Footwear Developer

SUMMARY

First 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

Below is a summary of compensation elements for this role at the company if based in the following locations: