Staff Mechanical Engineer at Polaris

Job description

At Polaris Inc., 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 we create incredible products and experiences that empower us to THINK OUTSIDE. JOB SUMMARY: This position on the Advanced Technology & Innovation Team is responsible for imagining, developing, and bringing to life new vehicle concepts, user experiences, and product innovations that shape the future of Polaris. The role combines engineering expertise, creativity, and strategic thinking to explore unmet customer needs, emerging trends, and disruptive technologies. Working closely with Design, User Experience, Product Planning, and Engineering teams, this individual will transform insights and ideas into tangible concepts, prototypes, and innovation strategies that influence the next generation of Polaris products. ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: Lead the creation, development, and refinement of innovative vehicle, system, and customer experience concepts that explore new opportunities for Polaris products and markets. Translate customer insights, market trends, emerging technologies, and business opportunities into compelling engineering concepts and prototype solutions. Design, engineer, and build concept vehicles, functional prototypes, and proof-of-concept models that communicate future product visions and validate innovation opportunities. Collaborate with Industrial Design, User Experience, Product Planning, and Strategy teams to develop holistic solutions that balance customer desirability, technical feasibility, and business viability. Drive innovation projects from ideation through concept development, facilitating experimentation, concept reviews, and iterative learning cycles. Evaluate emerging technologies, materials, and industry trends to identify opportunities that could create competitive advantages or new customer value. Lead rapid prototyping, testing, and validation activities to gather insights, reduce uncertainty, and inform future product direction. Present innovation concepts, recommendations, and strategic opportunities to engineering, design, and executive leadership teams. Partner with cross-functional teams to assess technical feasibility, identify innovation risks, and recommend paths for continued exploration or product development. Build relationships with external partners, suppliers, startups, universities, and technology organizations to identify and leverage emerging innovation opportunities. Document learnings, insights, and recommendations from innovation initiatives to support future product and technology strategies. SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field required. 8+ years of experience in mechanical engineering design or related engineering roles preferred. Experience with calibration and software preferred. Agriculture, Transportation, powersports, or automotive design experience is highly desirable. Comfortable working with ambiguity and flexibility in projects and emerging technologies. Demonstrated ability to think creatively and challenge conventional engineering approaches. Proficiency with 3D modeling tools such as Creo, Blender, or similar platforms. Fabrication experience, including machining, welding, and assembly preferred. Strong mechanical aptitude with demonstrated problem‑solving ability and creative thinking skills. Experience developing system requirements and performance specifications. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Strong analytical abilities, including problem‑solving and root cause analysis (preferred). Effective interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across cross‑functional teams. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Project, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint. The starting pay range for Minnesota is $112,000 t