necessary mitigation strategies.
Provide design direction and technical input for activities and business decisions within your area of expertise.
Support research efforts with distributor co-creation and handle complex customer complaints, assisting QARA in technical investigations and regulatory submissions.
Serve as the product design and technical authority for the product portfolio, both internally and externally.
Work closely with QARA, Production, and Engineering teams to ensure smooth transitions through the NPD pipeline.
Build relationships with external technical partners and ARD consultancies to support R&D strategic plans.
Assess and minimize risks using company compliance methodologies as appropriate.
Manage and maintain Bill of Materials (BoM) using ERP system, determining new product costs and market projections.
Oversee departmental budgets, adhering to approved budgets and schedules, and contribute to the annual strategic plan.
Uphold and promote commitment to product innovation and reliability standards.
Requirements
Understanding of Design Thinking principles and Value Proposition approaches.
Degree in a relevant field such as Product/Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, or Electronic Engineering, or equivalent academic/work experience.
At least 5 years of experience in Design Engineering/Product Design within a product development role, with a strong passion for design, eagerness to learn, and a collaborative spirit.
Familiarity with 3D CAD tools, particularly SolidWorks or similar software.
Strong technical and innovation background, capable of delivering projects from concept to manufacture, with a deep understanding of the product development process.
Excellent problem-solving skills, capable of identifying and analyzing issues and generating compliant design solutions through root cause analysis.
Strong planning, organizational, and time management abilities.
Effective decision-making skills.
Highly motivated, proactive, and able to work with minimal supervision.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
A drive to explore and innovate, with a passion for researching new processes and technologies and translating ideas into new product offerings.
Good understanding of product-market fit principles for high-volume consumable products.
Design experience in the medical device field is advantageous but not required; all product design experience is valued.
Familiarity with design engineering analysis and a working knowledge of design processes and minimum variable product approaches.
Experience in wearable technology, mobile accessories, power banks, small domestic appliances, or IoT devices is a plus.
Essential leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills.
Ability to develop strategic plans and budgets with a forward-thinking approach.
Capability to implement long-term R&D strategies that align with company objectives.
