Sr Innovation Engineer - Major Cooking Appliances

Midea America; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Midea America Corp. in North America seeks a Senior Innovation Engineer to drive disruptive technologies for major cooking appliances, including ranges, wall ovens, and smart cooking systems.

You will identify consumer needs, market trends, and opportunities to shape product concepts from ideation through commercialization. Lead cross-functional teams with Product Management, Engineering, Design, and Manufacturing; mentor junior engineers; perform DFMEA, tolerance analysis, and prototyping;

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electromechanical, Product Design Engineering, or related field.
• 7+ years of experience in full product/innovation concept development (ideation to mass production).
• Strong knowledge of gas and electric cooking appliance technologies, IoT and AI-enabled features and smart home technologies.
• Hands-on experience with prototype development, laboratory testing, and performance validation.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of innovative technologies, systems, and product concepts for major cooking appliances (ranges, wall ovens, induction, advanced convection, steam, air fry, smart appliances).
• Identify unmet consumer needs, market trends, and opportunities through research and benchmarking.
• Create and evaluate prototypes and functional models to validate feasibility and consumer acceptance.
• Lead projects from ideation to commercialization, integrating new tech into roadmaps.
• Perform system architecture development, DFMEA, risk assessments, and design optimization.
• Collaborate with suppliers and universities to identify emerging technologies and partnerships.
• Conduct teardowns and benchmarking to identify differentiation and cost opportunities.
• Develop invention disclosures and support patent filings; mentor junior engineers.

Skills

Prototype development

Cross-functional leadership

Engineering design

IoT features

Regulatory knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electromechanical, Product Design Engineering or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

3D CAD software

Engineering simulations

Job description

Midea America Corp., is one of the world’s largest home appliance brands, offering the most comprehensive selection of products in the world to fully serve the needs of day-to-day living at home, at work, or anywhere else you go. In North America we strive to aim high, put the customer first, transform and innovate the marketplace, utilizing our commitment, dedication, inclusion, and partnership with our teams. Midea America is a subsidiary of the Midea Group, a global company with over 150,000 employees and operations in more than 195 countries. As a publicly listed company, we are ranked #231 as a Fortune Global 500 company and offer one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry.

Job Summary

The Senior Innovation Engineer is responsible for driving disruptive innovations, technology development, and product differentiation for major cooking appliances, including freestanding ranges, slide-in ranges, professional ranges, wall ovens, and advanced cooking systems.

This role leads the identification of emerging consumer needs, market trends, competitive opportunities, and breakthrough technologies to develop innovative products, features, and user experiences that strengthen Midea's leadership position in the North American market.

The Senior Innovation Engineer will work closely with Product Management, Consumer Insights, Engineering, Design, Manufacturing, Quality, Suppliers, and Global R&D teams to transform ideas into commercially viable products. The position requires a combination of technical expertise, hands-on prototyping, strategic thinking, and strong cross-functional leadership to drive innovation from concept development through commercialization.

Success in this role requires a deep understanding of electric and gas cooking technologies, consumer behavior, regulatory requirements, and emerging industry trends.

• Lead the development of innovative technologies, systems, and product concepts for major cooking appliances, including ranges, wall ovens, induction cooking, advanced convection systems, steam cooking, air fry, and smart connected appliances.
• Identify unmet consumer needs, emerging market trends, competitive gaps, and new business opportunities through consumer research, benchmarking, and technology scouting.
• Develop compelling product concepts, value propositions, and innovative user experiences that enhance product performance, usability, convenience, energy efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Create and evaluate prototypes, proof-of-concepts, and functional models to validate technical feasibility, performance, reliability, and consumer acceptance.
• Lead innovation projects from ideation through commercialization, collaborating with product development teams to integrate new technologies into future product roadmaps.
• Perform detailed engineering design activities, including system architecture development, component design, tolerance analysis, DFMEA, risk assessments, and technical problem solving.
• Utilize 3D CAD tools and engineering simulations to develop and optimize components, assemblies, and complete appliance systems.
• Collaborate with suppliers, technology partners, universities, startups, and innovation organizations to identify and evaluate emerging technologies and potential strategic partnerships.
• Conduct competitive product teardowns, performance benchmarking, and technology assessments to identify opportunities for product differentiation and cost optimization.
• Lead the creation, evaluation, documentation, and protection of innovative technologies, product concepts, and intellectual property; develop invention disclosures, support patent filings, and build a robust patent portfolio that strengthens the company’s competitive advantage.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical leadership across cross-functional project teams to accelerate innovation and product development effectiveness.
• Support domestic and international travel to suppliers, manufacturing facilities, research centers, trade shows, and consumer research activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Electromechanical, Product Design Engineering, or a related field required. Master’s degree preferred.
• 7+ years of experience on full product / innovation concept development (from ideation to mass production).
• Strong knowledge of gas and electric cooking appliance technologies, consumer needs, market trends, connected appliances IoT, AI-enabled features and smart home technologies.
• Hands-on experience with prototype development, laboratory testing, and performance validation.
• Familiarity with North American regulatory and safety standards, including UL 858, ANSI Z21.1, CSA, DOE, Energy Star, AHAM, etc.
• Strong innovation mindset with the ability to translate consumer insights into technical solutions
• Strong cross-functional leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence and align stakeholders across the organization.

Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.