Entry to Mid-Level Design Researcher

Job Description:

About TTI:

TTI is a world-class leader in design, manufacturing and marketing of power tools and accessories, outdoor product equipment and floor care for consumers, professional and industrial users in the home improvement, repair and construction industries. Our unrelenting strategic focus on powerful brands, innovative products, operational excellence and exceptional people drives our culture. This focus and drive provides TTI with a powerful platform for sustainable leadership and strong growth.

Our brands and products are recognized worldwide for their deep heritage, superior quality, outstanding performance and compelling innovation. Our products include professional power tools and accessories, outdoor power equipment and floor care. Our brands include Milwaukee®, AEG®, Ryobi®, Homelite®, Oreck®, Hoover®, Dirt Devil® and Vax®.

About the Advanced Concepts Team:

Advanced Concepts is an early innovation R&D group comprised of researchers, engineers, and designers within the Consumer Power Tools for the RYOBI and RIDGID brands. We work with teams throughout the company including engineering, industrial design, analytical, and product management to deliver both exploratory and evaluative user research findings that drive concept development and prototype evaluation. We are a very hands-on group that thrives on learning throughout our diverse projects and apply our skillsets to create new and innovative products that meet our users’ needs.

Job Summary:

We are looking for a Design Researcher to join our Advanced Concepts team at TTI within the Consumer Power Tools Group, supporting the RYOBI and RIDGID brands in Anderson, South Carolina. The Design Researcher will join the Advanced Concepts team to explore our users’ needs, pain points, and contexts delivering actionable insights to the Product Development team. The primary research methodology of this Design Research role is in-field qualitative research, with supplemental quantitative and online research.

Responsibilities:

• Design and execute multi-faceted research plans to learn about user needs for consumer power tools. These plans typically include qualitative discovery research in users’ homes, primary and secondary research exercises to understand the competitive product set, and evaluation of mock-ups and preliminary concept prototypes in field.
• Build, grow, and maintain a network of users to understand their evolving needs and work context. Establishing strong relationships with our end users is critical to conducting appropriate discovery research, co-creating solutions, and eliciting honest feedback.
• Analyze and synthesize research findings into key insights that inform opportunities for new feature sets, functionalities, and business approaches.
• Plan and facilitate hands-on tool evaluations, team workshops, and analysis sessions. These participatory co-creation sessions result in a common ground of familiarity with a tool and its use, while inspiring creativity and collaboration within your team.
• Present research findings in an engaging and concise manner to key stakeholders across the business. You will need to communicate through well-crafted presentations and events that educate and inspire your team through photos, video, diagrams, storytelling and demonstrations.
  
  

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in one of the following or related: Industrial Design, Psychology, Marketing, Sociology, Anthropology, Business Strategy & Innovation
• Master’s Degree in one of the following or related is a plus: Design Research, Industrial Design, Psychology, Marketing, Sociology, Anthropology, Business Strategy & Innovation
• Strong work ethic
• Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team effectively
• Disposition to thrive in a fast paced environment with responsibility for multiple projects at once
• Experience with basic design principles preferred
• 25-35% overnight domestic travel
  
  

Entry: 0-2 years of experience, prior design research experience preferred

Mid-Level: 3-5 years of experience, prior design research experience required

We Value:

• Self-starters who can work well autonomously and in collaboration with teams
• Designers with a human centered approach to problem solving
• Individuals with the “Maker” mindset – excited to jump into a new project and not afraid to get their hands dirty
• Collaborative contributors – brings outside experience and interests to brainstorms
• Cross-functional communicators – able to translate information between technical and non-technical co-workers, in Anderson and internationally
  
  

Benefits:

We offer competitive wages and a comprehensive benefits package -- tuition assistance, 401(k), medical/dental/vision coverage, vacation and holidays