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

Responsibilities

We are representing a confidential footwear company seeking a Head of Product Development & Engineering to own the complete development process from brief through tech-pack, prototyping rounds, sales samples, sealed samples, and production launch including tooling trials and pre-production approvals. You will be responsible for every technical gate and final sign-off before a model enters production.

You will build and lead your own team across footwear development, last & fit engineering, tooling, commercialisation, and materials — scaling functions in the sequence that growth demands. A core focus is establishing last and fit as an internal competency, building a proprietary last library, fit standards, and grading systems.

Working closely with strong material and compound partners, you will develop proprietary comfort technologies for footbeds and outsoles. You will embed wear-testing, compliance standards (SATRA/ISO, REACH, EU product safety), and quality gates into the development process. Close collaboration with product management, design, and sourcing teams is essential — your role is to make concepts buildable without compromising their vision.

What We're Looking For

• Extensive footwear product development experience, typically 10+ years, with several years spent factory-side in Asia — in the sample room, not just on video calls
• Ideally experienced with comfort footwear or EVA injection moulding and moulded components; alternatively, athletic footwear with deep tooling knowledge
• Proven leadership experience managing development teams and maintaining T&A calendars across multiple models simultaneously
• Strong technical foundation in FOB costing, tooling economics, and materials science
• Business-fluent English and willingness to travel internationally
• Ability to establish development standards from the ground up rather than simply managing existing structures

How We Work With You

Our client has partnered with Get A Job.ai to identify exceptional product development leadership for this strategic role based in Hamburg. When you apply through our platform, one of our specialist recruiters will screen your background and experience. If there is a strong match, we will submit your profile to our client for consideration. Please do not contact the company directly — all communication and scheduling will be managed through our talent team to ensure a professional and confidential process.

Pay

Compensation details will be discussed during the screening process based on your experience level and the client's budget for this senior leadership position.

Equal Opportunity

Get A Job.ai is committed to inclusive recruiting practices. We evaluate all candidates based on qualifications and professional merit.