Engineering Innovation Program Leader

Engineering Innovation Leader

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.

Position Summary : This Engineering Innovation Leader supports the innovation pipeline from problem discovery and ideation through evaluation, proof-of-concept, and hand-off into development. It combines strategic portfolio management with hands-on leadership of the innovation process, design-thinking workshops, rapid prototyping, and cross-functional collaboration to accelerate concept maturation and de-risk early-stage initiatives. The position requires strong analytical and storytelling skills to translate insights into ideas, influence evidence-based decisions, and align innovation efforts with overarching business strategy. Success is measured by portfolio throughput, strategic impact, and fostering a culture of innovation across the enterprise.

Responsibilities :

• Own the innovation pipeline and governance : Govern the gate system with clear entry / exit criteria, disciplined review cadence, and crisp go / kill decisions; drive progression from ideation through proof-of-concept to development hand-off.
• Drive rigorous evaluation and portfolio decisions : Apply standardized scoring against the Innovation Review rubric (IP, income, peak sales, market readiness, risk, strategic alignment, investment) and deliver investable recommendations to leadership forums.
• Accelerate concept creation and maturation : Lead design-thinking workshops and white-paper sprints, orchestrate rapid prototyping across engineering functions; drive to shorten cycles and de-risk early.
• Ensure smooth integration to development : Define "definition-of-ready" for Pre-Development and PDP insertion, align requirements with Engineering for clean hand-offs.
• Build and sustain an innovation culture : Run charrettes / challenges; codify fast-fail learning; align efforts with strategic themes to maximize business impact.
• Partner externally and internally : Lead make / buy / partner analyses; engage suppliers and universities for feasibility accelerators and benchmarking; maintain strong ties across product and engineering teams.
• Measure what matters : Establish and track portfolio health and impact metrics (idea throughput, ARL cycle time, kill rate, number of charters, innovation vs. pre-dev investment mix, program stability / speed), and publish transparent, actionable readouts.
• Support end-to-end innovation pipeline : Drive problem discovery, ideation, evaluation, proof-of-concept, and seamless hand-off into development to ensure disciplined progression from concept to execution.
• Champion adherence to the innovation process : Model best practices and actively coach teams to follow established frameworks, reinforcing consistency and rigor across initiatives.
• Mentor and develop innovation capabilities : Build organizational competency through coaching, training, and hands-on engagement, fostering a sustainable innovation ecosystem across Polaris Inc.
• Apply critical thinking and analytics : Leverage structured analysis and data-driven insights to evaluate opportunities, mitigate risk, and optimize portfolio outcomes.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration : Orchestrate technology roadmapping, ideation sessions, and portfolio reviews to align innovation efforts with enterprise priorities and accelerate decision-making.
• Align innovation with business strategy : Ensure initiatives support overarching objectives and strategic themes, maximizing impact on growth, profitability, and competitive advantage.

Qualifications :

The starting pay range for Minnesota is $104,000 to $137,000 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.

To qualify for this position, former employees must be eligible for rehire, and current employees must be in good standing.

We are an ambitious, resourceful, and driven workforce, which empowers us to THINK OUTSIDE.

Apply today! At Polaris we put our employees first, by offering a holistic approach to their health and financial wellbeing. Polaris is proud to offer competitive compensation, including a market-leading profit-sharing plan that is fundamental to our pay-for-performance culture. At Polaris, employees are owners of the company through company contributions to our Employee Stock Ownership Plan and discounted employee stock purchases plan. Employees receive a generous matching contribution to 401(k), financial wellness education and consultation to plan for their financial future. In addition to competitive pay, Polaris provides a comprehensive suite of benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, wellness programs, paid time off, gym & personal training reimbursement, life insurance and disability offerings. Through the Polaris Foundation and our Polaris Gives paid volunteer time off, we support employees who actively volunteer their time, efforts, and passions to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities in which they live, play and work.

About Polaris : As the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE : PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. Polaris' high-quality product line-up includes the Polaris RANGER, RZR and Polaris GENERAL side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman all-terrain off-road vehicles; military and commercial off-road vehicles; snowmobiles; Indian Motorcycle mid-size and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot moto-roadsters; Aixam quadricycles; Goupil electric vehicles; and pontoon and deck boats, including industry-leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a robust portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Proudly headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves more than 100 countries across the globe.

EEO Statement : Polaris Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will make all employment-related decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local commission, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. Applicants with a disability that are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, or otherwise need assistance or an accommodation in the recruiting process, should contact Human Resources at 800-765-2747 or Talent.Acquisition@Polaris.com.