(Spring) Product Design Engineer Co-op: January to June 2025

*Please note, this opportunity is for a Spring Co-op (January to June 2025) or post-graduate internship. The role is full-time and onsite in our Needham, MA office*

Product Design Engineering Co-Op

Summary of Position

SharkNinja is seeking ambitious, creative, and highly skilled Industrial Design & Mechanical Engineering Co-Ops to sit at the intersection of these roles as a Product Design Engineer with our advanced development teams. Candidates will work at the leading edge of product ideation, helping develop the next generation of user-centered, innovative products for our Shark and Ninja brands. This role emphasizes a balance between industrial design thinking and mechanical engineering skills, appealing to those passionate about translating open-ended, real-world challenges into meaningful solutions. Candidates should be equally comfortable ideating at the conceptual level, crafting quick user-focused prototypes, and iterating on designs with user testing and technical feedback.

Essential Functions

• Generate new product concepts with a user-centered approach, focusing on ergonomics, aesthetics, and functional innovation.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to define solutions that meet functional requirements while enhancing the user experience.
• Lead and participate in design studies to solve technical and user-experience challenges.
• Build and test quick turnaround, low fidelity prototypes, and be able to build key findings on user testing with them.
• Approach everyday design challenges with curiosity and resilience, driven to rethink and innovate.

Attributes and Skills

• Strong communicator who can convey ideas, concepts, and solutions effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong intuition for mechanical engineering and physics principles, with an emphasis on applying this in product design, ergonomics, and human-centered engineering.
• Analytical and detail-oriented, with a creative approach to identifying and addressing potential issues.
• Demonstrates intellectual curiosity, a hands-on attitude, and commitment to developing elegant, innovative solutions that balance technical and user-focused design principles.
• Skilled at juggling multiple projects, with flexibility to pivot as needed while keeping sight of broader design objectives.

Education and Experience

• Currently pursuing a degree in Industrial Design, Product Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering with classes in ID, or a related field.
• Enthusiastic about user-centered product design, form, and function.
• Experience with CAD software (SolidWorks, Creo, or Rhino) and basic prototyping tools (3D printing, shop competency).
• Hands-on experience building physical prototypes in various materials (e.g., plastic, metal) and familiarity with machine shop equipment.
• Basic understanding of electronics and components commonly used in small appliances (motors, sensors, PCBAs) is desirable.
• Experience with rapid prototyping tools like Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or other developer kits is a plus.

This role is ideal for candidates with a strong foundation in industrial design principles and mechanical engineering, eager to innovate and solve open-ended challenges with a user-centered mindset.