Overview of the Company

United Wheels Inc. (“UWI”) is an international, privately held business, with affiliated companies and operations in Asia, the Americas and around the world. UWI is a world leader in the design, manufacture and international distribution of bicycles, e-bikes, and rideable toys, manufacturing more than 6 million bicycles and e-Bikes each year. In additional to cycling, UWI is at the forefront of materials science though Allite Inc. and its affiliated companies, which utilizes its proprietary magnesium alloys across numerous industries (e.g., sporting goods, robotics, electronics, aerospace, etc.).

UWI owns and operates several bicycle-related subsidiaries. These subsidiaries include:

Huffy Corp. (https://www.huffybikes.com/), the iconic bicycling company based in Dayton, Ohio, with more than 125+ years of bicycling history.
Buzz Bicycles (https//.buzzbicycles.com)
Batch Outdoors Inc. (https://www.batchbicycles.com/)
Niner Brands International Inc. (https://ninerbikes.com/)
VAAST Bicycles, (a division of Allite Inc.) (https://www.vaastbikes.com/)

Summary

The ID position will participate in the Industrial Design stages of the product development process within the Advanced Product Development Team (APD). Focus on development of innovative features and platforms for any existing UWI categories and any new categories for UWI. The ID group will collaborate with the R&D group to receive blue sky conceptual projects, develop them into targeted strategic product concepts, and then collaborate with the Engineering group to deliver product concepts that can be implemented and produced. The ID position will focus on categories that include Juvenile and Licensed wheeled goods and potential products range from preschool scooters and trikes to sidewalk and kids bicycles, juvenile electric ride-on products, and bicycle related accessories, and other categories.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Support the development of multiple high profile and/or complex projects that may have aggressive and shifting timelines as outlined by the APD Team (Director of Engineering and Development, the Sr. Manager of Industrial Design and R&D, Sr. Industrial Designer, and the NPI Engineer).
Work with cross-functional teams (APD, Design, Category Management, Purchasing, Sales, Marketing, Implementation, Operations, Domestic and Overseas Vendors), to meet or exceed project goals.
Participate in new product planning, brainstorming and market research to evaluate the potential opportunities for innovative new products, materials, or processes.
Investigate, analyze, and report on styling, materials, and processing trends. Utilize key findings when preparing design concepts.
Ensure that juvenile and licensed product lines establish and maintain unique industrial design language(s) and utilize licensor style guides that maintain UWI brand leadership at a variety of retailers and marketplaces.
Prepare concept sketches, detailed drawings, and presentation renderings of product proposals to maintain planned project timelines.
Fabricate 3D study and presentation models in a variety of materials including 3D printing, plastic, wood, foam, steel, aluminum, etc., using traditional machine tools and rapid prototyping processes.
Communicate product concepts to our domestic/overseas vendors and make revisions as needed to meet design, engineering, manufacturing, cost, and quality requirements.
Knowledge and proficient in the use of a variety of software tools including Fusion 360, Solid Works, Sketchbook Pro, Maya, Z-Brush, Gravity Sketch, Key Shot, Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Office, Share Point, Teams/ Zoom, etc.
Work closely with our licensing partners on new product development.
Utilize internal Rapid Prototyping machinery. Research the RP industry and make recommendations on improvements as needed.
Utilize the internal Virtual Reality (V.R.) product development machinery. Research the V.R. industry and make recommendations on improvements as needed. Utilize V.R. capabilities in product development and APD presentations where possible.
Maintain and utilize digital file storage and server protocols, and PLM processes set by the APD Team.
Attend UWI Sales Meetings, customer meetings, industry tradeshows and seminars as required.
Participate in ongoing evaluation to determine how the ID function can be enhanced within the APD Team.
This position will require domestic and international travel. Must be able to obtain a valid passport.
Act as back-up to the Sr. Industrial Designer, as needed.
Other duties may be assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities

No current supervisory responsibilities

Education and/or Experience

A passion for Cycling and the Outdoors!

BSID from accredited Industrial Design program. One to three years of Industrial Design or Mechanical Engineering work experience in a Corporate In-House or Consultancy environment, sporting goods or active outdoor industry is a plus. Fusion 360, Solidworks, Sketchbook Pro, Maya, Z-Brush, Gravity Sketch, Keyshot, Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Office required. A record of leading projects from concept to manufacturing and successful introduction of products into market. Experience working with a collaborative, multi-disciplinary team. Created products that were representative of their respective brand. Created products that were appropriate for chosen market. Work collaboratively with domestic and international vendors and suppliers as required. This position will require some domestic and international travel. Must be able to obtain a valid passport.

Competencies

Customer Focus - Aims to satisfy all customers while maintaining effective relationships, both internal and external. Maximizes those relationships to improve personal, department, and organizational performance. Holds co-workers and customers to a similar standard.
Energy - Have a tremendous amount of energy and passion for our people, products, and brands. Approaches each date willing to take on the day’s challenges. Operating at their individual peak performance without encouragement.
Energize - Energize teams with enthusiasm and excitement without intimidating them. Projects a positive mental attitude and can-do spirit, who lifts up members of his / her team. Does not get discouraged by setbacks.
Edge - Have a competitive edge and an overwhelming desire to win. Hates losing and will give 100% commitment to achieving or exceeding their plan. Willing to make difficult decisions, when called upon.
Execution - Action and performance oriented and are focused on attaining results. A team player who is reliable and follows through on tasks to completion. Attention to details.
Increases Company Value - Strives to increase sales, reduce costs, improve efficiency, and maximize profits to increase the value of the Company.
Innovative / Continuous Improvement - Committed to improving processes, products, services, and a willingness to embrace change for the benefit of our team, department, organization, and shareholders.
Integrity - The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. Elevating challenges in order to collaborate with co-workers, SLT, ELT, and the Board.

Language Skills
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to comprehend and apply principles of advanced calculus, modern algebra, and advanced statistical theory. Ability to work with concepts such as limits, rings, quadratic and differential equations, and proofs of theorems.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism (formulas, scientific equations, graphs, musical notes, etc.,) in its most difficult phases. Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.
Computer Skills
Fusion 360, Solidworks, Sketchbook Pro, Maya, Z-Brush, Gravity Sketch, Keyshot, Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Office experience required.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
None Required.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; outside weather conditions; extreme cold; extreme heat; risk of electrical shock; explosives and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. When in the shop hearing protection may be required.

Acknowledgements
The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.

United Wheels Inc. jobs

Industrial Designer