Design Researcher

Milwaukee Tool•Brookfield, WI

17h

About The Position

The Design Researcher is part of Milwaukee Tool’s collaborative, user-centered design and technology development group, which focuses on the early stages of product development. The role informs and influences business direction through strategic and functional research findings. The researcher leads research efforts with Engineers, Industrial Designers, and Product Managers to inspire and influence decision makers on new solutions for the construction industry. The position involves designing and executing research plans to understand construction trades, building and maintaining relationships with end users, synthesizing findings into actionable insights, and facilitating tool evaluations and collaborative workshops. The Design Researcher also presents findings to stakeholders through concise presentations and events using visual and storytelling formats. The role requires 25–40% overnight domestic travel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, Business, or Engineering plus three years of experience; or a master’s degree plus at least one year of experience, including internships, in the listed fields.
At least one year of experience in product development, with an understanding of innovation and design thinking.
At least one year of experience using qualitative research methods, including observation, interviewing, and contextual inquiry.
Able to travel 25–40% overnight domestically.
Must have a valid driver’s license.
Must be prepared to present a project and its methodology during an interview.

Responsibilities

Design and execute multifaceted research plans, including qualitative discovery research on jobsites, primary and secondary research on competitive 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 context.
Establish strong relationships with end users to support discovery research, co-creation, and candid feedback.
Analyze and synthesize research findings into insights that inform opportunities for new features, functionalities, and business approaches.
Plan and facilitate hands-on tool evaluations, team workshops, and analysis sessions.
Present research findings to stakeholders through engaging, concise presentations and events using photos, video, diagrams, storytelling, and demonstrations.