Design Researcher II

Milwaukee Tool • Brookfield, MT

5d

About The Position

The Design Researcher II works on Milwaukee Tool’s collaborative user-centered design and technology development team, focusing on the early, exploratory stages of product development. The role leads research for multidisciplinary teams of engineers, industrial designers, and product managers, using strategic and functional findings to inform business direction and inspire new solutions for the construction industry.

The researcher studies construction trades and users’ evolving needs and work contexts, builds relationships with end users, and turns research findings into insights for product features, functionality, and business approaches. The role also facilitates hands-on evaluations, workshops, and co-creation sessions, and communicates findings to stakeholders through presentations and engaging materials. The team encourages experimentation with research approaches and methodologies.

Applicants must be permanently eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship. The role requires 25–40% overnight domestic travel and a valid driver’s license. Candidates must be prepared to present a project and its methodology during an interview.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Business, or Engineering and at least 3 years of experience; or a bachelor’s degree in one of those fields and at least 5 years of experience, including internships.
• At least 3 years of product development experience with an understanding of innovation and design thinking.
• At least 3 years of experience with qualitative research methods, including observation, interviewing, co-creation, participatory design, and design sprints.
• Permanently eligible to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Available for 25–40% overnight domestic travel.
• Prepared to present a project and its methodology during an interview.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and online collaboration tools such as Mural or Miro.
• Some experience editing video and using 2D software.
• Able to approach potential research participants, including on construction sites, and engage them in observation and open-ended questioning.
• Curious, adaptable, proactive, and comfortable with ambiguity and changing research plans in response to new information.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills for working with engineers, industrial designers, marketers, multidisciplinary teams, and users.
• Strategic, user-centered thinker who can connect research to end-user activities and needs and champion user insights in product development.
• Collaborative and willing to try new methods, learn from mistakes, and make non-obvious connections.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute multifaceted research plans about construction trades, including qualitative discovery research on jobsites, primary and secondary research on competing products, and field evaluation of mock-ups and preliminary concept prototypes.
• Build, grow, and maintain a network of users to understand their evolving needs and work contexts.
• Establish strong relationships with end users to support discovery research, co-creation, and honest feedback.
• Analyze and synthesize research findings into insights that inform new features, functionality, and business approaches.
• Plan and facilitate hands-on tool evaluations, team workshops, and analysis sessions.
• Present research findings clearly and engagingly to business stakeholders using presentations, events, photos, video, diagrams, storytelling, and demonstrations.
• Experiment with new research approaches and help develop tools and methodologies suited to the team’s work.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level