Lead Product Engineer - UGG Footwear

Deckers Brands•Goleta, CA

1d•$108,700 - $146,700•Hybrid

About The Position

At Deckers Brands, Together, Every Step is a promise kept that every employee can bring their authentic self, is valued and supported, as a whole person, at work and beyond. Together, Every Step is how we continue to deliver exceptional business results, experience an amazing place to work, and have a positive impact on the communities and world around us. The Role As a Lead Product Engineer, you’ll independently lead the development and validation of footwear across multiple product categories, with a particular focus on tooling. You’ll drive execution from concept through commercialization, ensuring alignment to design intent, manufacturability, cost targets, and quality standards. You’ll serve as a key technical partner across Design, Product Development, and Asia teams, influencing decisions, resolving tooling challenges, and advancing best practices within the product engineering organization. We celebrate diversity--of your background, your experiences and your unique identity. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and equitable workplace where all of our employees can Come as They Are. We believe that when we bring our different perspectives to work, we are truly Better Together.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field (or equivalent industry experience)
6+ years in footwear engineering, tooling, or mold development
Proven experience leading tooling development across multiple projects or categories from concept through commercialization
Demonstrated ability to manage complex development challenges and anticipate risks across the product lifecycle
Experience collaborating with global teams and Asia-based manufacturing partners
Track record of improving processes, tooling performance, or development efficiency
Strong technical knowledge of tooling construction and processes (EVA, rubber, PU, injection)
Advanced problem-solving and root cause analysis capabilities using structured, data-driven approaches
Ability to evaluate and interpret 2D/3D drawings, tooling blueprints, and engineering specifications
Project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines independently
Experience developing and improving processes, SOPs, and engineering best practices
Strong cross-functional communication and collaboration skills
Proficiency in PLM systems, Excel tracking tools, and engineering documentation

Responsibilities

Lead tooling development across assigned categories, ensuring alignment to design intent and engineering standards
Create, refine, and implement tooling procedures, documentation standards, and best practices
Provide technical guidance to team members and support consistent execution across projects
Apply structured analytical approaches to resolve complex tooling issues and drive corrective actions
Anticipate and mitigate risks early through trial analysis, modeling, and development insights
Develop and enhance tooling SOPs, checklists, and process workflows to improve consistency and efficiency
Track and improve key tooling KPIs and support vendor benchmarking and capability development
Partner with Design, Product Development, and Asia teams to ensure tooling feasibility, cost alignment, and scalable production solutions
Lead tooling readiness for commercialization, ensuring performance, durability, and aesthetic standards are met
Provide training, coaching, and technical guidance to engineers to elevate team capability