Senior Product Technician

Company Description

Headquartered in Southern California, Skechers has spent 30 years helping men, women and kids everywhere look and feel good. Developing comfort technologies is at the foundation of all that we do—delivering stylish, innovative, and quality products at a reasonable price. From our diverse footwear offering to a growing range of apparel and accessories, Skechers is a complete lifestyle brand.

With international business representing over half of our total sales, we have product available in more than 180 countries and significant opportunities for continued expansion worldwide. We sell our collections direct to consumers through more than 4,450 Skechers stores around the globe and Skechers e-commerce sites, as well as through a network of third-party partners.

A MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR GLOBAL LEADER IN THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY.

Job Description

JOB PURPOSE-

Lead the development of Skechers footwear projects from initial concept through to sales samples, confirmation and basic fit. Provide effective leadership, project management, communication, and technical skills for both domestic and Asia product teams in order to meet all project objectives related to performance, manufacturing, costing, and aesthetics. Contribute to the R&D and implementation of new and existing materials, processes, components, techniques, and innovations, in order to aid design in achieving innovative product solutions. Keep informed of and evaluate market developments with an eye towards improving the competitiveness and equity of the Skechers Brand.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES-

• Leads and manages the daily activities for all assigned projects. Thoroughly communicates necessary details to teams in USA and Asia in order to reach calendar milestone objectives.
• Leads upper development for manufacturability, fit, function, pre-cost and desired aesthetic. Works closely with fit/wear test team to ensure consistent fit and that each style meets Skechers fitting standards throughout the development process.
• Leads mold development from initial drawings through confirmation of model size with respect to manufacturability, fit, function, pre-cost, and aesthetic. In conjunction with Design and Development Leads, executes against strategy for components with regards to compounds, construction and mold type.
• Coordinates and maintains material and structural specifications to maintain Skechers standards for quality, durability, and performance.
• Participates in the planning and execution of forward engineering activities to meet commercialization and production timelines.
• In conjunction with design, manages the assembly of the approved design into a package of two and three-dimensional information which adequately describes and utilizes current and feasible manufacture and assembly techniques.
• Maintain and provide a clear form of documentation and communication with team members to keep the product teams focused and all working towards the same project objectives, to help assist the transfer of design solutions from concept through final product with Asia developers and Skechers factory base. 
• Manages costing objectives as outlined by Product Manager and costing team and works with design to achieve category goals. This entails supplying necessary information needed for pre-costing exercises during review of product briefs, through tech. package development and final pricing of confirmation standards.
• Works with development and design team in USA and Asia to initiate and oversee the development of Lasts based upon desired aesthetic, performance, comfort and fit.
• Work with Skechers Commercialization team in both LA HQ and Asia to ensure the Basic Fit is approved for fitting, aesthetic of design intend, and proper construction for mass production, as well as ensure all materials meet Skechers physical property standards.  
• Approve the Confirmation sample as BF approval for all aesthetic from the design intend and ensure all materialization on Spec Sheet are correct accordingly to the CFM sample. 
• Work with Skechers Comm and Production team to ensure the product are made well and successfully commercialized and produced. 

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES-

• Work with designers, merchandising and marketing.
• Work with material team for the selection and testing of materials.
• Help set material standards.
• Approve final specs.
• Work with costing to achieve target cost.
• Development of lasts and molds.
• Assist in the confirmation of production samples.
• Assist in the Basic& Extreme-Fit approval process.
• Document the Development Process.
• Update specs and processes.
• Recommendations of manufacturing improvements.
• Travel to manufacturing locations (typically 2 trips annually), development centers and vendors to oversee the execution of footwear, trips to trade shows and locations necessary for keeping current with future trends in R&D as necessary.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES-

• NA

Qualifications

JOB REQUIREMENTS-

• Possesses a solid foundation in all aspect of athletic footwear manufacturing and development and related processes. (footwear manufacturing experience is a plus)
• Capable to manage development projects from concept to confirmation.
• Understands and has experience with Last development.
• Understands and has experience with pattern making.
• Fluent in reading and navigating around upper and outsole part drawings using 2D and 3D viewing and markup softwares.
• Sense of style, fashion, and proportions.
• Detail oriented, keeps track of projects.
• Checks, influences, and confirms specifications and materials.
• Communicates well with all team members including Asia side R&D and factories using all necessary tools (ie., E-mail, phone, MS Teams, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Excel, Word, Powerpoint, etc.)
• Innovative and creative thinker.  Can “think and manage outside of the box”.
• Self-Starter that gets things done.
• Possesses a sense of responsibility and ownership.
• Manages multiple projects and multi-tasks well.
• Capable of leading, training and motivating.
• Excellent computer skills.
• Creates and maintains useful records.
• Maintains good relationships with factories, overseas offices, and suppliers.
• Promotes a strong sense of team based on trust and mutual respect for others. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE-

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or Engineering and or minimum 10 years footwear development experience required.
• Knowledge of Asian manufacturing a plus.  
• Equivalent experience can substitute for degree.

Additional Information

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The skills, abilities and physical demands described are representative of those duties that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities, who are otherwise qualified for the job position, to perform the essential functions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS-

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to walk; sit, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel. The employee is occasionally required to sit for long period of times.  

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Pay range for this position is $110k-$140k

Benefits:

• Paid Parental Leave: including time for fathers and adopting parents.
• Short term & long term disability and life insurance at no cost to the employee.
• Extensive medical, dental, and vision plans with multiple carries, including EPO, HPN and PPO plans.
• Competitive 401k plan and employer matching.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Savings Account (FSA) offerings.
• Paid vacation, sick, personal and holiday time.
• Pet Insurance available.
• Onsite wellness programs at company headquarters including fitness classes, acupuncture, and chiropractor.
• Employee stock purchase program
• Employee product discount of 50%; employee sample sales and family and friends discount throughout the year. 
• Skechers Company Culture and growth strategy is deeply infused with internal career growth and opportunities for learning.