Senior Design Engineer - Specialty Lighting (Hybrid / Des Plaines, IL)

We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light, and more things to come… for our customers, our communities, and our planet. 
 
Acuity Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light, and more things to come. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls (ABL) and the Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG), we design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a valuable difference in people’s lives.  
 
We are positioned at the intersection of sustainability and technology. Our businesses develop technology that helps save our customers energy and reduce their carbon emissions. We achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and location-aware applications. 

Job Summary

We are seeking a dynamic and creative design engineer to lead the development of innovative luminaires that combine architectural design, outstanding performance, and are resilient in harsh environments.  An entrepreneurial mindset and innate curiosity are essential to drive tasks, projects, and the design process.  This role requires a unique blend of imaginative design, engineering expertise, and robust project management skills to deliver exceptional value to our customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead New Product Designs: Translate customer needs and other criteria into complete, detailed, market leading designs to be manufactured in our Minnesota facility.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with product management, sales, manufacturing, designers, and marketing team to ensure cohesive product development and successful market introduction.
• Entrepreneurial Innovation: Understand and identify opportunities where unique and creative design can differentiate Hydrel products from our competitors in ways that add value to our customers.
• Operational Excellence: Design products to take advantage of our internal manufacturing operations and local suppliers to reduce product cost and inventory levels while maintaining our ability to meet production lead times.
• Project Management: Work with team members to develop timelines and track action items.  Organize project work in a logical way to evaluate design paths and systematically prove out concepts and reduce risks.
• Engineering Driven Approach: Develop designs based on engineering principles, regulatory compliance, and manufacturing best practices balanced with installation, aesthetics, and other customer needs.

Ideal Candidate Traits

• Project Leadership: Ability to motivate project teams in different parts of the organization to keep projects on track.
• Design Sensibility: Strong understanding of design processes and how product decisions impact costs and customer experience.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Willing to substantially develop multiple solutions and pivot design paths as needed to develop a design that the team believes will meet the customer's needs.
• Operational Acumen: Skilled in managing complex projects, balancing tactical execution with strategic foresight.
• Effective Communicator: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, capable of building consensus and influencing stakeholders.
• Adaptability: Comfortable navigating ambiguity and pivoting strategies as project and product needs evolve for the best customer outcome.
• Detail-Oriented: Meticulous attention to detail with the ability to prioritize effectively.

Qualifications and Educational Background

• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience on project design teams with a focus on product design and project management. The preference will be for experience in the lighting, automotive, or consumer appliance industries.
• Demonstrated experience working in cross-functional teams and moving projects thru the product development process.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks and knowledge of manufacturing processes including injection molding, stamping, die casting, machining and others.
• Strong analytical skills with the abilit