Grand Rapids, USA
Industrial designer
at Steelcase
Steelcase is hiring an industrial designer to join its team in Grand Rapids, USA.
Who we are
Steelcase was founded as an office furniture maker, and we’ve evolved into the international leader in workplace solutions. We apply our insights to the intersection of space, technology, and furniture, helping individuals and teams in leading companies around the world to be more successful at work.
We pursue innovation, strive for sustainability, and develop insights in every part of our business.
Why people choose to work with us
Steelcase has been recognized as one of the “World’s Most Admired” companies by Fortune Magazine for the past 15 years. We have created an environment where teams are empowered and appreciated for their contributions. We admire hard work coupled with work-life balance. We nurture a culture of continuous learning and one of our key values is treating everyone with dignity and respect. We are a globally distributed team, with two other nodes located in Munich, Germany and Hong Kong, China. Some travel will be required depending on project work.
You will work at the Steelcase Innovation Center in Grand Rapids, MI. Grand Rapids is a thriving Midwest city, less than an hour away from beautiful Lake Michigan, known for its crafts beers, Artprize and a substantial healthcare and research industry.
What you will be doing
The Steelcase design team is looking for a senior industrial designer who is passionate about the nature of work and how furniture and technology can impact space. Steelcase Design is a collaborative, multi-disciplinary studio that is responsible for innovative products, showrooms, and employee work environments. This is an amazing opportunity to engage on diverse projects for Steelcase globally. This role will apply research insights and design skills to creatively conceptualize and develop unique and innovative product and component recommendations.
Required skills and attributes for success
Have a clear, emerging portfolio of work, showcasing your ability to conceptualize and work well in the ambiguous, front end of design. Portfolio should demonstrate empathy in all phases of the design process and clearly depict the thinking behind each step in the process.
Curious, high emotional intelligence and can demonstrate ability to research design problems and express design direction in clear, compelling frameworks.
- ability to define, own and clearly communicate, while helping cross-functional teams understand the design intent through strong presentation skills
- understand how to give form to objects, to create objects that are desirable to humans
- demonstrate quick and effective work style through concept explorations seeking to illustrate design problems and potential solutions
- collaborative and team-oriented. Establish and maintain a positive working relationship with peers and leadership and see value in others
- ability to learn and apply new technologies within the work environment
- gave a growth mindset with diverse interests and experiences
Education/experience:
- five to seven years’ of hands-on design experience. A minimum of an BFA or BS degree in industrial design or product design or furniture design
- knowledge of, or ability to learn, production processes and materials
- have the ability to work in all phases of product development, from concept through production details
- furniture experience is preferred but not required
- proficient in 2D drawing and 3D modeling (SketchUp, Autodesk Fusion, Adobe Creative Cloud, Teams and Google Docs)
- a demonstrated ability to leverage shop skills and material and process knowledge to make thinking tangible
Your future team
This role is a member of the Grand Rapids based Steelcase Design Studio with opportunities to focus on design problems across a variety of categories and product typologies. Each project is an opportunity to own design challenges, to lead and mentor others and to be part of focused multidisciplinary teams within the Steelcase Product Development Organization. Team members will represent subject areas such as engineering, marketing, supply chain, operations and project management.
How to Apply
We invite you to submit your resume/CV through our careers page here.
We are proud to have a diverse and inclusive workforce, and we’re always looking to get better. We value applicants who are comfortable interacting with people different than themselves. Women, people of any race or national origin, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, veterans, working mothers and fathers, and everyone else invited to apply.
Steelcase provides employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, creed, genetic information, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or veteran status and bases all employment decisions only on valid job requirements.