Industrial Designer

The Industrial Designer will play a key role in imagining, developing, and executing new product and brand experiences across UFP Construction's business units-Factory Built, Site Built, Commercial, Concrete Forming Solutions, and idX/Quest Design.

This role blends creative problem-solving, engineering awareness, and brand-forward design to bring physical products, systems, environments, and experiences to life.

You will collaborate closely with product engineers, sales teams, BU leadership, marketing, and manufacturing plants to conceptualize and visualize solutions that support UFP's growth strategy, innovation pipeline, and customer experience goals.

Location:onsite in Charlotte, NC

Job Description

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

New Product Development

• Create original product concepts, sketches, 3D models, and prototypes across categories such as prefabricated components, alternative materials, accessories, retail fixtures, and modular systems.
• Support the NPD pipeline (Discovery Concepting Validation Launch) by producing clear visuals, technical drawings, and storytelling assets.
• Translate BU needs, customer problems, and field insights into scalable solutions aligned with UFP's manufacturing capabilities.
• Assist with rapid ideation sessions, design sprints, and internal innovation challenges.

Innovation & Research

• Conduct trend analysis, competitive audits, and research into materials, construction methods, and emerging technologies (CFS, aluminum, prefab, retail fixture innovations, etc.).
• Explore new design opportunities that enhance efficiency, reduce install time, or improve user experience for both end users and installers.
• Develop early models and visualizations to support innovation pitches and executive reviews.

Brand & Experience Enhancement

• Design branded environments, fixtures, and experiences for internal and external demonstrations-showrooms, events, trade shows, customer walk-throughs, and digital storytelling.
• Create product visuals, cut sheets, animations, rendering packages, and configurator-ready assets to elevate brand presence across UFP Construction.
• Support cohesive brand expression across segments, ensuring design solutions follow UFP's visual standards and segment brand strategy.
• Collaboration & Cross-Functional Support
• Partner with Engineering, Sales, Marketing, and Operations to ensure design intent marries practicality, manufacturability, and customer needs.
• Work with our Charlotte Creative Group (Marketing + NPD) to deliver highly visual presentations, campaigns, and product education content.
• Participate in prototype reviews, field testing, and plant visits to validate design adjustments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Architecture, or related discipline.
• 2-5+ years of experience in product design, industrial design, CAD modeling, or physical product visualization.
• Proficient in design and modeling software: Al Design, Rhino, SolidWorks, SketchUp, Adobe CC, KeyShot, or similar.
• Strong visualization and communication skills-sketching, rendering, storytelling.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes and material behaviors (wood, composites, metals, plastics, and alternative materials).
• Ability to balance design creativity with real-world constraints (cost, manufacturing, installation, field conditions).
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities across multiple business units.

Design + Strategy + Engineering = Scalable Innovation.