Research Engineer - Performance

Global Sports Jobs Limited; Carlsbad (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Performance bonuses

Product discounts

Job summary

TaylorMade seeks a Performance Research Engineer to bridge testing, Tour-level data collection, and analytics to influence product design, validation, and performance optimization. The role is hands-on with mechanical aptitude, data skills, and deep golf intuition.

Responsibilities include leading lab and field tests, developing data pipelines, and translating observations into engineering direction across product categories. Travel to test facilities and events may be required.

Qualifications

• Experience designing statistically rigorous experiments (power analysis, DOE, MSA).
• Translate player feedback into engineering direction and test questions.
• Apply AI-assisted workflows to planning, analysis, automation, and synthesis of datasets.

Responsibilities

• Lead advanced performance testing protocols for golf clubs and balls (lab, player, field, Tour).
• Own performance engineering for Woods, Irons, Putter/Wedge, or cross-category initiatives.
• Support elite athlete testing with clean, decision-ready data.
• Analyze large datasets on speed, launch, spin, dispersion, and performance tradeoffs.
• Translate observations into clear engineering recommendations and follow-up experiments.
• Develop automated data pipelines, dashboards, and reporting tools.
• Collaborate with R&D, Product Development, Tour, Fitting, Consumer Insights, Analytics.
• Benchmark competitors and influence strategy and targets.
• Develop new test methods, instrumentation, and repeatable workflows.
• Train engineers and analysts on testing etiquette and data collection standards.

Skills

Golf knowledge

Experimental design

DOE / power analysis

AI-assisted workflows

Data analysis

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Lab and field testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related

Master's degree in Engineering or related (preferred)

Applied Mathematics / Data Science (related)

Tools

Golf launch monitors

Motion capture

High-speed video analysis

Job description

About the Role

The Performance Research Engineer will play a critical role in advancing TaylorMade's leadership in golf equipment performance. This role bridges physical testing, player testing, Tour-level data collection, and advanced analytics to deliver actionable insights that influence product design, product validation, and performance optimisation. The ideal candidate is a hands‑on engineer with strong mechanical aptitude, advanced data skills, deep golf intuition, and the ability to translate player feedback into clear engineering direction.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and execution of advanced performance testing protocols for golf clubs and balls, including lab, player, field, and Tour-based testing environments.
• Serve as a category-focused Performance Engineering owner for one or more product areas, with potential emphasis across Woods, Irons, Putter/Wedge, or cross-category initiatives.
• Support PGA/LPGA Tour and elite-athlete testing by collecting clean, repeatable, decision-ready data while operating professionally and respectfully in player-facing environments.
• Analyse large datasets from lab, player, and field testing to extract insights on ball speed, launch, spin, consistency, delivery, impact location, dispersion, and performance tradeoffs.
• Translate Tour and player-test observations into clear engineering recommendations, product questions, validation plans, and follow-up experiments.
• Develop and maintain automated data pipelines, dashboards, and reporting tools for performance tracking, project communication, and cross-functional decision-making.
• Collaborate with R&D, Product Development, Tour, Fitting, Consumer Insights, and Analytics teams to integrate player feedback and real-world data into product design.
• Conduct competitor benchmarking and present findings that influence product strategy, category positioning, and performance targets.
• Support the development of new test methods, instrumentation, normalisation approaches, and repeatable workflows that improve testing quality and organisational leverage.
• Help train engineers and player test analysts on Tour-facing testing etiquette, data collection standards, and best practices for working with elite athletes.
• Perform other related duties and assignments as required.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Strong golf background and a deep understanding of equipment-player interaction.
• Demonstrated experience designing statistically rigorous experiments, including power analysis, Design of Experiments (DOE), measurement system analysis, and confidence-based decision making.
• Experience applying AI-assisted workflows to experimental planning, statistical analysis, test automation, reporting, and synthesis of complex engineering datasets.
• Ability to communicate complex findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences, including R&D leadership, category teams, Tour representatives, and cross-functional partners.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and contribute to a culture of shared learning, humility, and high-quality execution.
• Comfort operating in both structured lab environments and dynamic player-facing environments where priorities, schedules, and test conditions can change quickly.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Computer Science or related), Applied Mathematics, Physics, Data Science, or a related technical field.
• Master's degree plus 0-2 years of relevant experience, or Bachelor's degree plus 2-4 years of relevant experience.
• Experience with golf launch monitors, motion capture, or high-speed video analysis.
• Familiarity with advanced statistical methods (e.g., ANOVA, regression modelling, machine learning).
• Ability to integrate engineering judgment, statistical rigour, subjective feedback, and real-world testing observations into clear product development recommendations.
• Analytical, detail-oriented, intellectually curious, and comfortable challenging assumptions with data.
• Hands‑on, proactive, and willing to move between lab execution, field testing, analysis, and executive-level communication.
• Collaborative and humble, with the ability to build trust across R&D, Tour, Product Development, and player-facing teams.
• Passionate about golf, equipment performance, and continuous improvement.

Preferred Skills

• Low single-digit handicap preferred.

Workplace

• Hybrid office, lab, field-testing, and Tour-support environment.
• Regular travel to test facilities, player testing sessions, and PGA/LPGA Tour events may be required.

Benefits & Perks

• Additional benefits, such as health & wellness, performance bonuses, product discounts, holidays, paid time off, etc. may also be offered in accordance with our plans.