Industrial Design Manager

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Industrial Design Manager

Company: Hayward Industries

Location: Clemmons, North Carolina, US

Job Type: OTHER

Category: Product Design & Innovation / Operations

Date Posted: May 13, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the industrial design execution for key product platforms and New Product Development (NPD) programs, ensuring strong alignment with user needs and business objectives.

• Steward and evolve Hayward's Visual Design Language (VDL) across both physical products and digital interfaces, maintaining brand consistency.

• Translate complex customer requirements and insights into holistic, manufacturable product experiences that balance aesthetics, ergonomics, and functionality.

• Drive concept development and prototyping for next-generation connected products and systems, integrating physical hardware with digital touchpoints.

• Foster a collaborative, user-focused design culture through team leadership, mentorship, and promotion of design best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role sits within Hayward's Global Innovation organization, indicating a strategic focus on forward-thinking product development and a significant impact on the company's product portfolio and brand identity. The emphasis on "connected physical products and digital touchpoints" points towards a need for understanding IoT integration and user experience design within hardware.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead industrial design execution for assigned product platforms and NPD programs, ensuring alignment with design intent, user needs, and business objectives.

• Apply and help evolve Hayward’s Visual Design Language (VDL) across assigned product platforms and NPD programs, ensuring consistency and brand alignment across physical and digital touchpoints.

• Ensure high standards of design quality, usability, and manufacturability from early concept exploration through production release.

• Translate complex customer needs and use cases into holistic product experiences, balancing aesthetics, ergonomics, usability, theory of operation, technical feasibility, and manufacturability.

• Design for the full product lifecycle, including installation, setup, operation, troubleshooting, service, and long-term ownership across multiple user personas.

• Partner closely with Product Management, Mechanical, Electrical, Firmware, Software, UX, and Cloud teams to maintain design intent while resolving technical constraints throughout development and launch.

• Support early-stage concept exploration for next-generation connected products, including proof-of-concept and proof-of-technology efforts within defined program scope.

• Create and evaluate low-, mid-, and high-fidelity prototypes to inform product definition, validate assumptions, communicate design intent, and support user experience testing.

• Prepare prototypes and design artifacts to support cross-functional design reviews and program decisions.

• Collaborate with internal VOC (Voice of Customer), Human Factors, and Insights teams, as well as Product Management, to incorporate user insights across multiple personas into product concepts and value propositions.

• Support early validation activities and contribute to strong Phase 0 concepts and requirements definition.

• Synthesize qualitative and quantitative insights into clear, actionable design direction.

• Work as an equal partner with Product Management and Engineering within Hayward’s NPD trifecta to frame problems, align tradeoffs, and land decisions.

• Support design control activities, including requirements alignment, risk documentation, and design-for-manufacturing considerations.

• Collaborate with external partners as needed to support program execution under defined direction.

• Provide day-to-day guidance, feedback, and mentorship to designers and cross-functional partners, supporting skill development and design quality.

• Promote design best practices and a collaborative, user-focused design culture within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on systems thinking and a holistic product experience, extending beyond just aesthetics to include usability, serviceability, and the entire product lifecycle. The "NPD trifecta" (likely Design, Product Management, and Engineering) implies a highly collaborative and integrated approach to product development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Seven or more years of professional Industrial Design experience leading complex manufactured products or programs.

• Proven experience designing connected devices and systems integrating physical hardware with digital experiences.

• Strong understanding of the full product development lifecycle, from research and ideation through production release.

• Demonstrated experience in mentorship, influence, and design leadership.

Required Skills:

• Industrial Design: Comprehensive expertise in product design principles, form development, and aesthetic execution.

• Visual Design Language (VDL): Ability to apply, steward, and evolve a consistent brand design language across diverse product archetypes.

• Product Development Lifecycle: Deep understanding of all phases from concept to launch, including design for manufacturing (DFM) and design for assembly (DFA).

• Connected Device Design: Experience with products integrating hardware, software, and IoT capabilities.

• Systems Thinking: Ability to design holistic product experiences considering interconnectedness of physical and digital components.

• Prototyping: Proficiency in creating and utilizing low-, mid-, and high-fidelity prototypes for validation and communication.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with Product Management, Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Firmware, Software), UX, and Cloud teams.

• User-Centric Design: Strong ability to translate customer needs, VOC, and human factors insights into actionable design direction.

• Ergonomics & Usability: Solid understanding of human-computer interaction principles and user-centered design.

Preferred Skills:

• Advanced CAD & Surfacing: Proficiency in advanced CAD software and surfacing techniques for complex geometries.

• Human Factors & Insights Synthesis: Ability to deeply integrate human factors research and synthesize qualitative/quantitative data into design strategies.

• Design Leadership & Mentorship: Demonstrated ability to guide, mentor, and develop design talent.

• Consultancy Experience: Exposure to diverse project types and client management from external design agencies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a strong portfolio demonstrating "consistent VDL execution across a portfolio of disparate product archetypes" is critical. Candidates should be prepared to showcase how they've maintained brand integrity while designing for a range of product types.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing end-to-end product and system design work for complex manufactured products.

• Clear demonstration of consistent Visual Design Language (VDL) execution across a diverse range of product archetypes.

• Examples of connected devices and integrated systems, illustrating the seamless connection between physical hardware and digital user experiences.

• Evidence of leading design through the entire product development lifecycle, from initial research and concept exploration to final production release.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly articulate the design process, including problem framing, ideation, concept development, prototyping, and validation stages.

• Documentation of how technical constraints and manufacturability considerations were integrated into the design solutions.

• Examples of collaboration with cross-functional teams (Engineering, Product Management, Software, UX) and how design intent was maintained.

• Evidence of problem-solving for the full product lifecycle, including installation, operation, service, and long-term ownership.

• Demonstrations of how VDL was applied and potentially evolved across different product platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio should not only display final product aesthetics but also the strategic thinking, process rigor, and cross-functional collaboration that led to successful, user-centered, and manufacturable connected products. Emphasis on the "NPD trifecta" collaboration within case studies would be beneficial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Given the "Mid-Senior Level" experience (5-10 years) and the "Manager" title, coupled with the location in Clemmons, NC, a competitive salary range for an Industrial Design Manager is estimated to be between $110,000 and $150,000 annually. This estimate considers the cost of living in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, the demand for experienced design leadership in the manufacturing sector, and industry benchmarks for similar roles.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match.

• Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses and annual salary reviews.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and conference attendance.

• Employee discounts on Hayward products.

• Life insurance and disability coverage.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time workweek, typically 40 hours per week.

• The role is on-site, requiring consistent presence in the Clemmons, NC facility.

• Occasional flexibility may be needed to meet program deadlines or collaborate with global teams in different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on typical compensation for Industrial Design Managers with 7+ years of experience in a mid-sized manufacturing hub like North Carolina. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, qualifications, and negotiation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Hayward Industries operates in the manufacturing sector, specifically as the largest manufacturer of residential swimming pool equipment globally, with a growing presence in the commercial pool market. This industry requires a focus on product durability, innovation, and user experience for both consumers and professionals.

Company Size: Hayward Holdings Inc. is a significant global entity, listed on the NYSE. While the specific size of the Global Innovation team is not detailed, the company's overall scale suggests a structured environment with established processes and resources, but also potential for impact from individuals within innovation roles.

Founded: Hayward was founded in 1964. This long history indicates a stable company with deep market knowledge and established product lines, now focusing on expanding into connected technologies and enhanced user experiences.

Team Structure:

• The role reports to the Senior Director of Global Innovation, indicating a clear reporting hierarchy within the innovation function.

• The Industrial Design Manager will work closely with Product Management and Engineering in a collaborative "NPD trifecta," suggesting a matrixed or project-based team structure for product development.

Methodology:

• The company emphasizes a user-focused design culture, integrating customer insights (VOC), human factors, and usability into product development.

• A strong emphasis is placed on systems thinking and designing for the full product lifecycle.

• Agile or Lean NPD methodologies are likely employed, given the collaborative "trifecta" approach and the need to resolve technical constraints throughout development.

• The evolution and consistent application of a Visual Design Language (VDL) suggest a structured approach to brand identity and product aesthetics.

Company Website: https://careers-hayward.icims.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Hayward's long history in pool equipment manufacturing, combined with its current focus on "connected physical products and digital touchpoints," points to a company undergoing a digital transformation within a traditional industry. This presents an exciting opportunity for designers to bridge the gap between established hardware expertise and modern user experience expectations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a "Manager" level within the Industrial Design function, operating under a Senior Director. It requires significant professional experience (7+ years) and leadership responsibilities, including mentorship and guiding design execution for entire product platforms. This is a crucial role in shaping the company's product strategy and user experience.

Reporting Structure: The Industrial Design Manager reports directly to the Senior Director of Global Innovation. They will also work collaboratively as an equal partner with Product Management and Engineering leads within NPD programs, forming a critical "trifecta" for decision-making and execution.

Operations Impact: The Industrial Design Manager has a direct impact on the company's revenue and market positioning by:

• Ensuring product designs are differentiated, user-friendly, and aesthetically aligned with brand standards, driving customer adoption and satisfaction.

• Translating customer insights into innovative solutions that meet market demands and create competitive advantages.

• Stewarding the Visual Design Language (VDL), which is essential for brand recognition and perceived quality across Hayward's extensive product portfolio.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to advance to a Senior Manager or Director of Industrial Design, overseeing larger teams and more strategic innovation initiatives.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like connected product design, user experience integration, or advanced manufacturing techniques within the pool equipment sector.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop broader leadership skills by contributing significantly to the NPD trifecta and influencing product strategy across departments.

• Mentorship: Formalize mentorship of junior designers and contribute to building a strong design culture and talent pipeline within Hayward.

• Strategic Impact: Play a key role in shaping the future of Hayward's product ecosystem, influencing innovation roadmaps and long-term product vision.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is positioned as a key influencer in product strategy and execution. Growth opportunities are likely tied to successful product launches, VDL evolution, and effective team leadership, aligning with standard career progression in product development and design management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based on-site at Hayward's facility located at 1 Hayward Industrial Drive, Clemmons, NC 27012. This suggests a professional office environment, likely integrated with R&D, engineering, and potentially manufacturing or prototyping labs.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is Clemmons, North Carolina. While Hayward has other facilities globally, this specific role is tied to the Clemmons site. The location in the Piedmont Triad region offers a balance of professional opportunities and a moderate cost of living.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a workspace that fosters close collaboration with Product Management, Engineering, UX, and other innovation teams. The "NPD trifecta" model necessitates frequent interaction and shared problem-solving.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (CAD, surfacing tools), prototyping equipment, and potentially digital collaboration platforms will be available to support design execution and communication.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular design reviews, team meetings, and cross-functional project discussions will be integral to the daily workflow. The manager will also be expected to foster team cohesion and a positive design culture.

Work Schedule:

• The role is designated as full-time, with standard working hours typically around 40 per week.

• As an on-site position, consistent attendance at the Clemmons facility is expected.

• Occasional travel (10-20% domestically, with occasional international travel) is required, which may necessitate adjustments to the regular schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement emphasizes the importance of in-person collaboration, team dynamics, and hands-on engagement with product development processes. The travel component suggests involvement in broader company initiatives or R&D collaborations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience against the job requirements.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the Senior Director of Global Innovation to evaluate your leadership style, strategic thinking, design philosophy, and cultural fit.

• Cross-Functional Team Interviews: Interviews with key partners from Product Management and Engineering (part of the NPD trifecta) to assess collaboration skills, understanding of technical constraints, and ability to translate user needs into manufacturable solutions.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio, highlighting specific case studies that demonstrate your end-to-end product design capabilities, VDL execution, and experience with connected devices and systems.

• Final Round: Potentially a final interview with senior leadership to discuss overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 impactful projects that best showcase your experience in leading complex manufactured products, designing connected devices, and executing/evolving a Visual Design Language.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process (ideation, research, prototyping, collaboration), the solutions, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Highlight VDL: Explicitly demonstrate how you applied and maintained brand consistency through your VDL stewardship across different product archetypes.

• Showcase Systems Thinking: Present projects that clearly illustrate your ability to design integrated physical and digital experiences and consider the full product lifecycle.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved usability scores, reduced manufacturing costs, increased customer satisfaction).

• Prepare for Technical Discussion: Be ready to discuss design-for-manufacturing, material choices, and ergonomic considerations.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for potential design challenges or case studies that might assess your problem-solving skills, ability to work with constraints, and how you approach translating user insights into design concepts.

• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely, especially when discussing trade-offs between aesthetics, functionality, and manufacturability.

• Consider how you would approach evolving or applying Hayward's VDL to a new product concept.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is a critical component. Candidates should prepare to walk through their work with a strategic narrative, emphasizing their contributions to the NPD process and their ability to lead design initiatives from concept to production.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Industrial Design Software: Expertise in industry-standard CAD software (e.g., SOLIDWORKS, Rhino, Fusion 360, Alias) and surfacing tools is highly probable, given the "Advanced CAD and surfacing capability" preferred skill.

• 3D Modeling & Rendering: Proficiency in tools like KeyShot, Keyshot VR, or similar for high-fidelity visualizations and presentations.

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with various prototyping methods, from rapid 3D printing and CNC machining to digital mockups and interactive prototypes.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Other Relevant Technologies:

• UX/UI Design Tools: Familiarity with tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD could be beneficial for collaborating on digital touchpoints associated with connected products.

• PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) Systems: Experience working within PLM environments is likely, as it's integral to managing product data through the development lifecycle.

• Collaboration Platforms: Proficiency with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, or Asana for cross-functional communication and project management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "connected devices and systems integrating physical hardware with digital experiences" suggests a need for designers to understand the broader ecosystem, not just the physical product. Familiarity with IoT principles and digital interface design collaboration is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and addressing user needs, ensuring products are intuitive, functional, and enhance the user's experience.

• Innovation & Excellence: A drive to push creative boundaries, explore new technologies, and deliver high-quality, differentiated products that set industry standards.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A belief in the power of cross-functional partnerships, valuing diverse perspectives and working cohesively to achieve common goals.

• Integrity & Quality: Upholding high standards in design, manufacturing, and business practices, ensuring product reliability and customer trust.

• Efficiency & Manufacturability: A practical approach to design, balancing aesthetic and functional goals with the realities of efficient production and cost-effectiveness.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated NPD Trifecta: A highly collaborative approach where Industrial Design, Product Management, and Engineering work as equal partners, sharing ownership and decision-making throughout the NPD process.

• Open Communication: Encouraging open dialogue, constructive feedback, and proactive problem-solving among team members and cross-functional departments.

• Design Reviews: Regular, structured design reviews involving stakeholders from various disciplines to gather feedback, align on direction, and ensure design intent is met.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting a culture where best practices, insights, and learnings are shared freely across design and innovation teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Hayward's emphasis on innovation within a long-standing manufacturing industry suggests a culture that balances established best practices with a forward-looking approach to technology and user experience. The "trifecta" collaboration implies a culture that values shared accountability and rapid decision-making.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing VDL with Innovation: Consistently applying a defined Visual Design Language while simultaneously innovating and creating fresh, differentiated product designs.

• Integrating Physical and Digital: Seamlessly merging complex hardware with intuitive digital interfaces and connected functionalities, ensuring a cohesive user experience.

• Technical Constraints: Navigating and resolving technical limitations imposed by engineering, manufacturing, and cost targets without compromising core design intent and user experience.

• Global Product Portfolio Management: Ensuring design consistency and quality across a wide range of product types for diverse markets and user segments.

• Mentorship and Team Development: Effectively guiding and developing a team of designers, fostering their growth while maintaining high design standards and project timelines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Connected Product Ecosystem: Deepen expertise in IoT, smart home technologies, and the integration of physical products with cloud-based services and mobile applications.

• Advanced Design Technologies: Explore and implement new CAD surfacing techniques, advanced rendering, and virtual reality (VR) for design exploration and review.

• Cross-Functional Acumen: Gain deeper insights into product management strategies, engineering challenges, and software development processes, enhancing your ability to collaborate effectively.

• Leadership Development: Participate in leadership training programs to enhance your management, mentorship, and strategic planning skills.

• Industry Trends: Stay abreast of emerging trends in consumer electronics, smart home technology, and industrial design best practices through industry publications, conferences, and workshops.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges reflect the dynamic nature of product development in a technology-driven market. Growth opportunities are geared towards expanding expertise in connected product design and enhancing leadership capabilities within a global innovation framework.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance a strong brand Visual Design Language with the need to innovate a product line. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on VDL stewardship and creative problem-solving).

• "Walk us through a complex connected product you designed. How did you ensure seamless integration between the physical hardware and its digital interface, and what were the key user experience considerations?" (Emphasize systems thinking and connected product design).

• "How do you approach translating Voice of Customer (VOC) or Human Factors insights into actionable design requirements for engineering and product management?" (Highlight your user-centric approach and ability to synthesize research).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of Hayward, what do you see as the biggest opportunities for industrial design to impact our product portfolio and brand perception?" (Demonstrate research and strategic thinking about Hayward's market position).

• "How would you contribute to fostering a user-focused design culture within Hayward's Global Innovation team?" (Discuss your leadership style and approach to team development).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each selected project, begin with the business/user problem, your specific role and influence, the design process, key decisions and trade-offs, the final solution, and the measurable impact or learnings.

• Emphasize VDL: Clearly point out how VDL was applied and maintained. If you evolved it, explain why and how.

• Showcase Connectedness: If applicable, clearly illustrate the hardware-software integration and the end-to-end user journey.

• Quantify Results: Use data or specific examples to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., user feedback, market adoption, efficiency gains).

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific technical challenges, material choices, manufacturing processes, or ergonomic considerations.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of creative design leadership, strategic thinking, strong collaboration skills, and a deep understanding of the product development lifecycle, particularly for connected hardware.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Industrial Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Hayward careers portal.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience relevant to leading complex manufactured products, designing connected devices, and managing product lifecycles. Ensure keywords like "Industrial Design," "VDL," "NPD," "Connected Products," "CAD," and "Systems Thinking" are present.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 impactful projects that best showcase your ability to lead design, execute VDL, and integrate physical/digital experiences. Prepare a narrative for each project, focusing on problem, process, solution, and impact.

• Research Hayward Industries: Understand their product lines, market position, recent innovations, and company culture. Be ready to discuss how your skills align with their strategic goals.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse your portfolio walkthrough, focusing on clear communication, strategic storytelling, and preparedness for technical questions about design-for-manufacturing and connected systems.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.