Industrial Designer (IF), SIMTech

A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research; Singapore; On-site; SGD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research in Singapore is seeking a Senior Industrial Designer to lead design direction for R&D projects. The role requires over 5 years of industrial design experience, a strong portfolio, and proficiency in design tools such as CAD and rendering software. The successful candidate will translate research into user-centered designs, working closely with engineers and stakeholders. A passion for innovation and real-world impact in design is crucial.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in industrial design.
• Demonstrated experience in designing market-launched products.
• Strong design portfolio required.

Responsibilities

• Lead industrial design direction for R&D and industry projects.
• Translate research outcomes into product concepts and design strategies.
• Drive design excellence in usability and user experience.

Skills

Industrial design

User-centered design

CAD modeling (e.g. Rhino, SolidWorks, Creo)

Prototyping

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or related discipline

Tools

Sketching

Rendering software (e.g. Keyshot)

Job description

About Us

At SIMTech Innovation Factory, we are a multidisciplinary design team driven to uncover opportunities and tackle challenges that others overlook. We harness A*STAR’s cutting-edge technologies to develop innovative, unconventional solutions that inspire. Through captivating visuals and compelling storytelling, we showcase the value of ASTAR technologies and foster wider industry adoption.

Role Summary

Our team serves as a creative bridge between A*STAR technologies and industry partners—translating complex science into intuitive, user-centered innovations that resonate with diverse stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead industrial design direction for R&D and industry projects, from early concept development through design freeze and production handover.
• Translate research outcomes, emerging technologies, and user insights into compelling product concepts and design strategies.
• Drive design excellence across form, usability, ergonomics, CMF (colour, material, finish), and overall user experience.
• Develop and validate design concepts using sketches, CAD models, renderings, and prototypes.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing engineers to ensure design intent is successfully realized in production.
• Participate in design reviews to evaluate concepts for usability, manufacturability, cost, and feasibility, providing design guidance and trade-off decisions.
• Prepare high-quality visual presentations and design documentation to communicate design intent to internal teams, industry partners, and stakeholders.
• Support product industrialization activities by working with engineering teams on tooling reviews, pilot builds, and production feedback.
• Guide and mentor junior designers, fostering good design practices and design thinking within project teams.
• Contribute to the development of design methodologies, processes, and standards within the Innovation Factory.

Requirements

• Degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of professional experience in industrial design, preferably in R&D, advanced development, or product innovation settings.
• Demonstrated experience in designing real products that have been successfully launched to the market.
• Strong design portfolio showcasing concept development, user-centered design, and final production outcomes.
• Proficiency in design tools such as Sketching, 3D CAD (e.g. Rhino, SolidWorks, Creo), and rendering software (Keyshot).
• Solid understanding of materials, manufacturing processes, and production constraints—sufficient to collaborate effectively with engineering teams.
• Proven experience working closely with engineering, research, and manufacturing partners to translate design intent into manufacturable products.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to lead design discussions, provide clear direction, and make informed design decisions within project constraints.
• Strong passion for innovation and applied design with real-world impact.

Nice to Have

• Experience working with industry partners, SMEs, or government-supported R&D programs.
• Exposure to sustainability, human-centered design, or design for manufacturability practices.
• Experience mentoring designers or leading small design teams.