Footwear Developer

Specialized Bicycles, Inc.; Morgan Hill, Northern (CA, KY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Healthcare options

HSA contributions

Dental and Vision

401(k) matching

Life Insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Paid time off

Career development support

Fitness & Wellness reimbursement

Pro-Deal discounts

Job summary

Specialized Bicycles, Inc. seeks an experienced Footwear Developer in Morgan Hill, CA to lead full footwear development from concept to production. You will collaborate with Product, Design, and Manufacturing to meet performance, fit, durability, and cost targets, traveling internationally as needed.

5+ years in footwear development and a engineering degree are required. The role offers competitive pay and comprehensive benefits, with a focus on innovation and sustainability in a factory

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on footwear development experience.
• Experience with midsole and outsole tooling development and tooling feasibility.
• Ability to communicate with cross-functional teams with clear direction.
• Experience in cost-engineering and negotiations.
• Knowledge of plastics, composites, textiles, construction techniques and tooling.

Responsibilities

• Lead new projects through the full development lifecycle from design handoff to production confirmation.
• Manage development calendars, milestones and on-time sample delivery.
• Support fit validation, wear testing, and lab testing to ensure footwear meets functional requirements.
• Be a lead voice in driving materials exploration with design and Asia-based teams.
• Costing: facilitate cost-engineering of products through design and commercialization.

Skills

Footwear development

Tooling development

Cross-functional collaboration

Cost-engineering

Materials knowledge

Project tracking

Global travel

Production liaison

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Job description

## Footwear DeveloperApplylocations: United States, CA, Morgan Hill (Office)time type: Full timeposted on: Posted 30+ Days Agojob requisition id: R0011538Footwear DeveloperSUMMARYFirst and foremost, we are riders. We share the core belief that bikes help make the world a better place. From product development and operations to finance and marketing - every role at Specialized contributes to a culture of sustainable, global growth, and innovation. Around the world, we work to recruit candidates who are passionate and curious with the belief that everyone has the potential to be a leader.Are you a highly organized person who loves working with product and pushing the limits of innovation? Specialized is looking for an experienced and passionate Footwear Developer to join the team and help create world-class product. This role partners closely with Product, Design, and Manufacturing to deliver footwear that meets performance, fit, durability, cost, and sustainability targets. The ideal candidate has 5+ years of hands‐on footwear development experience, deep understanding of injected material, rubber compounds, and proven capability managing tooling development, revisions, and commercialization in a factory environment.HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE* Lead new projects through the full development lifecycle from design handoff to production confirmation.* Manage development calendars, track milestones, and ensure on‐time sample delivery.* Support fit validation, wear testing, and lab testing to ensure footwear meets functional requirements.* Be a lead voice in driving materials exploration and execution, partnering with Industrial Design, CMF and Asia-based development teams.* Costing: help to facilitate cost-engineering of products throughout the design and commercialization phase.* Process Optimization: Continually find opportunities to improve design and development processes.wHAT YOU NEED TO WIN* Experience with midsole and outsole tooling development, understanding geometry refinement, draft, parting lines, sidewall detailing, groove design, and mold feasibility.* Ability to communicate with detail cross-functionally ensuring very clear direction and expectations to all team members.* Experience in cost-engineering and negotiations.* Knowledge of materials; plastics, composites, textiles, construction techniques, advanced tooling, etc.* Experience tracking and driving footwear projects, meeting delivery, cost and innovation targets.* Ability to work fluidly with factories and vendors; communicate forecasts clearly and accurately.* Experience contributing to design reviews and ability to provide feedback and give direction based on production capabilities and costing.* Willingness and ability to travel internationally, 3-4 times per year.* 5+ years in footwear development* Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field or equivalent work experience.* Passionate cyclist desired**Pay**Below is a summary of compensation elements for this role at the company if based in the following locations:**California** Base Pay Range: $80,000 - $120,000At Specialized, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package and will depend on your work experience, skills, certification, and location.**LOCATION*** Morgan Hill, CA (Office) (3 days in office: Tues, Wed, TH)**BENEFITS**As a full-time, regular teammate, you are eligible for the following benefits, beginning the first of the month following your start date.Benefits include:* Competitive pay with annual performance-based reviews for continued growth and recognition* Comprehensive healthcare plan options, including PPO, EPO, HDHP, and HMO (acupuncture and physical therapy included)* Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer HSA contributions when enrolled in the High-Deductible Healthcare Plan (HDHP)* Dental and Vision plans* 401(k) Company Matching up to $5,000 annually with immediate 100% vesting and administrative fees paid for by the company* Company-paid Life, AD&D, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance* Employee Assistance Program that provides access to individualized mental well-being care* Generous Vacation, Sick, Paid Holidays, and Volunteer Time Off* 14 weeks of 100% paid leave for birthing parents and 8 weeks of 100% paid leave for non-birthing parents, plus a Specialized bike for your new baby* Up to $9,000 annually in Career Development & Degree Assistance* Up to $250 annually in Fitness & Wellness Reimbursement* Industry Pro-Deal Discounts and PerksFor additional information on benefits and perks, please visit: https://benefits.specialized.com.We want to increase representation of all races, genders, and body types in the cycling industry and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where all people thrive. We encourage everyone – especially those from marginalized groups – to apply to our job postings and help us earn the position as the rider’s brand of choice. We are always looking for creative, innovative, and passionate people who are eager to contribute to our mission of pedaling the planet forward. Regardless of your qualifications, if you are ready to make a difference, please apply and let us know how you can make an impact at Specialized! See what we are up to on LinkedIn, Instagram.