Manager, Design and Exploration is responsible for all Exploration Streams and from Concept Design through to Concept Convergence.

Provides leadership in collaboration with key partners in exploration and concept design development – industrial designer, material specialist, user behaviour researcher, supplier, manufacturer and engineering.

A typical program shall be creative and iterative in nature, with emphasis placed on curiosity and courage to explore the unknown and drive to completion while keeping sight on commercial potential.

Essential Functions:

1. Leadership in realization of new product demonstrating innovation in new materials, structural engineering, manufacturing process, technology integration, integral and surface finishes.
2. Key facilitator of new design and exploration opportunities in Idea Generation sessions and articulation of application, user experience and commercial potential.
3. Prepares Exploration Brief and engages internal resources including engineering and supply chain, and any other external specialists, to realize ideas to specifications and experimental samples or builds with preliminary understanding of cost and investment.
4. Prepares Design Brief and commission industrial designer to define design concepts around the criterias and objectives established, facilitating iterative design process and maintaining realtionship in a symbiotic manner to establish progressive C Builds and final Concept Design.
5. Collaborate with specialists, engineering, supplier and manufacturer, in preparing DFM (Design for Manufacturing) Report to inform design and investment decisions.
6. Evaluates 3D models from lead engineer to ensure design intent from industrial designer is maintained, and actively participates in progressive refinement of 3D concept assemblies and BOM.
7. Provides custodianship on sustainable product design through understanding of materials from chemistry standpoint and initiating DFE (Design for Environment) Report for environment engineer.
8. Provides critical design review of all progressive physical builds and concept models, observing and anticipating issues and documenting in Issues Report, and connecting disparate observations to surface new problem-solving perspectives.
9. Prepares Development Plan, summarizing design intent, product offer opportunity, unique market propositions, preliminary investment summary and commercial potential, and articulation of organizational alignment.
10. Establishes Exploration Plan with Program Manager, ensuring all deliverables adheres to schedule and expenses regularly updated and managed within program budget.
11. Partners with Manager, Engineering and New Product Development, ensuring seamless transition from Concept Design to Business Plan and Concept Convergence.
12. Fosters inter-personal dynamics where opinions are heard and valued, and a work environment where curiosity, problem-solving and continuous learning are encouraged and proliferated.
13. Perform additional responsibilities as requested.

Job Requirements:



1. Bachelor or Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering
2. Additional qualifications in Industrial Design will be a distinct advantage
3. Minimum 5 years experience working in companies where industrial design is core business driver – for example, international brands for consumer white goods industries.
4. Well versed in ProE or Solidworks.
5. Highly well versed in using visual rendering softwares
6. Strong written and communication skills in English, with ability to speak Japanese or Korean an advantage.

An attractive remuneration package including 5-day work week, annual leave, medical benefits and good development opportunities will be offered to the right candidate. Interested candidates, please email your resume with latest and expected salary to hkjobs@hermanmiller.com.

Personal data collected will be used for recruitment purpose only.

Herman Miller was founded in 1905 as the Star Furniture Co. in Zeeland, Michigan.  Initially the company produced high quality furniture, Herman Miller works for a better world around you—with inventive designs, technologies and related services that improve the human experience wherever people work, heal, learn, and live. Its curiosity, ingenuity, and design excellence create award-winning products and services, resulting in more than $2.26 billion in revenue in fiscal 2016.