Lead Innovation Engineer, R&D

Join the CreXo Team

Who We Are

CreXo is an innovative, 100% employee-owned educational technology company and a proud part of RW Thrive. Based in Eau Claire, WI, we are committed to revolutionizing education through engaging, hands-on learning experiences that make STEM accessible, meaningful, and fun.

What We Do

We design and deliver interactive products, software, and creative classroom tools that empower educators and inspire students to explore engineering, coding, and computational thinking in practical, impactful ways. Our collaborative culture of ownership means every employee plays an active role in shaping the future of STEM education while sharing in the company’s success and growth.

Why Join Us

At CreXo, your work matters—and so do you. As a 100% employee-owned company, your contributions directly influence our success, and you benefit from the rewards. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

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Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP): 100% company-funded and grows with our success

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Health, Dental, and Life Insurance

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401(k) Plan: With company match up to 6%

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Generous Paid Time Off: Over 20 days annually, plus 10 paid holidays

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Wellness Programs: Gym reimbursement and healthy living incentives

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Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

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Short- and Long-Term Disability Coverage

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Tuition Assistance for Continued Education

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Paid Leave: Maternity, paternity, and adoption

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Charitable Giving Programs: Including paid volunteer time and donation matching

The Opportunity

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The Lead Innovation Engineer, R&D leads early-stage research and development for CreXo’s growing EdTech product pipeline. This role drives concept exploration, technical investigation, and rapid prototyping - transforming learner needs and emerging technologies into compelling, manufacturable physical and electromechanical learning products. As a front-end innovation leader, this position guides ideas from initial concept through validated prototype, ensuring solutions are creative, technically sound, safe, scalable, and aligned with CreXo’s educational mission and business strategy. Working cross-functionally, the Lead Innovation Engineer partners with teams across the organization to successfully transition concepts into full product development.

Key Responsibilities

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Leads front-end R&D efforts from early exploration through validated prototype

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Generates, evaluates, and matures product concepts aligned with educational goals, brand principles, and business strategy

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Translates learner needs and learning objectives into tangible product experiences and system-level concepts

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Conducts user research synthesis, ideation, concept sketching, and feasibility studies

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Develops and communicates concepts through sketches, storyboards, CAD models, prototypes, and presentations

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Creates detailed 3D CAD models, 2D drawings, and engineering documentation to company standards

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Performs technical investigations to de-risk concepts, including mechanisms, materials, safety, durability, tolerances, and cost drivers

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Builds and tests proof-of-concept models and functional prototypes using rapid prototyping methods (e.g., 3D printing, CNC, soft tooling).

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Designs and executes experiments to validate usability, robustness, and learning interactions; iterate based on findings

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Evaluates concept readiness, support go/no-go decisions, mentor team members, and guide successful transition into formal product development

What You’ll Bring

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Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, or a closely related field (Master’s degree preferred)

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Eight or more years of experience in product design and development, with significant involvement in early-stage concept or advanced R&D initiatives

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Experience working with educational technology or STEM-based product development

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Demonstrated ability to take ambiguous problems from concept through validated prototypes

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Advanced CAD proficiency (e.g., SolidWorks, Creo, Fusion 360, Rhino, or similar)

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Strong portfolio demonstrating creative problem solving, user-centered design thinking, and polished aesthetics

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Hands-on experience with rapid prototyping and physical experimentation

Desired Qualifications

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Experience designing children’s products or familiarity with classroom and child safety requirements

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Knowledge of electro-mechanical integration, including PCBs, sensors, servos, and motors

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Working knowledge of UX/UI principles for physical–digital learning ecosystems

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Familiarity with CMF development and documentation

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Motion, animation, or advanced visualization skills that elevate concept storytelling

Work Location

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Hybrid work arrangement with time split between office, lab, and collaborative spaces in Sharon, MA

Travel Requirements

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Occasional travel, typically less than 10%, to support suppliers, manufacturing partners, team collaboration or company meetings

Compensation

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The expected compensation range for this position is $140,000 - $175