Leadership Development Program Associate Jobs in Detroit, MI

Company Overview

Polaris Inc. is a global leader in powersports and known to millions of people around the world as we offer a diverse portfolio of products and services including boats, off-road vehicles, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, and more. Polaris pioneers' product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services, that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954.

At Polaris, we have fun doing what we love by driving change and innovation. We empower employees to take on challenging assignments and roles with an elevated level of responsibility in our agile working environment. Our people make us who we are and help create incredible products and experiences that empower us to Think Outside.

Development Program Overview:

The Polaris Engineering Development Program (EDP) offers a robust opportunity for recent engineering graduates who share our commitment to the design and production of world-class vehicles. Our unique two-year development program will help you develop essential skills in Polaris Engineering processes that provide a broad-based understanding of the product development cycle while giving you in-depth exposure to our customers and their needs.

Through your Engineering rotations, you will be given challenging assignments to accelerate your career development for future positions of significant responsibility. The variety of work gives you an introduction to what working at Polaris is all about and helps you decide where you can best apply your interests to meet the company's needs. During this program, you will also establish mentor relationships with our business leadership that will continue throughout your career with Polaris. Polaris provides the resources, support, and environment you need to achieve both personal and professional success in this role.

Program Length: 2 Years
Rotation Length: 6 Months (4X)
Potential Placement Locations Could Include: Roseau, MN; Wyoming, MN; Medina, MN; Huntsville, AL; Novi, MI; or San Angelo, TX

Areas you will gain exposure to in your rotations include:

• Design Engineering

• Test and Validation

• Manufacturing or Operations

• Project/Product Engineering

Upon successful completion of the Development Program, participants will transition into a full-time Engineering position. Role placement will be guided by a combination of business needs, demonstrated strengths, program experiences, and career interests.

Program Advantages:As a Polaris employee, you will enjoy specific benefits beyond rotational experiences, including:

• Mentorship - you are paired with one of our functional business leaders for mentor support throughout your entire DP journey.

• Networking - intentional time with peers and leaders at Polaris to build your professional network.

• Early Talent Summit Week: participate in our 3-day event in our Wyoming, MN office. This immersive experience brings together all US interns and DPs for professional development, structured networking, a DP graduation event, inspiring executive speakers, and a thrilling team ride on some of your favorite Polaris vehicles.

• Community Engagement: opportunity to get involved in your local community.

• End of Rotation/Program Presentations: present to our senior level leaders to showcase your career aspirations and recap your internship experience.

Polaris Benefit Highlights:

• A generous 401K employee's contribution matching program.

• Pay for Performance Company which uniquely allows employees to receive Annual Profit-Sharing bonuses based upon the performance of the employee.

• Tuition Reimbursement program to support employees who want to further their education.

The Selection Process:

Applications are open from August -November each year. Applications will be reviewed and shortlisted candidates will typically be contacted for an initial phone screen by the end of November. Candidates selected to move forward will be invited to participate in a virtual panel interview with an identified HR business partner and functional leaders. Successful candidates would move forward to an offer. Upon accepting your offer, you will collaborate with the Polaris Early Talent Team. Your graduation date will determine your start date, either in January or June. The Early Talent Team will guide you through the matching process and assist you in completing a Brand Slide. The Brand Slide, tailored to your specific program, provides insights to the team and assists in identifying the most suitable rotation aligned with your strengths, areas for development, interests, and business needs. Placements are finalized in late October for January starts and in mid-April for June starts each year.

DP Relocation Assistance:

Polaris offers a relocation program through our mobility vendor for employees who qualify. Benefits include a lump sum payment, self-haul moving package, lease cancellation/duplicate housing reimbursement, and access to a relocation counselor. The counselor will explain available resources and assist in securing short-term housing. You will be responsible for daily transportation to and from the office.

Required Qualifications:

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering or related field (e.g. Mechanical, Electrical, Software, Computer, Systems) with a graduation date between August 2026 and May 2027.

• Minimum overall GPA of 3.0

• Must be able to commit to working 40 hours per week starting on one of the following dates:

• January 12th, 2026.
• June 15th, 2026.

• Must be a U.S. person (U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, asylee, or refugee) and not require sponsorship for employment now or in the future.

• Must be willing to travel and relocate between sites for your rotations, as well as be mobile beyond the rotational program to support your career development.

• Must have reliable transportation for daily commuting to and from the office.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software: Outlook, Excel, Word, Teams, SharePoint.

• Active leadership experience in student organizations and/or work experiences with interest to continue to grow your leadership skills.

• Demonstrated strengths in analysis, creative problem-solving, communication, interpersonal relationships, self-motivation, and leadership.

• Strong interest in long-term career development.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous Internship/Co-op experience

• Previous experience using CAD or equivalent software (Creo highly desired)

• Hands-on engineering experience through prior internship or clubs (ex. SAE, Clean Snow)

The starting pay range for Minnesota is $75,000 to $80,000 per year. Individual salaries and positioning within the range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills, and geography. While individual pay could fall anywhere in the range based on these factors, it is not common to start at the high end or top of the range.

This position is not eligible for sponsorship. To be considered for this opportunity, you must apply on our career page.

We hope you're ready for the ultimate adventure!