The Footwear Engineering Team at WHQ is looking for a Lead Product Engineer to bring products from development to manufacturing, ensuring high quality and cost-effectiveness. The role aims to improve product manufacturability by leveraging analytics, problem-solving, and communication, while also optimizing business and product performance through sustainable growth and innovation.
Requirements
- Knowledge of footwear construction, tooling, pattern engineering and manufacturing processes
- Ability to read and interpret technical drawings, sketches and/or 3D digital files
- Digital literacy, including familiarity with Microsoft Office, Miro Board, spreadsheets, database management, and proficiency with 2D/3D CAD/CAM tools, and pattern engineering software, is a plus
Responsibilities
- Provide early recommendations and technical expertise to cross-functional teams on Tooling, Outsole and Midsole compounds, Plates, Termoplastic injection, product construction techniques, materials, manufacturing processes, sustainability, cost, and chemical engineering solutions (processes, lab testing, MCS, MPS, etc.).
- Prevent potential manufacturing, sustainability, or costing issues.
- Share expertise and help junior team members understand Footwear construction methods and manufacturing, chemical, and lab testing procedures.
- Provide a multi-solution path approach and creative problem-solving to deliver sustainable product excellence for our consumers.
- Use innovative approaches to new concepts, design new products and processes.
- Read and interpret technical drawings with confidence, and analyze process data to create refined product specifications.
- Review samples during product creation and commercialization, providing feedback to ensure cost-effective, high-quality deliverables that meet consumer expectations.
Other
- Footwear product experience
- Gaining buy-in from a broad range of product creation teams and/or factory partner stakeholders
- Leverage consumer insights to optimize business and product performance through the lens of sustainable growth.
- Innovation experience driving and pursuing trade-offs that have the greatest benefit to business and product.
- Self-motivated, quick learner, a strong communicator, positive thinking and a teammate with great self-awareness and strong leadership skills.
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience, and training
- A minimum of 6 years directly relevant work experience
- Ability to balance Product Creation, Innovation & Manufacturing is preferred
- Strong creative problem-solving skills
- Project management skills, working with various stakeholders with competing priorities
- Strong written & verbal communication skills
- Ability to travel internationally up to 10%, as needed
