Sr. Product Technician

Location: Manhattan Beach, CA

Time Type: Full time

Job Description

WHO WE ARE:
Headquartered in Southern California, Skechers—the Comfort Technology Company®—has spent over 30 years helping men, women, and kids everywhere look and feel good. Comfort innovation is at the core of everything we do, driving the development of stylish, high-quality products at a great value. From our diverse footwear collections to our expanding range of apparel and accessories, Skechers is a complete lifestyle brand.

ABOUT THE ROLE:
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.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

• 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 USA 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 Basic Fit 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.
• 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.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING:

• 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 software's.
• 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. 
• 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. 
• Able to be problem solver on complex project by cooperating with different teams to achieve final goal. 

REQUIREMENTS:

• 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.

The pay range for this position is $130,000-$150,000/yr USD.

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About Skechers

Skechers, a global Fortune 500® company, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel, and accessories. Serving over 180 countries and territories, Skechers connects customers to products through department and specialty stores, e-commerce and digital stores, and through our more than 5,300 Skechers retail locations.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Skechers is committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful work environment. Skechers provides equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment without regard race, color, religion, gender, gender identification and expression, national origin, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, military status, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic established by local, state or federal law.

Reasonable Accommodation
Applicants for employment who require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job should request appropriate accommodation by emailing [email protected].
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each job responsibility 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.