Product Development Designer I

About Drexel University

Located in the heart of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a world‐class, comprehensive, R1 research institution and a global leader in experiential education. For more than 100 years, our renowned Cooperative Education (co-op) program has enabled students to gain professional work experience before they graduate, setting them apart from their peers.

Committed to becoming the nation's most civically engaged university, Drexel supports engagement along three dimensions: research and academic programs that directly benefit communities, business practices that support equitable local and regional economic development, and public service by students, faculty, and staff. Our engagement is long‐term, multigenerational, and fundamental to the University's mission, heritage, and future.

At Drexel, we are devoted to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment that promotes healthy lifestyles and is based on integrity, trust, and respect. We center equity, inclusion and belonging, and incorporate an anti‐racism approach to our strategic plan, organizational systems, policies and structures.

Drexel offers its highly engaged faculty and professional staff a comprehensive and world‐class benefits package that includes generous vacation and paid time off as applicable (including civic engagement days), up to an 11% 403(b) Retirement Plan match with immediate vesting, and remote and flexible work options for many roles. Our exceptional medical plans include domestic partner and fertility assistance and our award‐winning A Healthier U wellness program. In addition, faculty and professional staff at Drexel enjoy free tuition for themselves and their dependents for Drexel degree programs, certification, and non‐certification programs. And as part of the tuition offering to employees, Drexel participates in a tuition exchange program for dependents with other higher education institutions. These are just a sample of our extensive benefit offerings. Please see this Benefits Brochure for more information.

Product Development Designer I

Apply now Job no: 503432

Work type: Full-Time

Location: University City

• Philadelphia, PA

Categories: Office of Research & Innovation

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.

• 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. o 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 in Industrial Design, Product Design, Design Research, or other design- or engineering-related fields or the equivalent combination of education and work experience.

• Please review the Equivalency Chart for additional information.

• 1-3 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 Requirements

• 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, grade K. Compensation for this grade ranges from $54,630 - $81, 940. Please note that the offered rate for this position typically aligns with the minimum to midrange of this grade, but it can vary based on the successful candidate's qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review.

We encourage you to explore Drexel's Professional Staff salary structure and Compensation Guidelines & Policies for more details on our compensation framework.

You can also find valuable information about our benefits in the Benefits Brochure.

Special Instructions to the Applicant

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

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

Advertised: Jun 26 2024 Eastern Daylight Time

Applications close: Jul 26 2024 Eastern Daylight Time