Fall 2026: Product Design Engineering Co-op, Advanced Development (July to December)

SharkNinja•Needham, MA

7d•$17 - $44•Onsite

About The Position

In this Product Design Engineering Co-op, Advanced Development role, you will operate at the intersection of industrial design and mechanical engineering, taking ownership of open-ended design problems and contributing directly to early-stage product development for Shark and Ninja brands. You will be expected to think broadly, move quickly, and translate ambiguous user needs into feasible, high-impact design solutions. This co-op emphasizes real-world engineering rigor paired with strong design thinking, offering hands-on experience from concept ideation through rapid prototyping, user testing, and iterative refinement based on technical and consumer feedback.

Requirements

Current student in their third year or beyond of a bachelor's program, currently enrolled in a master’s program, or within one year of graduation
Must be able to work a full-time, 40-hour-per-week schedule with 5 days a week onsite in Needham, MA
Has an academic focus on Industrial Design, Product Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering with classes in industrial design, or a related field
Enthusiastic about user-centered product design, form, and function
Experience with CAD software (SolidWorks, Creo, or Rhino) and basic prototyping tools including 3D printing
Hands-on experience building physical prototypes in various materials (e.g., plastic, metal) and familiarity with machine shop equipment
Strong communicator who can convey ideas, concepts, and solutions effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences
Strong intuition for mechanical engineering and physics principles, with an emphasis on applying this in product design, ergonomics, and human-centered engineering
Analytical and detail-oriented, with a creative approach to identifying and addressing potential issues
Demonstrates intellectual curiosity, a hands-on attitude, and commitment to developing elegant, innovative solutions that balance technical and user-focused design principles
Skilled at juggling multiple projects, with flexibility to pivot as needed while keeping sight of broader design objectives
Embodies SharkNinja's success drivers: Rarely Satisfied – Adopt a “no delays” mentality in delivering against market needs/timing Progress over Perfection - Make quick, daily progress and continuously adapts to achieve results rather than requiring perfect planning Details Make the Difference - Can coordinate timelines & deliverables to ensure accuracy and consistency across all consumer-facing materials Winning is a Team Sport - Ability to develop strong cross-functional relationships Communicate for Impact - Strong communication skills - ability to deliver effective presentations to all levels of management
A portfolio is required for this role and should emphasize your design and engineering process, not just final results. We want to understand how you think, prototype, test, and iterate on solutions. Your portfolio may be submitted as: A PDF uploaded as a cover letter, or A link to an online portfolio included on your resume Please include at least 2 projects that highlight: The problem you were solving and your role Early ideation and concept development Prototyping and iteration, including learnings from user testing Technical considerations such as mechanics, ergonomics, materials, or feasibility Academic, personal, and professional projects (non-NDA) are all acceptable. Rough sketches, in-progress work, and photos of prototypes are encouraged. Process and clarity matter more than polish.

Nice To Haves

Basic understanding of electronics and components commonly used in small appliances (motors, sensors, PCBAs) is desirable
Experience with rapid prototyping tools like Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or other developer kits is a plus

Responsibilities

Generate new product concepts with a user-centered approach, focusing on ergonomics, aesthetics, and functional innovation
Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to define solutions that meet functional requirements while enhancing the user experience
Lead and participate in design studies to solve technical and user-experience challenges
Build and test quick turnaround, low fidelity prototypes, and be able to build key findings on user testing with them
Approach everyday design challenges with curiosity and resilience, driven to rethink and innovate