About the position
At New Balance, we are on a mission to redefine the boundaries of footwear innovation, and as a Senior Engineer in our newly established Moonshot Innovation Group, you will play a pivotal role in this journey. Since our inception in 1906, we have been committed to empowering individuals through sport and craftsmanship, and we continue to challenge conventions to create positive change in communities worldwide. In this position, you will be at the forefront of pioneering creative solutions and exploring cutting-edge technologies that will shape the future of footwear for athletes and consumers alike. Your primary responsibility will be to research new technologies, materials, and design tools to identify future innovation opportunities. You will collaborate with global partners and new vendors to envision future footwear applications, leveraging insights from athletes and consumers to identify unmet needs. As an architect of the future, you will create innovative footwear concepts and lead the engineering efforts required to align with New Balance's long-term innovation vision. Collaboration is key in this role, as you will work closely with all innovation functions to create functional prototypes and investigate the feasibility of new ideas that support our footwear innovation pipeline. You will also engage with the Sport Research Lab to gain a deep understanding of athletes' needs, developing and validating new footwear concepts based on these insights. Your expertise will guide the team on various engineering and development issues, including plastics engineering, molding, manufacturing, and costing. In addition to leading comprehensive technology review meetings, you will provide solutions that effectively balance cost, manufacturability, and design. You will be responsible for creating, communicating, and tracking development timelines to ensure milestones are met, while also advising on the feasibility of achieving goals based on all inputs. Your role will involve performing or directing physical testing of components and test beds, creating product specifications based on findings, and communicating design intent through various mediums, including 2D sketches, 3D modeling, and advanced presentation tools. If you are eager to be part of a team that is redefining footwear innovation and are ready to take bold actions to shape the world of tomorrow, we invite you to join our Moonshot Innovation Group. Together, we will build our own Lunar Lander!
Responsibilities
- Research new technologies, materials, and design tools to identify future innovation opportunities.
- Work with global partners and new vendors to envision future footwear applications.
- Leverage athlete and consumer insights to identify unmet needs.
- Create innovative footwear concepts, materials, and products and lead the engineering required to meet New Balance's long-term innovation vision.
- Collaborate with all innovation functions to create functional prototypes and investigate the feasibility of new ideas to support the footwear innovation pipeline.
- Work with the Sport Research Lab to fully understand the athlete and identify their unmet needs and develop and validate new footwear concepts.
- Advise the team on a wide range of engineering and development issues including plastics engineering, molding, manufacturing, and costing.
- Co-ordinate and lead comprehensive technology review meetings with extended teams to find, discuss, and resolve areas of concern.
- Provide solutions that effectively balance cost, manufacturability, and design.
- Create, communicate, and track development timelines to ensure milestones are met and advise on feasibility of achieving goals based on all inputs.
- Perform or direct the physical testing of components and test beds and create product specifications based on the findings.
- Communicate design intent through 2D sketches, 3D modeling, physical models, and advanced presentation tools.
- Work with the Innovation and In-Line teams to help facilitate project transfers and communicate design intent.
Requirements
- A graduate degree in Engineering, Material Science, Biomechanics, or related discipline with an emphasis on consumer products and knowledge of plastics & molding.
- 9+ years of professional experience in a technical role, preferably in the footwear industry.
- Knowledge of biomechanics and experience gathering insights from athletes to fuel innovation.
- Ability to navigate across multiple disciplines or subjects and self-teach.
- Passion, skills, and ability to create concepts, test beds, and new products.
- Fully versed in footwear product and material development.
- Excellent communication, multi-tasking, and organization skills with the ability and willingness to work in a team-oriented, creative environment.
- Ability to lead within and across an organization.
- Excellent PC skills, including spreadsheet, database, field-related software, and word processing.
- Proficient with CAD software, such as Rhino, Solidworks, and Gravity Sketch.
- Ability to effectively balance work in-person and remotely to fit with New Ways of Working.
Nice-to-haves
- Curiosity and open-mindedness, always up for a challenge.
Benefits
- Comprehensive traditional benefits package including three options for medical insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, and 401K.
- Opportunities for online learning and development courses.
- Tuition reimbursement and $100 monthly student loan support.
- Various mentorship programs to encourage personal and professional growth.
- Yearly $1,000 lifestyle reimbursement.
- 4 weeks of vacation and 12 holidays.
- Generous parental leave.
