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

Responsibilities

We are representing a high-growth footwear brand based in Hamburg that is building its technical product development function in-house. 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 pre-production approvals. Every technical gate is your responsibility, including the final sign-off that releases a model to series production.

You will build and lead your own team across footwear development, last and fit engineering, tooling, commercialization, and materials—in the sequence that growth demands. A core focus will be establishing lasts and fit as a central competency: building a proprietary last library, defining fit standards, and developing grading systems. In comfort footwear, the last is the product.

You will develop proprietary comfort technologies for footbeds and outsoles in partnership with material and compound specialists. You will embed wear-testing, compliance standards (SATRA/ISO, REACH, EU product safety), and quality protocols directly into the development cycle. You work closely in a trio with product management and design, making concepts buildable without diminishing them, and coordinate tightly with sourcing on feasibility, tooling, and production readiness.

What We're Looking For

• 10+ years of footwear product development experience, with multiple years spent factory-side in Asia—in the sample room, not just on video calls
• Ideally, experience with comfort products or EVA injection-molded components; alternatively, athletic footwear with deep tooling expertise
• Proven leadership: you have managed development teams and maintained multi-model T&A calendars in parallel
• Strong technical foundation in FOB costing, tooling economics, and material science
• Fluent English and willingness to travel internationally

How We Work with You

Candidates apply directly through Get A Job.ai. Our talent team will conduct an initial screening to understand your background and confirm alignment with the role. We then present qualified candidates to our client for interview. Please do not contact the employer directly—all communication flows through our recruitment process to ensure a structured and respectful experience for both sides.

Pay

Compensation details will be discussed during the screening process based on experience and qualifications.

Equal Opportunity: Get A Job.ai is committed to inclusive hiring practices. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background, identity, or circumstance.