Footwear Innovation Engineer (m/f/d)

In this role you apply biomechanics and engineering to improve footwear for growing feet, focusing on fit, cushioning, flexibility, and safety. You will translate consumer insights into innovative opportunities and build a pipeline of footwear technologies. You’ll explore new materials, constructions, and manufacturing processes, and develop concepts, prototypes, and validation methods. You work across Design, Product Management, Development, Sourcing, and suppliers to balance feasibility, safety, sustainability, and manufacturability, contributing to commercialization in a rapidly growing, international company.

• Apply biomechanical and engineering expertise to improve footwear performance and safety
• Translate consumer needs and scientific findings into innovation opportunities
• Research biomechanics, materials, and manufacturing to build an innovation pipeline
• Develop materials, constructions, components, and processes for growing feet
• Create concepts, prototypes, and proof-of-concept solutions from exploration to product integration
• Lead hands-on experimentation and iterative testing against defined performance criteria
• Define test methods, validation protocols, and acceptance thresholds
• Analyze biomechanical and product data to guide decisions
• Collaborate with design, product management, development, sourcing, quality, and suppliers to assess feasibility, safety, sustainability, cost, manufacturability, and IP potential
• Support scientific documentation, patent research, and invention disclosures
• Partner with research institutes and labs for knowledge exchange and alignment to commercialization

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Product Engineering, Materials Science, Sports Engineering, Industrial Design Engineering, Footwear Technology or related technical discipline, or equivalent knowledge
• Relevant experience in product innovation, footwear engineering, or a similar field
• Analytical approach to solving technical problems
• Experience in footwear, sporting goods, or children’s products is advantageous
• Knowledge of footwear constructions, materials and manufacturing processes is advantageous
• Experience with prototyping, testing, and iterative refinement of physical products
• Familiarity with CAD or other 3D development tools is advantageous
• Ability to translate technical findings into practical product solutions
• Experience collaborating with suppliers, laboratories, or manufacturing partners is advantageous
• Knowledge of children’s biomechanics or foot development is advantageous

• collaborative mindset
• strong analytical thinking
• effective communication
• biomechanics
• prototype development
• testing and validation