Industrial Design Director

Hayward Industries; Clemmons (NC); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Hayward Industries in Clemmons, NC seeks an Industrial Design Director to define and lead the overall design vision, strategy, and execution across product platforms and connected ecosystems.

You will lead a high-performing design team, partner with Product Management and Engineering within Hayward’s NPD trifecta, and drive a cohesive, manufacturable design language across the global portfolio.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design or related field; Master’s preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive Industrial Design experience with leadership.
• Experience leading design for connected devices and hardware–software ecosystems.
• Strong portfolio showing end-to-end product design and design system consistency.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the industrial design vision and roadmap.
• Establish and govern Visual Design Language (VDL) across product categories.
• Lead and grow a high-performing Industrial Design team.
• Collaborate with Product Management and Engineering as part of Hayward’s NPD trifecta.
• Drive design governance, manufacturability, and cross-functional alignment.

Skills

Leadership

Design strategy

VDL systems

Cross-functional leadership

CAD/Surfacing

Design governance

Design for manufacturing

Portfolio development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

CAD

Surfacing

DFM

Job description

Hayward Holdings Inc. (NYSE "HAYW") is one of the leading manufacturers of residential swimming pool equipment in the world, with a significant presence in the commercial pool market that is continuously growing. Hayward designs, manufactures, and markets a full line of residential and commercial pool and spa equipment including pumps, filters, heating, cleaners, salt chlorinators, automation, lighting, safety, flow control and energy solutions at our company owned facilities. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hayward also has facilities in Tennessee, Arizona, and Rhode Island, Georgia, as well as Canada, Spain, France, Australia, and China.As the Industrial Design Director within Hayward’s Global Innovation organization, you will define and lead the industrial design vision, strategy, and execution across key product platforms and innovation roadmaps spanning connected physical products and digital ecosystems.This is a leadership role responsible for shaping Hayward’s product experience strategy, advancing the Visual Design Language (VDL), and ensuring cohesive, differentiated, and manufacturable design solutions across the global portfolio.You will lead and develop a high-performing design team while partnering with Product Management and Engineering as part of Hayward’s NPD trifecta to deliver long-term platform strategy and near-term execution excellence.Key Responsibilities:Design Strategy and LeadershipDefine and drive the industrial design vision, strategy, and roadmap aligned to business objectives and innovation prioritiesEstablish and govern Hayward’s Visual Design Language (VDL) across all product categories and touchpointsEnsure design excellence, consistency, and differentiation across global product portfoliosServe as a key design authority influencing executive-level product and brand decisionsPortfolio Ownership and Product ExperienceLead design across multiple product platforms and programs, ensuring cohesive and scalable product ecosystemsChampion a systems-thinking approach that integrates hardware, software, UX, and service experiencesDrive a holistic product experience spanning installation, usage, service, and lifecycle ownershipEnsure alignment of design intent through complex trade-offs involving engineering, cost, and manufacturabilityInnovation and Concept DevelopmentOwn early-stage innovation efforts, including vision concepts, future-state product strategies, and advanced concept developmentGuide concept exploration, prototyping, and validation efforts to de-risk innovation opportunitiesTranslate emerging customer insights and technologies into differentiated product experiences and platform opportunitiesCustomer Insight and Design DirectionChampion customer-centric design by synthesizing VOC, Human Factors, and market insights into strategic design directionEnsure insights are translated into clear product requirements and compelling design narrativesPartner with Product Management to influence roadmap decisions and value propositionsCross-Functional Leadership and ExecutionAct as a strategic partner within the NPD trifecta (Product, Engineering, Design) to define problems, align priorities, and drive decisionsInfluence cross-functional teams, including Mechanical, Electrical, Firmware, Software, UX, and Cloud, to maintain design integrityDrive design governance, ensuring alignment across programs, risk mitigation, and design-for-manufacturing excellenceManage external design partners and agencies as neededTeam Leadership and Design CultureBuild, lead, and develop a high-performing Industrial Design team, including hiring, coaching, and performance managementEstablish clear standards, processes, and best practices for design executionFoster a culture of innovation, creativity, accountability, and collaborationElevate design maturity and influence across the organizationRequirements:Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design or related field (Master’s preferred)10+ years of progressive Industrial Design experience, including leadership of teams and complex product portfoliosProven success leading design for connected devices and systems integrating hardware and digital experiencesDemonstrated ability to define and scale design strategy, VDL systems, and product ecosystemsStrong portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design, leadership impact, and design system consistencyDeep understanding of the full product development lifecycle from research through productionExperience influencing senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholdersAbility to travel domestically (10–20%) with some international travelWhat We Look For (Preferred)Experience in both corporate and consultancy environmentsAdvanced expertise in CAD, surfacing, and design-for-manufacturingStrong executive presence and ability to communicate design vision at all levelsPassion for mentorship, team development, and design culture building