Research and Design Lead

Patrick Industries, a publicly traded company headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana, invites you to join a team of dedicated Team Members who are passionate about delivering high-quality products and exceptional customer service. As a leading solutions provider serving a diverse range of markets across the United States, our commitment to innovation, quality, and sustainability has positioned us as a high growth, diversified and empowered Team of more than 10,000! Your adventure awaits!

Williamsburg Furniture, a division of Patrick Industries, is seeking a Research and Design Lead to add to their team. The Research and Design Lead's job is to empower the team to fix problems found in a design, process or a product. They will also produce and deliver high-quality designs based on an established design process, improve workflows and ensure effective & efficient outcomes.

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Work with Sales and Management to alter existing products to meet our customers’ immediate needs and reduce costs.
• Develop solutions to complications in the assembly of products on the assembly line.
• Assist with first runs through the assembly lines.
• Communicate product details and changes to coworkers, production and the main office as needed, in the form of prints, illustrations, and verbal instructions.
• Communicate with vendors and fabricators to develop custom components.
• Work with vendors to construct or otherwise obtain components for the products.
• Drive and support changes in methods in R&D and production.
• Travel to offsite locations to trouble shoot issues or discuss options for new concepts.
• Develop and build the inner structure of prototypes and alter according to feedback from others in R&D, of all new products.
• Assist Purchasing and Sales develop a BOM for all products.
• Create and maintain databases of quick reference drawings and illustrations, to aid in research and understanding of existing products for R&D and management.
• Assist Management with documentation in legal matters.
• Train or assist with new hires in R&D.
• Research new components and software that will reduce costs, solve issues, or simplify tasks.
• Participate in design review meetings.
• Consult with receiving and production managers on issues with product components.

Qualifications and Skills:

• 5+ years of Research and Design experience
• 3+ years of experience overseeing a team of other research/design professionals
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints and schematics
• Strong written and verbal communications and interpersonal skills across all levels of the organization and outside customers/vendors
• Ability to demonstrate high performance leadership standards and builds/develops high-performance teams
• Knowledge of 5S, Lean Manufacturing, and Value Propositions is preferred
• Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel)
• Relentless commitment and passion to promote the quality and continuous improvement initiatives
• Align with Patrick Industries “BETTER Together” mentality by pursuing Balance, Excellence, Trust, Teamwork, Empowerment, and Respect within the organization

At Patrick Industries, BETTER Together is our commitment to being our best while striving to bring out the best in one another as we join forces Individually, as Teams, with our Business Units, with our Customers, our Communities and within our entire Patrick family.

Patrick is an Equal Opportunity Employer.