Product Development Designer

Job Summary

The mission of the Pennsylvania Fabric Discovery Center (PA FDC) housed within Drexel’s Center for Functional Fabrics (CFF) is to advance the design and manufacturing of integrated textile systems that will transform the way we work, live, and interact with the world. The PA FDC’s vision is to help lead innovation and fuel economic expansion in advanced manufacturing of functional fabrics across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and more generally across the entire country. The PA FDC is a transdisciplinary center where teams from academia and industry work together to address the grand challenges of advanced manufacturing, digital fabrication, modeling, design, and rapid prototyping. This in turn will lead to the pilot production of new products that will stimulate the creation of a new industry: textiles that see, hear, emit, and transmit.

Reporting to the Director, Pennsylvania Fabric Discovery Center (PA FDC) and the Center for Functional Fabrics (CFF), and part of the Innovation Team, successful candidates for the Product Development Designer role will have professional experience and/or training in design thinking, design and user research, prototyping, and product design for funded functional fabric and e-textile projects. This position works in transdisciplinary teams consisting of, but not limited to, industrial designers, material scientists, computer scientists, engineers, sociologists, mathematicians, physicists, students, and commercial partners for the development of the next generation of textiles with enhanced functionality. The Product Development Designer works collaboratively on funded research projects with subject matter experts to develop and iterate design concepts from project requirements in collaboration with the larger team, producing sketches and sample designs, investigating appropriate materials and production processes, testing product designs using models, prototypes, and user testing, and clarifying and solving design issues and prototype faults. In addition, the designer will also participate in internal and external project meetings, assist in developing progress updates and reports, and present to stakeholders. Although this position is highly collaborative, candidates should be able to work independently with limited oversight.

Essential Functions

• Lead design concept development and prototype iteration for functional fabric components and systems from project requirements in collaboration with the larger team. o Research state-of-the-art functional fabric and e-textile products relevant to current and future projects.
  • Produce sketches and sample designs by hand and/or CAD software.
  • Investigate appropriate materials and production processes.
  • Build and iterate prototypes in collaboration with Innovation Team and subject-matter experts.
  • Test and validate product designs using models, prototypes, and user testing.
  • Troubleshoot design issues and prototype faults.
  • Understand and contribute to technical specification documentation.

• Assist in developing presentations and writing progress reports for funders and stakeholders, facilitating meetings, and making presentations.

• Assist in maintenance of equipment and manufacturing space.
• Additional duties and assignments, as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or Equivalent in Industrial Design, Product Design, Design Research, or other design- or engineering-related fields
• One-to-three years professional experience in product design or user research; or equivalent combination of experience, education, and training.
• Experience with CAD software such as Adobe Creative Suite, Rhino, and Solidworks including ability to troubleshoot issues and learn new techniques/features.
• A flexible approach to new design concepts.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to facilitate meetings, make effective presentations, and contribute to written reports and proposals.
• Self-starter with ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment, both within projects and internally and externally.
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects with strict deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to listen to and communicate with differing stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to be professional, courteous, and tactful under pressure.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Design Research, or other design- or engineering-related fields and one year of professional experience in product design or user research; or equivalent combination of experience, education, and training.
• Working knowledge of textile fabrication methods such as computerized knitting technologies.
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) application preparation experience for human subject testing.

Physical Demands

• Typically sitting at a desk/table

• Typically standing, walking

• Lifting demands ≤ 25lbs

Location

University City, Philadelphia, PA

Additional Information

This position is classified as EXEMPT with a salary grade of J. For more information regarding Drexel’s Professional Staff salary structure, https://drexel.edu/hr/career/ducomp/salstructure/

Please review the Benefits Brochure for some information on our benefits offerings.

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application.

Review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.

Advertised:Aug 31 2022 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:Jul 31 2023 Eastern Daylight Time