Concept Development Specialist
- Hiring from
- United States
- Work type
- Hybrid
- Posted
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Founded in 1961, we are a growing manufacturing company. IMMI® is the trusted, global leader of safety solutions, helping to protect millions of lives every day. For over sixty-five years, IMMI has led the way in developing, designing, testing, and manufacturing innovative safety restraints and systems. IMMI’s safety products are found worldwide on car seats, heavy trucks, school buses, recreational/off road, military, fire/EMS, motor coach, and construction vehicles. IMMI recently became an ESOP giving team members the opportunity to become owners and share in the company’s future success. IMMI is a dynamic organization serving more than eleven markets and hundreds of customers across multiple countries. IMMI is also home to IMMI VIP steering wheels and CAPE®, the world’s leading state-of-the-art testing facility.
IMMI is seeking a qualified and highly motivated individual to fill the role of Concept Development Specialist. The Concept Development Specialist is a hybrid engineering role built around two equally critical mandates: (1) maximizing the efficiency, organization, and readiness of IMMI's engineering development environments so engineers can move faster from idea to prototype, and (2) exploring new markets, technologies, and user needs that align with IMMI's Mission, Vision, and Core Values to fuel future product growth.
This role serves as both the steward of the IDEA Center and prototype/engineering development spaces, and as a forward-looking scout for new product, accessory, service, and business opportunities. The Specialist works closely with Engineering, Marketing, Product Management, Manufacturing, Sales, and Leadership to translate process improvements and market insight into faster, higher-quality innovation.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Innovation Workspace Development
- Continuously improve the IMMI IDEA Center, prototype shop, and engineering support areas.
- Implement and sustain 5S methodologies across engineering environments.
- Develop and sustain standards for organization, labeling, storage, visual management, and inventory control.
- Ensure engineering development spaces remain customer-ready and showcase IMMI's innovation capabilities.
Workflow & Process Efficiency
- Improve engineering workflow efficiency by optimizing workspace layouts, material flow, tool access, and prototype assembly stations.
- Establish systems for efficient storage and retrieval of engineering samples, prototypes, benchmark products, and testing equipment.
- Coordinate workspace improvement projects that enhance productivity, safety, aesthetics, and team collaboration.
- Identify bottlenecks in the concept-to-prototype pipeline and implement process changes that reduce cycle time.
Engineering Support & Continuous Improvement
- Support engineering teams during prototype builds, concept demonstrations, testing activities, and customer visits.
- Facilitate brainstorming events, 5S audits, and continuous improvement workshops focused on engineering productivity.
- Promote a culture of organization, discipline, and efficiency without sacrificing creativity or speed.
- Track and report workspace/process KPIs (e.g., 5S audit scores, project cycle time, space utilization) to engineering leadership.
Market & User Needs Research
- Identify unmet customer and user needs through research, observation, interviews, and market analysis.
- Study trends across industries to identify opportunities for new products, technologies, and services.
- Investigate pain points experienced by consumers, technicians, operators, caregivers, drivers, passengers, military personnel, and other potential end users.
- Benchmark competitor products and technologies; maintain organized collections of competitive products and benchmark data.
Concept Creation & Business Fit
- Develop concept proposals that address identified problems through innovative solutions aligned with IMMI's Mission, Vision, and Core Values.
- Evaluate new concepts against IMMI's core skill sets, manufacturing capabilities, and strategic growth objectives before advancing them.
- Create concept sketches, mockups, prototypes, presentations, and business cases supporting new opportunities.
- Present concepts and recommendations to engineering leadership and cross-functional teams.
Product Enhancement & IP Development
- Partner with Product Engineering and New Product Development teams to create accessories, add-on features, and complementary products aligned with ongoing programs.
- Identify opportunities to enhance the functionality, usability, aesthetics, and customer value of existing products.
- Facilitate brainstorming workshops and design thinking activities that connect market insight to buildable concepts.
Skills & Qualifications:
Required
- Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Design, Innovation, Product Development, Technology Management, Marketing, Human-Centered Design, or a related field.
- Minimum 3 years of experience in product development, innovation, engineering support, industrial design, manufacturing, or continuous improvement.
- Demonstrated understanding of 5S, Lean principles, visual management, and workplace organization.
- Experience developing concepts, prototypes, mockups, or product improvements, with strong creativity and problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
- Strong organizational and project management skills; ability to work independently while collaborating across functions.
Preferred
- Experience within automotive, child safety, military, transportation, outdoor recreation, industrial, or consumer product markets.
- Training in Lean, Kaizen, or workplace organization methodologies.
- Experience in Design Thinking, Human-Centered Design, or Innovation Management.
- Experience with CAD software, rapid prototyping, 3D printing, fabrication, or maker-space environments.
- Understanding of market research and customer discovery methodologies.
Required Tools:
- Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook)
- ERP/PLM systems (e.g. Oracle, SAP, Fusion, EPDM)
- CAD software (SolidWorks preferred)
- Digital collaboration tools
- Rapid prototyping and fixture-building tools
- Standard engineering laboratory and prototype shop tools
- Visual management and project tracking software
Reporting Structure:
- Reports to: Director of Engineering
- Supervises: None
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to work in office, laboratory, prototype, and workshop settings.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally.
- Ability to move products, samples, prototype materials, and displays.
- Frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, and visual inspection activities.
- Ability to operate standard engineering and prototyping equipment safely.
Working Conditions/Environment:
- This work is deadline-oriented, requires multitasking, fluctuating work schedule, and flexibility within the workday.
- Frequent use of a computer and other office equipment is necessary.
- Requires the ability for close vision, distance vision and depth perception.
- Requires working and interacting with others, both in person and through phone, electronic, and written correspondence, and the ability to listen effectively, communicate clearly, maintain attention to detail, and perform focused work.
- When in the warehouse, this position requires working with dirt/dust and noise. The use of a variety of proper PPE is required to provide a safe working environment.
- This position requires working with various temperature conditions.
Location:
- Westfield, IN (Hybrid or Remote options available based on policy)
- Travel may be required (International if necessary)
Compensation Classification:
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt (eligible for overtime compensation in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws)
Benefits:
- Team Member Ownership/ESOP
- Healthcare, vision, dental options
- Company Paid Long and Short-Term Disability Insurance
- Ten (10) paid holidays
- Four (4) IMMI Serves volunteer days per year
- Onsite Health and Wellness Clinic
- Generous Paid Time Off
- Bonus Opportunities
- 401k
- Tuition Assistance
