Principal Mechanical Engineer, New Product Development

Our Mission:

At SharkNinja, our mission to positively impact people's lives every day in every home around the world allows our employees to be thinkers and tinkerers, designers and doers, creators and number crunchers makers of things they love. As we continue to grow, we are excited to add a Principal Engineer, NPD to our global team.

Summary:

We are seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer, New Product Development (NPD) to help us design the next generation of innovative products across our Ninja portfolio. Based in our Needham office, you will be a critical technical contributor, driving the development of high-impact, consumer-centric designs that define our product roadmap. You will bring a blend of technical depth, creativity, and problem-solving rigor to deliver meaningful product experiences.

Role Functions:

• Independently execute and lead design studies to solve complex technical and consumer-facing problems throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Take end-to-end ownership of design from concept generation, CAD modeling, prototyping, and testing through to design verification.
• Drive product design decisions based on engineering principles, consumer insights, and manufacturing feasibility.
• Continuously evaluate and refine designs for cost, manufacturability, performance, and quality.
• Apply a deep understanding of materials, mechanisms, and high-volume manufacturing processes to create optimized solutions.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional global teams (Engineering, Industrial Design, Product Marketing, and Operations) across the US, UK, and China to ensure seamless product integration.
• Use rapid prototyping and hands-on iteration to test hypotheses and validate concepts quickly.
• Communicate technical findings, trade-offs, and recommendations clearly and effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Contribute to a culture of innovation by championing bold ideas while balancing executional excellence.

Key Attributes:

• Deep technical problem solver with strong mechanical engineering and physics fundamentals (e.g., fluid mechanics, heat transfer, kinematics).
• Analytical mindset with excellent attention to detail and a bias toward action and accountability.
• Comfortable working hands-on in the lab-prototyping, testing, debugging, and iterating.
• Exceptional ability to distill complex issues into clear plans and communicate them concisely to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong judgment in evaluating technical trade-offs, with a focus on consumer value and product performance.
• Confident, independent thinker who actively contributes to technical debates and welcomes constructive feedback.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications:

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering or a related technical discipline.
• 6+ years of experience in product development, ideally within the consumer products or small appliances space.
• Demonstrated track record of delivering robust, elegant, and innovative mechanical solutions from concept through launch.
• Proficient in 3D CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Creo) and rapid prototyping techniques.
• Strong experience with hands-on mechanical and electrical fabrication (e.g., power tools, sheet metal work, wiring).
• Familiarity with small appliance components and systems, including motors, heaters, sensors, and PCBAs.
• Comfortable with test equipment and data analysis tools; advanced Excel or equivalent skills preferred.
• Experience working in fast-paced, agile environments where quick iteration and learning are essential.
• Due to the hands-on nature of the role, this is an in-person position based in Needham, MA.