Head of Product Development & Engineering (m/w/d)

Responsibilities

We are representing a confidential footwear company based in Hamburg that is building its technical product development function in-house. As Head of Product Development & Engineering, you will own the complete development process from brief through tech pack, prototype rounds, sales samples, sealed samples, and production ramp-up including tooling trials and production approvals. Every technical gate is your responsibility, including final sign-off before a model enters series production.

You will build and lead your own team across footwear development, last and fit engineering, tooling, commercialization, and materials—prioritizing roles based on growth requirements. A core focus will be establishing last and fit engineering as an internal competency, including your own last library, fit standards, and grading systems. You will develop proprietary comfort technologies for footbeds and soles in partnership with material and compound specialists.

You will embed wear testing, quality standards, and compliance protocols (SATRA/ISO, REACH, EU product safety) into the development workflow. Working closely with product management and design, you will make concepts buildable without compromising vision, and coordinate tightly with sourcing on feasibility, tooling, and production launch.

What We're Looking For

• Extensive footwear product development experience, typically 10+ years, with several years spent factory-side in Asia working in sample rooms, not just video calls
• Ideally, experience with comfort products or EVA injection molding and molded components; alternatively, athletic footwear with deep tooling expertise
• Leadership experience managing development teams and maintaining timelines across multiple models simultaneously
• Strong technical foundation in FOB costing, tooling economics, and materials knowledge
• Fluent English and willingness to travel internationally

How We Work With You

Candidates apply directly through Get A Job.ai. Our talent team will screen qualified applicants and conduct initial interviews. We then submit strong candidates to our client for their review. Please do not contact the employer directly—all communication flows through our recruiting team to ensure a professional, confidential process.

Pay

Compensation will be discussed during the screening process and is competitive for this senior leadership role in Hamburg's footwear industry.

Equal Opportunity: Get A Job.ai is committed to inclusive recruiting practices. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background.