Mid-Level Product Engineer - Special Editions/SMU (9-month Fixed-Term Contract) Product Enginee[...]

Rapha; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Rapha as a Mid-level Product Engineer to manage product engineering of special editions and collections. This role involves working cross-functionally to ensure high-quality outcomes and maintaining strong vendor relationships, as well as participating actively in team dynamics and product lifecycle management.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

50% apparel discount

Free membership to the Rapha Cycling Club

Company Pension Scheme

Qualifications

• Graduate ideally with a degree in fashion / sportswear.
• 5 years’ experience in lifestyle or sportswear brand.
• Strong knowledge of technical performance materials.

Responsibilities

• Own the engineering of product collections ensuring functionality.
• Drive sample approval process throughout product life cycle.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with design and supply chain teams.

Skills

Attention to detail

Time management

Collaborative communication

Risk management

Education

Degree in fashion / sportswear

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

G Suite

Job description

Rapha launched in 2004 to redefine cycling apparel. Today progressive design and storytelling has built a global movement.

We love cycling in all its forms, from the city streets to the highest peaks. And we know its power to transform lives. Led by innovation, we embody this love through a dedication to the world's greatest sport, by setting a new standard in design and pushing the cutting edge of performance and human craft.

Mid-level Product Engineer - Special Editions/SMU (9-month Fixed-Term Contract)

The Product Engineering team is a key component in this mission. Integral to the product creation process, combining passion and expertise to bring our products to life; a dynamic team with a strong work ethic and great team spirit.

THE ROLE:

• Owning the engineering of a product collection, ensuring functionality and performance requirements of the product are met.

• Drive the sample approval process throughout the product life cycle.

• Engineer products to meet targets, working x-functionally throughout the process with the ability to engineer a product meeting target costs. Flagging to management when costs won't be achieved.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with design, atelier and supply chain teams to ensure that products are risks assessed in a timely manner and that any subsequent risks are highlighted to the correct functions or elevated to management levels.

• Responsible for a collection of NN, CN and PN products in numerous categories.

• To serve as primary category contact for apparel suppliers acting as an internal liaison between their vendors and Rapha.

• Building strong relationships with our tier 1 and tier 2 vendors with trips and continuous daily communication. Ensuring all critical path dates and KPIs are met by our vendors.

• Maintain and update product tech packs and BOMs on our PLM and Ai filing system.

• Facilitate and drive the capture of accurate data across input tracking documents.

• Actualise print concepts across a broad product and application range via exceptional management of Ai print lay plans.

• Being responsible for your products strike off comments and approvals.

• At times develop collections in collaboration within the wider Rapha partnership framework.

• Manage both in season and sprint projects across multiple categories and critical paths.

• Offering feedback on vendor capabilities and constructional restraints that will impact the development of your products.

• Communicate all fit and constructional comments to our vendors through the PLM system in a clear way.

• Review construction,quality and performance of all samples that arrive, driving Rapha’s high standards at all times.

• May manage 1 - 2 more junior members of the team in day to day tasks as well as encouraging and supporting their growth.

• Actively participate in team meetings and encourage more junior members of staff to do the same.

• To present at major stage gate meetings. Responsible for preparing meeting spaces and supporting more junior members of staff to document the minutes.

• Travel to suppliers, trade shows and Rapha partner events when necessary.

• To ensure their own travel expenses are within the company's limits.

• Have an awareness of competitor’s products, participating in inspiration days and reporting back to the wider team.

THE CANDIDATE:

The candidate must ensure that garments are truly fit for purpose, are of the highest quality and developed in a timely manner. Balancing a keen sense of quality with cycling legitimacy. Effective internal negotiator, this person will be a natural role model to the wider team in terms.

• A graduate, ideally with a degree in fashion / sportswear.

• At least 5 years’ experience working for a lifestyle or sportswear brand.

• Confident working on CAD’s, Lay-plans and print files using Adobe Illustrator

• Excellent time management and organisational skills. The ability to roll up your sleeves and participate in any task with a positive attitude.

• Ability to adapt to the changing structure of a growing company and team.

• Has an excellent understanding of costing template variables within manufacture, an excellent understanding of the impact of construction, materials and patterns on this.

• Experienced working on printed products.

• Determined and supportive team player, with the ability to build more junior member's knowledge and confidence.

• Experience in managing more junior members of the team.

• Has excellent knowledge of technical performance materials and their properties.

• Must have excellent attention to detail and be proficient in using Mac OS, Adobe Illustrator and G Suite.

• Strong experience and knowledge of working with overseas factories.

• To liaise with your team to ensure the briefs are executed correctly and that the vendors are receiving all correct and up-to-date necessary technical information.

• Be able to work to tight and challenging deadlines.

• Must be able to understand and manage risk and be able to elevate any risks that impacts on the delivery of the product to a high level.

• Must be able to challenge the status quo and questions to ensure the product brief is met.

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

• Ideally an active outdoor person who is keen to develop their riding skills and use their passion for sport to improve our product range.

Working at Rapha

We are continuously looking into ways to invest in our employees and build a better working culture and environment. Here are just some of the internal benefits we offer.

• Flexible working hours
• Support ad-hoc remote working during the week - Minimum 4 days in office
• Free barista coffee and social drinks in the office
• Monthly department social events and quarterly office social away days
• We offer a flexible riding benefit to allow you to go out riding on a Wednesday morning with colleagues or learn to cycle to cycling through our Getting Started Scheme.
• We offer all our employees a 50% apparel discount and a discount for family and friends
• An annual clothing allowance
• Free membership to the Rapha Cycling Club
• Company Pension Scheme
• Enhanced Parental Leave and Pay