Principal Industrial Designer

ALL REALTRUCK Career•Ann Arbor, MI

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Principal Industrial Designer will serve as a visionary leader and subject matter expert, driving innovation and shaping the future of RealTruck's product portfolio. This role will define and execute design strategies that enhance the company’s market position and create meaningful, user-centered solutions. While collaborating across functions, this role will set the standard for excellence in industrial design, aligning work with both brand objectives and business goals. This role will require a highly experienced, forward-thinking designer who thrives on solving highly complex challenges, influencing strategy, and delivering breakthrough products that resonate company wide.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in industrial design or a related field is required; Master’s degree is highly preferred.
12+ years of experience in industrial design, with a portfolio showcasing groundbreaking, market-leading designs that reflect a deep understanding of user needs and business impact.
Experience working in a global organization and designing products for diverse markets.
Proficiency in CAD Modeling – Solidworks.
Proficiency in Rendering Software – Keyshot.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Photoshop, Illustrator.
Skilled in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); ability to prepare professional PowerPoint presentations.
Strong interpersonal skills that bring a positive and collaborative working relationship.
Excellent communication (verbal/written), collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to write, speak and comprehend English.
Proven leadership skills that inspire and motivate team members and colleagues.
Strong understanding of branding and the development of a design strategy that aligns with the brand.
Naturally curious, passionate and relentlessly driven to find better solutions to solve for users’ needs.
Ability to dive in, learn, analyze, and adapt.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Strong sketching and conceptualization skills, with the ability to communicate ideas visually.

Responsibilities

Define and champion the industrial design vision and strategy for the organization, ensuring alignment with global business objectives.
Lead the exploration of emerging trends, technologies, and user insights to identify opportunities for innovation across multiple product categories.
Develop and maintain a cohesive design language and system that supports the brand’s identity and long-term growth.
Serve as a key driver in shaping the product roadmap by identifying opportunities for differentiation and disruption in the market.
Create visionary, industry-defining concepts and designs that address user needs, market trends, and technical constraints.
Lead initiatives to explore new materials, manufacturing techniques, and AI-aided design tools to push the boundaries of what is possible.
Develop prototypes, mock-ups, and renderings that bring cutting-edge ideas to life and inspire internal and external stakeholders.
Deliver world-class designs that blend form and function, elevating the user experience and creating competitive advantage.
Act as a trusted partner to Engineering, Product Management, Marketing, and other key functions to drive innovation from concept to production.
Present and communicate design strategies and solutions to leadership and cross-functional teams, gaining buy-in through compelling storytelling and visual communication.
Collaborate with global teams to ensure designs are culturally relevant, regionally optimized, and scalable across markets.
Partner with manufacturing teams to ensure that design intent is preserved through production, balancing feasibility with creativity.
Serve as a thought leader and advocate for design excellence across the company, influencing culture, processes, and priorities.
Represent the organization in industry forums, conferences, and external engagements, showcasing the company’s design leadership.
Act as a mentor and informal guide for junior and mid-level designers from multiple teams, sharing expertise and fostering a culture of innovation and learning.
Drive multiple high-impact, complex projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery of solutions that exceed expectations.
Utilize advanced design tools and techniques, including CAD modeling, rendering, and prototyping, to create compelling deliverables.
Establish metrics and benchmarks for design quality, driving continuous improvement in design processes and outcomes.