Senior Product Innovation Lead

3M HEALTHCARE; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) savings plan

Education assistance

On-site wellness center

Food and coffee service

Job summary

Milwaukee Tool seeks a Senior Product Innovation Lead to guide front-end innovation from scoping to learning. You will lead cross-functional teams across Engineering, Marketing, Industrial Design, and Design Research to deliver breakthroughs that meet user needs and align with our brand strategy.

The role requires 3–5 years of human-centered design thinking experience, a strong inventive mindset, and the ability to turn ambiguous problems into actionable projects in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience on a human‑centered, design‑thinking innovation team.
• Masters in Design Innovation is a bonus.
• BS in Engineering or BA in Industrial Design is preferred.
• Experience designing and engineering durable‑good products.

Responsibilities

• Front‑End Innovation Leadership: guide and influence teams from scoping to discovery, ideation, design development, implementation, and learning.
• Infuse Disruptive Innovation Practices: create and socialize a toolbox of innovation methods used by internal teams.
• Produce new solutions and innovations for the organization and its users.
• Define Completeness: understand the NPD design process to guide teams to complete usable solutions.
• Team Leadership: mentor team members, coach presentations linking innovation to user insights, brand stories, and business strategy.

Skills

Human-centered design

Design thinking

Team leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Cross‑functional collaboration

Critical thinking

Time management

Creativity

Inventor mindset

Education

BS in Engineering or BA in Industrial Design

Masters in Design Innovation (bonus)

Job description

Senior Product Innovation Lead

Come be DISRUPTIVE with us! At Milwaukee Tool, our most valued resource is our dedicated team of employees – people who work with a passion to be the best and take pride in their work and the Milwaukee brand. We invest in each person’s growth and development from day one and empower them daily to own, drive, and create breakthroughs in the industry.

Responsibilities

• Front‑End Innovation Leadership: guide and influence teams throughout the entire Concept/Front‑End Innovation project – from scoping and problem framing to discovery, ideation, design development, implementation, and learning.
• Infuse Disruptive Innovation Practices: create, socialize, and nurture a toolbox of innovation methods and seamlessly integrate new methodologies and language used by internal teams.
• Produce new solutions and innovations for the organization and its users.
• Define Completeness: understand the NPD design process (deliverables, timing, pitfalls) to anticipate where work will go and guide teams to produce complete and usable solutions.
• Team Leadership: provide thought leadership, share constructive feedback, mentor team members in innovation methods, and coach them to deliver presentations that link innovation work to user insights, brand stories, and business strategy.

Qualities & Skills

• 3–5 years of experience on a human‑centered, design‑thinking innovation team (Masters in Design Innovation is a bonus).
• Expertise with design‑thinking methods, processes, tools, and creativity.
• BS in Engineering or BA in Industrial Design is preferred.
• Experience designing and engineering durable‑good products.
• Inventor: drive to invent new solutions to old problems.
• Creativity: original problem‑solving skills with a hands‑on approach.
• Irreverence: actively challenges business paradigms.
• Critical thinking: excels in ambiguous scenarios and makes decisions using available data.
• Intuition: knows the most effective methodologies to meet project goals.
• Aptitude: strong mechanical and manufacturing background with awareness of emerging technologies.
• Communication: speaks the lexicon of creative, technical, and trade stakeholders across all levels.
• Time management: skilled at planning and prioritizing tasks for oneself and the team.
• Cross‑functionality: works effectively with Engineering, Marketing, Industrial Design, and Design Research teams.

Benefits

• Robust health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Generous 401(k) savings plan.
• Education assistance.
• On‑site wellness and fitness center, food, and coffee service.
• And many more (see benefits site).

Milwaukee Tool is an equal opportunity employer.