Research Engineer - Performance

TaylorMade Golf; Carlsbad (CA); Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & wellness

Product discounts

Paid time off

Holidays

Job summary

TaylorMade Golf seeks a Performance Research Engineer to bridge testing, analytics, and product design. You will lead lab, player, and Tour-based testing while translating observations into actionable engineering direction.

The role requires hands-on mechanical and data skills, collaboration across R&D and Tour teams, and the ability to communicate findings to leadership. Located in Carlsbad, CA with hybrid work and travel to test facilities.

Qualifications

• Hands-on engineer with mechanical aptitude and data skills.
• Experience in designing statistically rigorous experiments (DOE, power analysis).
• Ability to translate player feedback into engineering direction.

Responsibilities

• Lead advanced performance testing protocols for golf clubs and balls across lab, player, field, and Tour environments.
• Own performance engineering topics for product areas across Woods, Irons, Putter/Wedge, or cross-category initiatives.
• Collect clean, repeatable data in player-facing environments and support elite testing.
• Analyze large datasets to extract insights on launch, spin, dispersion, and performance tradeoffs.
• Develop automated data pipelines and dashboards for project communication and decision making.
• Collaborate with R&D, Product Development, Tour, Fitting, and Analytics teams to integrate feedback.

Skills

Golf equipment testing

DOE & experimental design

Statistical analysis

Data pipeline development

Communication with leadership

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering or related field

Tools

Golf launch monitors

Motion capture systems

High-speed video analysis

Job description

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 optimization. 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.

Essential Functions and 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.
• Analyze 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, normalization approaches, and repeatable workflows that improve testing quality and organizational leverage.
• Help train engineers and player test analysts on Tour-facing testing etiquette, data collection standards, and best practices for working with elite athletes.
• Performs other related duties and assignments as required.

Knowledge and Skills Requirements:

• Strong golf background, with low single-digit handicap preferred, 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.

Education, Work Experience, and Professional Certifications:

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 modeling, machine learning). Ability to integrate engineering judgment, statistical rigor, 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. Able to operate with professionalism and discretion around elite athletes, confidential prototypes, and competitive product information.

Work Environment / Physical Requirements:

• Hybrid office, lab, field-testing, and Tour-support environment with extensive computer use, data review, and communication across teams.
• Ability to work extended hours during key testing cycles, product deadlines, player-test windows, or Tour-related activities.
• Comfortable working in dynamic environments with frequent context switching, changing test conditions, and real-time decision-making.
• Light physical activity, including moving test equipment, prototypes, and other lightweight materials.
• Regular travel to test facilities, player testing sessions, and PGA/LPGA Tour events may be required.

TaylorMade is a performance driven organization and our total rewards approach to compensation is designed to support this. We consider many factors in determining base compensation, including position scope, job related knowledge, education, skills, experience, and work location.

The expected annual base pay range for this position is $88,000 - $100,000.

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

#LI-onsite #LI-CL1

TaylorMade Golf Company is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religious creed, color, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military and veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law, ordinance, or regulation.

We believe that our people are a big part of what makes our company great.

Our continued success relies on the talent, drive, collaboration and innovation of our teams.

At TaylorMade, we pride ourselves on being willing to do anything and everything to make our golfers better – which starts with our talented and dedicated employees.

We have a group of people who live, breathe and sleep golf, doing whatever it takes to make the best, most technologically advanced and highest quality equipment for our golfers.

Team TaylorMade is made up of passionate individuals who are obsessed with always being better today than yesterday.

Individuals who bring diversity of thought and experience to our company and are motivated by our brand principles.

We believe in the continuous development and cultivation of our people – to inspire them on their individual path of growth.

Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, TaylorMade has a global impact with regional offices and opportunities around the world.