Product Development, Design & Consumer Insights Intern Opportunities
Ninjakitchen
A complete application in a minute — tailored resume and cover letter, ready to send.
Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
SharkNinja in Needham, MA is seeking a current student for an early talent program across Product Development, Design, and Consumer Insights. You’ll work on real products, participate in early research, and contribute to launches alongside seasoned teams.
You’ll translate consumer insights into actionable design decisions, develop sketches and prototypes, and present findings to cross-functional partners. A portfolio and strong collaboration skills are essential.
Qualifications
- Portfolio demonstrating design process required.
- Full-time onsite-hybrid schedule; location varies by team.
- Prior internship or co-op experience is a strong asset.
Responsibilities
- Contribute to real product launches across Shark, Ninja, and Beauty from early research through to shelf.
- Translate consumer insights into product and design decisions that shape what gets built.
- Bring ideas to life through sketches, renderings, prototypes, wireframes, and design specifications.
- Conduct hands-on product testing and competitive research, and document findings.
- Present work and thinking to cross-functional partners and design leads, incorporating feedback.
- Collaborate across Product Development, Industrial Design, Engineering, Marketing, and Insights.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
SharkNinjais a global product design and technology company, with a diversified portfolio of 5-star rated lifestyle solutions that positivelyimpactpeople's lives in homes around the world. Powered by two trusted, global brands, Shark and Ninja, the company has a proventrack recordof bringing disruptive innovation to market and developing one consumer product after another has allowedSharkNinjato enter multiple product categories, driving significant growth and market share gains. Headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts with more than4,100associates, the company’s products are sold at key retailers, online and offline, and through distributors around the world.
At SharkNinja, we’re building an AI-native culture. We’re not waiting for the future; we’re creating it. Our people are expected to experiment boldly, adopt new tools, and continuously raise what’s possible to create meaningful impact for our consumers. If you believe the best way to do your job hasn’t been invented yet, you’ll fit right in.
Built for early career talent. Geared toward impact. Driven by speed. Whether you’re in a co-op or internship, our early talent program is designed to provide valuable exposure to the industry and a fast-paced professional environment. You’ll dive into meaningful projects and tasks that sharpen your skills and deepen your knowledge. Along the way, you’ll benefit from professional development opportunities, community events, and connections that make your experience well-rounded and enriching. Your time with us will culminate in an opportunity to showcase your contributions and learnings to SharkNinja leaders because this is a program for those ready to shape what’s next — fast.
Are you the person who takes the product apart to see how it works, then redesigns it in your head? Do you want to know why people buy what they buy — and then go build the thing they didn’t know they needed? Are you excited by the challenge of turning an insight into a product that lands in millions of homes? If so, we invite you to learn more about Product Development, Design & Consumer Insights Intern opportunities at SharkNinja.
This is a single application for product development, design, and consumer insights early talent roles across SharkNinja. The hiring teams are spread across our product development, industrial and experience design, culinary, consumer insights, and consumer experience functions.
Whichever team you join, you’ll work on real products and real launches alongside people who have shipped them before. You might be sketching a concept that becomes a hero product, specifying the exact color and finish a consumer sees on the shelf, running usability sessions on a connected app, testing recipes to prove out what an appliance can really do, digging into field feedback to close a consumer pain point, or synthesizing research into the recommendation that changes a product’s direction. If you’re curious, consumer-obsessed, hands-on, and ready to make an impact from day one, we want to hear from you!
- Product Development (Shark, Ninja, and Beauty)
- Ninja Test Kitchen / Culinary Development
- Industrial Design
- CMF (Color, Material & Finish) Design
- UX/UI Design
- Consumer Insights
- Customer Experience & Product Support
- Contribute to real product launches across Shark, Ninja, and Beauty, from early research and concepting through to shelf
- Translate consumer insights into product and design decisions that shape what actually gets built
- Bring ideas to life through sketches, renderings, prototypes, wireframes, and design specifications
- Conduct hands-on product testing and competitive research, and document findings that influence design direction
- Present your work and the thinking behind it to cross-functional partners and design leads - and incorporate their feedback
- Collaborate across Product Development, Industrial Design, Engineering, Marketing, Consumer Insights, and Product Management
- Gain exposure to the full product development cycle, solving simultaneously for performance, cost, and delight
- Own a meaningful project end to end and present your contributions to SharkNinja leaders
Depending on the team, your day-to-day may include:
- Developing user-relevant design targets for product performance and user experience - human factors, touchpoints, KPIs, and Consumer Satisfaction Indicators - and championing them to engineers, industrial designers, and commercial marketers
- Acting as a product “expert” for cross-functional questions, and assisting with new product setups, product information management, and competitive landscape development
- Supporting qualitative and quantitative research, designing and refining research tools such as surveys and discussion guides, and translating unmet and latent needs into clear recommendations for new products and features
- Building customer personas and journey maps, identifying whitespace opportunities and consumer pain points, and monitoring competitors and market trends to inform positioning
- Supporting the post-purchase consumer journey - replacement component specifications, self-service content, and consumer-facing artwork assets
- Culinary testing and hero recipe development alongside food scientists and research chefs, evaluating performance and quality for launches such as the Ninja Creami, Crispi, and Luxe Café
- Recording test results accurately and synthesizing insights into stories that influence brand, product, and executive strategy
- Translating consumer insights into bold, user-centered design solutions through sketches, illustrations, and high-fidelity renderings
- Creating product designs in SolidWorks or Rhino, producing renderings in KeyShot, and collaborating with Engineering to deliver clean, production-ready CAD files
- Specifying the full look and feel of a product - surface finish, color, material, texture, and branding - and creating, tracking, and maintaining color specifications (ID SPECS)
- Developing color palette proposals targeted for different retailers, organizing supplier CMF samples into a material library, and working to standards such as Pantone, NCS, SPI, YickSang, and Mold-Tech
- Supporting UI design, icon design, and rating/warning label creation, and interacting daily with the APAC manufacturing team, suppliers, and the Compliance team
- Creating wireframes, interactive prototypes, and visual design specs in Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch for mobile app and embedded UI experiences
- Participating in usability testing, maintaining and evolving design systems for cross-platform consistency, and designing for accessibility, responsiveness, and internationalization
- Building visual and functional prototypes, and exploring emerging trends, new materials, and future-forward aesthetics
- Current student in a related bachelor's or master’s or PhD program or has graduated from such a program within the past year - Industrial Design, Product Design, UX/UI or Interaction Design, Mechanical Engineering, Marketing, Market Research, Psychology or Sociology, Culinary Arts or Food Science, Business, Communications, or similar
- Must be able to work a full-time, 40-hour-per-week onsite-hybrid schedule; specific location and number of onsite days vary by team and term
- A consumer-first perspective and real curiosity about how people actually use products in their homes
- Strong visual and verbal storytelling - you can present an idea, explain the thinking behind it, and take feedback well
- Meticulous attention to detail, and the discipline to hold onto it under tight deadlines
- Strong organizational and project management instincts; comfortable juggling multiple projects and shifting priorities
- Hands-on and resourceful - willing to build the rough version, test it, and iterate
- Able to synthesize complex or messy input into clear, actionable recommendations
- Collaborative and positive in brainstorms, critiques, and reviews
- Proficient in Microsoft 365, particularly PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook
- Prior internship, co-op, studio, kitchen, research, or personal project experience is a strong asset
- CAD and 3D: SolidWorks, Creo, or Rhino; rendering in KeyShot
- Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop
- Design and prototyping tools: Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch
- Prototyping and shop competency: 3D printing, machine shop equipment, building in plastic and metal
- Color and materials standards: Pantone, NCS, SPI, YickSang, Mold-Tech; interest in color communication toward international standards
- Basic understanding of electronics commonly used in small appliances (motors, sensors, PCBAs)
- Accessibility best practices and responsive design principles; interest in connected consumer products, smart home technology, or IoT ecosystems
- Coursework in market research, consumer insights, psychology, sociology, or related social sciences
- Prior experience in food service, recipe testing, or culinary R&D
- Project tracking and file management tools such as Asana, Monday, Airtable, Box, or SharePoint
Work samples: If you’re interested in a design role — Industrial Design, CMF, or UX/UI — please include a portfolio that demonstrates your design process, not just your finished work. You can link it in your resume or attach it in the cover letter field. A portfolio is not required for consideration for Product Development, Ninja Test Kitchen, Consumer Insights, or Customer Experience & Product Support.
The hourly salary range for this position is displayed below. Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include geography/market, skills, education, experience and other qualifications of the successful candidate.
The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: medical insurance, health savings account (HSA) with company contribution, sick time, company holidays, employee product discount, product testing opportunities, referral bonuses, and more.
$26 — $35 USD
At SharkNinja, we don’t just raise the bar—we push past it every single day.
Our Outrageously Extraordinary mindset drives us to tackle the impossible, push boundaries, and deliver results that others only dream of. If you thrive on breaking out of your swim lane, you’ll be right at home.
We offer competitive health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, employee stock purchase options, wellness programs, SharkNinja product discounts, and more.
We empower your personal and professional growth with high impact Learning Programs featuring bold voices redefining what’s possible.
When you join, you’re not just part of a company—you’re part of an outrageously extraordinary community.
To gether, we won’t just launch products—we’ll disrupt entire markets.
At SharkNinja, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are vital to our global success. Valuing each unique voice and blending all of our diverse skills strengthens SharkNinja’s innovation every day. We support ALL associates in bringing their authentic selves to work, making an impact, and having the opportunity for career acceleration. With help from our leadership, associates, and our community, we aim to have equity be a key component of the SharkNinja DNA.
Learn more about us:
Life At SharkNinja
Outrageously Extraordinary
For candidates based in all regions, please refer to this Candidate Privacy Notice.
For candidates based in China, please refer to this Candidate Privacy Notice.
For candidates based in Vietnam, please refer to this Candidate Privacy Notice.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other class protected by legislation, and local law. SharkNinja will consider reasonable accommodations consistent with legislation, and local law. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact SharkNinja People & Culture at accommodations@sharkninja.com
'/%3e%3cpath%20d='M101.744%2012.4726L102.894%2016.1947L99.0021%2013.2201L101.744%2012.4726ZM105.3%208.40937H100.488L99.0026%203.59473L97.5116%208.41047L92.7%208.40385L96.5965%2011.3834L95.1055%2016.1942L99.0021%2013.2196L101.408%2011.3834L105.3%208.40992V8.40937Z'%20fill='white'/%3e%3cdefs%3e%3clinearGradient%20id='paint0_linear_5593_1381'%20x1='90'%20y1='9.44471'%20x2='99'%20y2='9.44471'%20gradientUnits='userSpaceOnUse'%3e%3cstop%20stop-color='%2300AD70'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='0.998594'%20stop-color='%2300B67A'/%3e%3cstop%20offset='1'%20stop-color='%23DCDCE6'/%3e%3c/linearGradient%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
