Staff Mechanical Engineer

Polaris Inc.•Wyoming, WY

1d•$112,000 - $148,000

About The Position

The Staff Mechanical Engineer on the Advanced Technology & Innovation Team imagines, develops, and brings to life new vehicle concepts, user experiences, and product innovations that shape the future of Polaris. The role combines engineering expertise, creativity, and strategic thinking to explore unmet customer needs, emerging trends, and disruptive technologies. In close collaboration with Design, User Experience, Product Planning, and Engineering teams, the engineer turns insights and ideas into tangible concepts, prototypes, and innovation strategies that inform the next generation of Polaris products.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field.
Eight or more years of experience in mechanical engineering design or related engineering roles is preferred.
Experience with calibration and software is preferred.
Comfort working with ambiguity and flexibility in projects and emerging technologies.
Demonstrated ability to think creatively and challenge conventional engineering approaches.
Proficiency with 3D modeling tools such as Creo, Blender, or similar platforms.
Strong mechanical aptitude and demonstrated problem-solving ability and creative thinking skills.
Experience developing system requirements and performance specifications.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Effective interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across cross-functional teams.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Project, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Former employees must be eligible for rehire; current employees must be in good standing.

Nice To Haves

Eight or more years of experience in mechanical engineering design or related engineering roles.
Experience with calibration and software.
Agriculture, transportation, powersports, or automotive design experience.
Fabrication experience, including machining, welding, and assembly.
Strong analytical abilities, including problem-solving and root cause analysis.

Responsibilities

Lead the creation, development, and refinement of innovative vehicle, system, and customer experience concepts that explore opportunities for Polaris products and markets.
Translate customer insights, market trends, emerging technologies, and business opportunities into engineering concepts and prototype solutions.
Design, engineer, and build concept vehicles, functional prototypes, and proof-of-concept models to communicate future product visions and validate innovation opportunities.
Collaborate with Industrial Design, User Experience, Product Planning, and Strategy teams to develop solutions balancing customer desirability, technical feasibility, and business viability.
Drive innovation projects from ideation through concept development, facilitating experimentation, concept reviews, and iterative learning cycles.
Evaluate emerging technologies, materials, and industry trends to identify opportunities for competitive advantage or new customer value.
Lead rapid prototyping, testing, and validation activities to gather insights, reduce uncertainty, and inform future product direction.
Present innovation concepts, recommendations, and strategic opportunities to engineering, design, and executive leadership teams.
Partner with cross-functional teams to assess technical feasibility, identify innovation risks, and recommend paths for further exploration or product development.
Build relationships with external partners, suppliers, startups, universities, and technology organizations to identify and leverage emerging innovation opportunities.
Document learnings, insights, and recommendations from innovation initiatives to support future product and technology strategies.