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Principal Industrial Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

zahgroup

Industrial Design Intern

Mansfield, TX

Under supervision of Industrial Design Manager or Senior level designer(s), the Industrial Designer ... Specific Responsibilities: 1. Use basic design theoretical principals, judgment and understand ...

Northrop Grumman

Principal Engineer Industrial

Baltimore, MD · On-site

$98K - $148K/yr

... Principal Industrial Engineer based out of Linthicum, MD. What You'll Get to Do: Monitor labor ... Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share ...

New

Klein Tools

Industrial Design Intern

Mansfield, TX · On-site

We deliver quality and innovation in everything we do, designing and launching hundreds of ... Specific Responsibilities: 1. Use basic design theoretical principals, judgment and understand ...

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Principal Industrial Designer information

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$47.5K

$130K

How much do principal industrial designer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 2, 2026, the average yearly pay for principal industrial designer in the United States is $123,907.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $129,000.00 and $129,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a principal industrial designer do?

A Principal Industrial Designer leads the design and development of products, focusing on both form and function to ensure they are aesthetically pleasing, user-friendly, and manufacturable. They oversee project teams, collaborate with engineers and marketers, and set the creative direction for new products. Their responsibilities often include research, concept development, prototyping, and refining designs based on feedback. Principal Industrial Designers also mentor junior designers and play a key role in strategic decision-making for product lines.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a principal industrial designer?

To thrive as a Principal Industrial Designer, you need advanced expertise in product design, user experience, and materials engineering, typically supported by a degree in industrial design or a related field. Mastery of CAD software (such as SolidWorks or Rhino), 3D rendering tools, and familiarity with design prototyping processes are crucial, along with a strong portfolio. Exceptional leadership, creative problem-solving, and effective communication set outstanding candidates apart in this role. These skills are vital to drive innovation, ensure design feasibility, and lead cross-functional teams in creating market-leading products.

How does a principal industrial designer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during a product development cycle?

As a Principal Industrial Designer, you will frequently work alongside engineers, marketing specialists, project managers, and manufacturing teams to ensure that design concepts are feasible, user-friendly, and aligned with business objectives. Your role often involves leading design reviews, integrating feedback, and balancing aesthetic vision with technical and budgetary constraints. Effective communication and the ability to advocate for design integrity while accommodating input from other departments are key to success in this collaborative process.

What is the difference between Principal Industrial Designer vs Industrial Designer?

AspectPrincipal Industrial DesignerIndustrial Designer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Industrial Design or related field; extensive experienceBachelor's degree in Industrial Design or related field
Work EnvironmentLeadership roles, overseeing projects and teamsDesigning products, collaborating with teams
Industry UsageUsed in senior, leadership, or specialized design rolesEntry to mid-level design roles
Search IntentComparison for senior or leadership design rolesEntry to mid-level design positions

The Principal Industrial Designer typically holds a senior position with leadership responsibilities, overseeing design projects and teams, often requiring advanced credentials and extensive experience. In contrast, an Industrial Designer is usually an entry to mid-level role focused on creating and developing product designs. The two roles differ mainly in scope, responsibility, and experience level, with the Principal Industrial Designer serving as a strategic leader within the design team.

Is principal industrial designer higher than senior industrial designer?

Yes, a principal industrial designer typically holds a higher position than a senior industrial designer, often with greater responsibilities, leadership roles, and experience. The principal role usually involves strategic planning, mentorship, and overseeing multiple projects, whereas the senior role focuses on advanced design work and project execution.
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Principal Industrial Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Principal Industrial Designer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 4% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $123,907 per year, or $59.6 per hour.

Principal Architect, Industrial Systems

Ford Motor Company

Dearborn, MI • On-site

Full-time

Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 3 days ago

Ford Motor Company rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 527 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

12th of 45 rated automakers

Job description

About Ford 

Come help build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams ...Ford Motor Company was built on the belief that freedom of movement drives human progress. It's a belief that has fueled our passion to create great cars and trucks. And today, it drives our commitment to become the world's most trusted mobility company, designing vehicles for a smart world that helps people move more safely, confidently, and freely. Ford is experiencing significant business transformation in an ever-changing digital world. We are dedicated to delivering distinctive products and solutions, having an "always on" relationship with customers and continuously improving our user experience. 

The Team 

Enterprise Technology plays a critical part in shaping the future of mobility. If you're looking for a chance to leverage advanced technology to redefine the transportation landscape, enhance the customer experience and improve people's lives, this is the opportunity for you. Join us and challenge your IT expertise and analytical skills. 

The Opportunity 

The Principal Industrial Systems Architect provides global leadership to a team of more than 40 architects who build and manage systems across the industrial platform. They will spearhead cross-platform efforts to align the design and implementation of industrial technologies with the company's overarching technical strategy and current industry trends. This role ensures that all industrial systems are reliable, performant, and precisely tailored to meet evolving business needs. 

The Principal Architect drives alignment across all global regions and skill teams, ensuring that systems adhere to both industry and company standards. This requires close collaboration with cross-functional partners-including Infrastructure, developers, operations, and product managers-to gather requirements and ensure the platform serves the needs of all internal and external stakeholders. 

This executive interfaces with teams working on advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies to ensure these innovations are integrated into the long-term roadmap. They must exercise expert judgment to determine when to utilize existing, commonly deployed technologies and when to pioneer new paths. Ultimately, they are responsible for seamlessly defining and integrating strategic roadmaps for both tool selection and broader systems architecture. 

The minimum requirements we seek 

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field 

  • 15+ years of progressive responsibilities in IT or an IT focused business area 

  • 5+ years of experience in a field related to manufacturing or industrial systems 

  • Working knowledge of cloud computing, especially Google Cloud Platform 

  • Working knowledge of edge systems and on-premises computing in a manufacturing environment 

  • Experienced in business and solutions architecture, including selection of tools and platforms 

  • Strong outside-in perspective on the evolution of processes and technologies across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain and Quality domains 

  • Knowledge and familiarity with strategic technology platforms, including the Dassault Systems 3DExperience suite, Siemens Team Center, SAP/S4 MRP, Jira/JSM, and data centric architecture 

  • Knowledge of IT/OT integration and edge-to-cloud infrastructure optimization 

Our preferred requirements 

  • Master's degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field 

  • Extensive demonstrated competency in Enterprise Architecture 

  • Experience working in areas related to the Industrial System such as manufacturing, supply chain, product development and engineering, transportation and logistics, and other related fields 

  • Understanding of how to apply Enterprise Architecture processes, tools, and viewpoints to a large, complex organization, and how to use EA skills to keep complexity at bay 

  • Understanding of the special circumstances of the automotive industry 

  • Working knowledge of AI, including traditional and generative AI, and how to apply it to real-world applications 

  • Knowledge of "cloud native" concepts in software architecture and delivery 

  • Working understanding of cybersecurity principles 

  • Must be skilled at influencing leaders and workers across the company at many different levels 

  • Must be able to think and act strategically, without constraints 

  • Must be able to develop a team, including growing employees' performance and maturity, recruiting, and retaining key talent. 

  • Strong ability to "lead by influence" as an architect, to be able to "push back" to ensure alignment with architecture principles, to know when not to push back quite as hard 

  • Strong demonstrated competencies in influencing peers and business partners 

  • Strong communication and collaborative skills with people at all levels of the company from senior-most executives to the people on the plant floor doing the work 

  • Ability to "thrive in ambiguity" in leading teams to select the right solutions amid a complex environment 

  • Proven ability to work closely with management one to four levels above and below both in the business and IT 

What We Can Offer 

As part of the Ford family, you'll enjoy excellent compensation, and a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous PTO, retirement, savings and stock investment plans, incentive compensation, and much more. You'll also experience exciting opportunities for professional and personal growth and recognition. 

Candidates for positions with Ford Motor Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. 

Ford is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or protected veteran status. In the United States, if you need a reasonable accommodation for the online application process due to a disability, please call 1-888-336-0660. 

  • Support the development and evolution of the Industrial System's future state vision and roadmap by providing industry perspectives 

  • Consult on emerging technology and business process modernization opportunities that are driving digital and AI-driven transformation in manufacturing and adjacent industries 

  • Ensure delivery of architecture artifacts in line with delivery commitments and timeline 

  • Partner with our Enterprise Platform Engineering and Operations team to develop a strategic and proactive roadmap for technology maintenance and remediation 

  • Support the development and execution of an accelerated portfolio rationalization plan 

  • Support cross-functional integration and alignment for end-to-end optimization across the Industrial value stream 

  • Build strong partnerships with and operate as an integral part of the Industrial Systems leadership team to drive and shape the transformation of the Industrial System 

  • Lead by example regarding solution and business architecture by participating in design sessions and engineering projects 

  • Lead a team of architects located in Dearborn, Michigan, Chennai, India, and elsewhere. 

  • Advise on how to prioritize updates of existing systems to meet the desired new architecture 

  • Stay aligned with key vendors and investors on new companies and technologies that should be part of our strategy going forward 

  • Stay on top of architecture trends and be prepared to advise teams across Ford how to keep up 

  • Ensure solutions are fully aligned to the Ford technology strategy 

 

This role is on-site in Dearborn, Michigan. Some travel to manufacturing and logistics sites around the world is expected. 

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