Internship Plastic Design Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Work Period: July/August 2026 to December 2026

Location & Schedule: This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position with 5 days per week onsite in Needham, MA.  There is no relocation or housing assistance for this position.

Join the SharkNinja Early Edge Experience: Built for early career talent. Geared toward impact. Driven by speed. Whether you're in a co-op or internship, our early talent program is designed to provide valuable exposure to the industry and a fast-paced professional environment. You'll dive into meaningful projects and tasks that sharpen your skills and deepen your knowledge. Along the way, you'll benefit from professional development opportunities, community events, and connections that make your experience well-rounded and enriching. Your time with us will culminate in an opportunity to showcase your contributions and learnings to SharkNinja leaders because this is a program for those ready to shape what's next - fast.

This role: In this Product Design Engineering Co-op, Advanced Development role, you will operate at the intersection of industrial design and mechanical engineering, taking ownership of open-ended design problems and contributing directly to early-stage product development for Shark and Ninja brands. You will be expected to think broadly, move quickly, and translate ambiguous user needs into feasible, high-impact design solutions. This co-op emphasizes real-world engineering rigor paired with strong design thinking, offering hands-on experience from concept ideation through rapid prototyping, user testing, and iterative refinement based on technical and consumer feedback. 

Here are some of the EXCITING things you'll get to do:

• Generate new product concepts with a user-centered approach, focusing on ergonomics, aesthetics, and functional innovation
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to define solutions that meet functional requirements while enhancing the user experience
• Lead and participate in design studies to solve technical and user-experience challenges
• Build and test quick turnaround, low fidelity prototypes, and be able to build key findings on user testing with them
• Approach everyday design challenges with curiosity and resilience, driven to rethink and innovate

 ATTRIBUTES & SKILLS:

• Education: Current student in their third year or beyond of a bachelor's program, currently enrolled in a master's program, or within one year of graduation
• Must be able to work a full-time, 40-hour-per-week schedule with 5 days a week onsite in Needham, MA
• Has an academic focus on Industrial Design, Product Design Engineering, Mechanical Engineering with classes in industrial design, or a related field
• Enthusiastic about user-centered product design, form, and function
• Experience with CAD software (SolidWorks, Creo, or Rhino) and basic prototyping tools including 3D printing
• Hands-on experience building physical prototypes in various materials (e.g., plastic, metal) and familiarity with machine shop equipment
• Basic understanding of electronics and components commonly used in small appliances (motors, sensors, PCBAs) is desirable
• Experience with rapid prototyping tools like Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or other developer kits is a plus
• Strong communicator who can convey ideas, concepts, and solutions effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Strong intuition for mechanical engineering and physics principles, with an emphasis on applying this in product design, ergonomics, and human-centered engineering
• Analytical and detail-oriented, with a creative approach to identifying and addressing potential issues
• Demonstrates intellectual curiosity, a hands-on attitude, and commitment to developing elegant, innovative solutions that balance technical and user-focused design principles
• Skilled at juggling multiple projects, with flexibility to pivot as needed while keeping sight of broader design objectives
• Embodies SharkNinja's success drivers:
  • Rarely Satisfied - Adopt a "no delays" mentality in delivering against market needs/timing
  • Progress over Perfection - Make quick, daily progress and continuously adapts to achieve results rather than requiring perfect planning
  • Details Make the Difference - Can coordinate timelines & deliverables to ensure accuracy and consistency across all consumer-facing materials
  • Winning is a Team Sport - Ability to develop strong cross-functional relationships
  • Communicate for Impact - Strong communication skills - ability to deliver effective presentations to all levels of management

Portfolio Submission Instructions

• A portfolio is required for this role and should emphasize your design and engineering process, not just final results. We want to understand how you think, prototype, test, and iterate on solutions.
• Your portfolio may be submitted as:
  • A PDF uploaded as a cover letter, or
  • A link to an online portfolio included on your resume
• Please include at least 2 projects that highlight:
  • The problem you were solving and your role
  • Early ideation and concept development
  • Prototyping and iteration, including learnings from user testing
  • Technical considerations such as mechanics, ergonomics, materials, or feasibility
• Academic, personal, and professional projects (non-NDA) are all acceptable.
• Rough sketches, in-progress work, and photos of prototypes are encouraged. Process and clarity matter more than polish.

Please note that, due to the high volume of applications for early talent roles, response times may vary depending on the specific role and timeline. Our team appreciates your patience!