Lead Industrial Design Engineer

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Performance bonuses

International travel

Professional development stipend

State-of-the-art design facilities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a visionary Lead Industrial Design Engineer in Cape Town, Western Cape. You will guide a cross-functional team of designers and engineers to create innovative, aesthetically compelling and highly functional consumer electronics products, translating market insights into market-leading designs.

This senior role demands leadership, deep UX understanding, and hands-on expertise in 3D modeling and manufacturing processes.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in industrial design, with at least 3 years in a leadership or team management role.
• Demonstrated portfolio showcasing award-winning product designs for mass-market consumer electronics.
• Exceptional proficiency in 3D modeling software (e.g., SolidWorks, Alias, Rhino) and rendering tools (e.g., Keyshot, V-Ray).
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes (injection molding, metal fabrication, etc.) and materials science.
• Excellent sketching, visualization, and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to lead and inspire a creative team and manage complex design projects.
• Deep understanding of user experience (UX) principles and human-centered design methodologies.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced product development environment.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of industrial designers and engineers, fostering a creative and collaborative work environment.
• Oversee the entire product design lifecycle, from initial concept generation and sketching to detailed 3D modeling, prototyping, and final production readiness.
• Develop innovative and user-centric design solutions for a diverse range of consumer electronic products.
• Conduct in-depth market research, competitor analysis, and user studies to identify design opportunities and trends.
• Translate technical requirements and manufacturing constraints into compelling design proposals.
• Create high-quality visual presentations, renderings, and prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts to stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with product management, engineering, marketing, and manufacturing teams to ensure design feasibility and successful product launch.
• Ensure all designs adhere to brand guidelines, aesthetic standards, and ergonomic principles.
• Stay abreast of emerging technologies, materials, and design trends in the consumer electronics industry.
• Manage design project timelines, budgets, and resources efficiently.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

3D modeling

Rendering

UX design

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Master's degree in Industrial Design

Tools

SolidWorks

Alias

Rhino

KeyShot

V-Ray

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent player in the consumer electronics sector, is actively seeking a visionary Lead Industrial Design Engineer to spearhead their design initiatives in Cape Town, Western Cape. This senior position demands a blend of artistic vision, technical prowess, and strong leadership acumen. You will be responsible for guiding a team of talented designers and engineers in creating innovative, aesthetically pleasing, and highly functional products. The role involves conceptualizing new product lines, refining existing designs, and ensuring seamless integration of design aesthetics with advanced engineering principles. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the product landscape and drive brand innovation for a company renowned for its quality and forward-thinking approach. The successful candidate will play a critical role in translating market needs and user insights into tangible, market-leading products.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of industrial designers and engineers, fostering a creative and collaborative work environment.


• Oversee the entire product design lifecycle, from initial concept generation and sketching to detailed 3D modeling, prototyping, and final production readiness.


• Develop innovative and user-centric design solutions for a diverse range of consumer electronic products.


• Conduct in-depth market research, competitor analysis, and user studies to identify design opportunities and trends.


• Translate technical requirements and manufacturing constraints into compelling design proposals.


• Create high-quality visual presentations, renderings, and prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts to stakeholders.


• Collaborate closely with product management, engineering, marketing, and manufacturing teams to ensure design feasibility and successful product launch.


• Ensure all designs adhere to brand guidelines, aesthetic standards, and ergonomic principles.


• Stay abreast of emerging technologies, materials, and design trends in the consumer electronics industry.


• Manage design project timelines, budgets, and resources efficiently.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or a closely related field.


• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in industrial design, with at least 3 years in a leadership or team management role.


• Demonstrated portfolio showcasing award-winning product designs for mass-market consumer electronics.


• Exceptional proficiency in 3D modeling software (e.g., SolidWorks, Alias, Rhino) and rendering tools (e.g., Keyshot, V-Ray).


• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes (injection molding, metal fabrication, etc.) and materials science.


• Excellent sketching, visualization, and presentation skills.


• Proven ability to lead and inspire a creative team and manage complex design projects.


• Deep understanding of user experience (UX) principles and human-centered design methodologies.


• Experience working with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced product development environment.


• Strong communication and negotiation skills.

Benefits

Our client offers an attractive salary package, comprehensive medical and dental insurance, performance bonuses, opportunities for international travel, professional development stipends, and access to state-of-the-art design facilities. This role provides the chance to work on cutting-edge projects with global impact and offers significant career growth potential within a highly innovative company. Join us to shape the future of consumer technology.