Wheel Design Engineer II

Trek Bicycle Corporation; Waterloo (IA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible culture

Health care

401(k) with ESOP

Maternity leave 12 weeks

Employee discounts

Job summary

Trek Bicycle Corporation is seeking an experienced engineer to lead the technical design and development of road wheel systems, including carbon rims, hubs, and spoke configurations. You will focus on aerodynamics, weight, stiffness, and durability from concept to production, communicating specifications to internal and external partners.

Responsibilities include translating rider feedback into engineering specs, working with Trek racing teams, and mentoring peers while coordinating with

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and 5+ years in product development.
• Experience in bicycle wheel design, build, and manufacturing.
• Experience with composite structures and laminate layup.
• Ability to iterate quickly with hands-on prototyping and problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical design and development of road wheel systems (carbon rims, hubs, spokes).
• Create engineering specification packages and communicate with partners.
• Translate rider feedback into wheel product specifications and drive production readiness.

Skills

CAD modeling

Structural analysis

CFD

Wind tunnel

Prototyping

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

Onshape

FEA

CFD tools

Job description

Company Overview

A bit about us Trek is an awesome place to work, with amazing benefits for all employees. We build only products we love, provide incredible hospitality to our customers, and change the world by getting more people on bikes. When you’re on our team, you’re taken care of, encouraged to learn and grow, and given lots of opportunities to do so. Give us your best, and we’ll give it right back. Sound pretty sweet? Then come join us!

Job Description

Are you looking to be part of a motivated team that is pushing the limits of product performance, bringing new and innovative wheels to riders everywhere? Do you love solving problems, iterating quickly, and delivering creative solutions? Do you want to work within a culture that embraces continuous learning and development of new skills through exposure to evolving opportunities? Trek’s engineering team is looking for a highly motivated and experienced engineer to come work in our inspiring work hard / play hard environment, take the lead on wheel design and development, and help create the next generation of road wheel products that will have a big impact on the cycling industry.

YOU WILL Lead the technical design and development of road wheel systems, including carbon rims, hubs, and spoke/lacing configurations, focusing on aerodynamics, weight, stiffness, and durability from the concept phase through to production. Create and deliver engineering specification packages that communicate effectively with internal and external partners to ensure products meet project requirements. Translate customer and rider feedback into engineering specifications for wheel products. Work with Trek racing teams to develop products that perform at the highest level, and provide expertise to bike groups, athletes, marketing, and other internal customers. Develop collaborative relationships with vendors and coordinate engineering activities with domestic and international teammates, traveling as necessary. Learn, create, and implement new engineering tools that will enable you and your teammates to create best-in‑class products. Mentor and provide technical guidance to other engineers, and own technical decisions across wheel programs. Conduct patent searches, generate ideas, and stay informed of new technology through technical publications and seminars.

What You Need to Succeed

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent, with 5+ years of experience in product development. Experience with bicycle wheel design, build, and manufacturing. Experience designing composite structures, including laminate/layup design, with an understanding of how material and process choices affect performance. Execution experience of multiple project cycles from concept through to production. Ability to iterate quickly on designs, with an eagerness to take a hands‑on approach to rapid prototyping and identifying problems. Experience using CAD modeling software (preferably Onshape) to create 3D models and 2D engineering drawings. Ability to understand and apply GD&T methodology. Skills in structural analysis, design failure risk analysis, design for manufacturing and assembly, test plan creation, troubleshooting test results, and creating technical documentation and reports. Experience with wheel test development and validation, such as impact, fatigue, stiffness, and aerodynamic testing, and knowledge of relevant standards. Ability to interpret data and solve complex problems, bringing a creative approach to open-ended technical problems with a drive to innovate! Self‑motivated and detail oriented, with strong planning, communication, and accountability skills in a fast‑paced team environment working with domestic and international teammates.

Also, Of Interest!

• Experience with design analysis using FEA and CFD, and with wind tunnel testing.
• Proficient in bike assembly and wheel building.
• Experience researching and developing new testing methods and standards to improve performance and quality.
• Knowledge of tire and rim interface standards (ETRTO / ISO) and tubeless system design.
• Experience designing for manufacturing with composite materials, plastics, and metals, using processes such as bladder molding, compression molding, forging, CNC machining, and injection molding.
• Positive attitude that fosters continuous improvement and flexibility.

Trek Benefits

• Flexible and fun company culture
• Competitive health care
• PPO & HDHP medical plan options, Dental insurance, Vision insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Free life insurance & optional term life insurance
• Competitive vacation package
• 401(k) with match and Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP)
• 12 weeks of maternity leave with 100% pay
• Flexible holiday schedule – 10 company holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement up to $15,000! (Undergraduate & Masters programs)
• Employee discounts on all product
• Deep partner retail discounts

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) Employer. Trek strictly prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, veteran or military status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination.

We are an E-Verify employer.

Company Culture

Trek is a place where you’re valued for being you. If you’re really into bikes, that’s great. If you’re not (yet), that’s great too. Because there’s a lot more to Trek than bikes. Every person has a unique history and life experience to bring to the table. We respect that. It’s what makes us who we are. Trek was named to Fortune Magazine's list of Top 100 Best Companies to Work For. Learn more of why Trek is one of the top 100 Greatest Place to Work.