Manager, Footwear Engineering

Rothy's•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

Rothy’s is seeking a Manager, Footwear Engineering to lead the development and application of fit, wear-testing, and consumer insight strategies across our footwear portfolio. This role is both analytical and hands-on, translating consumer feedback, testing data, and technical evaluation into clear product recommendations that improve fit, comfort, performance, and commercialization outcomes.

Requirements

6–8 years of experience in footwear technical engineering, fit & wear testing, product research, or commercialization; knit footwear experience strongly preferred
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, biomechanics, kinesiology, product development, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience)
Strong understanding of knit footwear construction, materials, fit systems, and performance testing
Experience designing and managing wear testing programs and interpreting lab and consumer data
Proven ability to synthesize research findings into clear product and business recommendations
Experience partnering with Asia-based factories or vendors
Strong systems and tools proficiency, including PLM and Google Sheets/Docs/Slides; data visualization or analytics tools a plus
Highly analytical with a strong ability to translate data into practical product decisions
Comfortable operating at the intersection of consumer insight, technical evaluation, and product development
A proactive problem-solver who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Collaborative and effective at working across technical, creative, and commercial teams
Clear, structured, and persuasive in communication, both written and verbal
Detail-oriented with strong organizational and follow-through skills
Curious, consumer-obsessed, and motivated to improve product experiences
Willing and able to travel domestically (1–3 times per year) and internationally (as needed)

Responsibilities

Create and implement a streamlined, scalable approach for leveraging quantitative and qualitative consumer data to inform product development, fit decisions, and commercialization strategies
Synthesize wear test results, lab testing, and consumer feedback into clear, actionable insights that influence product, fit standards, and future development direction
Establish and continuously improve best-in-class product testing methodologies for existing styles, new silhouettes, and emerging categories, with a focus on knit footwear
Explore and implement alternative testing methods to support an increasing volume of tests each season while maintaining rigor and relevance
Partner with Product Development and Design teams to identify opportunities to refine and enhance the existing assortment through fact-based product insights
Analyze primary and secondary research to inform fit improvements, material choices, construction updates, and commercialization readiness
Prioritize key fit, wear, and performance risks to ensure a smooth and timely transition from development into production
Act as a technical partner during commercialization, ensuring product readiness aligns with consumer expectations and brand standards
Collaborate closely with Marketing to translate consumer insights, testing results, and product benefits into compelling, authentic product stories
Partner with cross-functional teams to understand research needs and define clear wear test objectives, success criteria, timelines, and deliverables
Leverage consumer insights, market research, and analytics to identify growth opportunities and support broader brand and product initiatives
Strategically recruit, manage, and grow relationships with internal and external wear test participants, including core consumers and target segments
Build and maintain connections with key brand advocates and influencers in local and high-growth markets to support testing and insight generation
Build, document, and maintain official wear testing protocols for internal and external groups, ensuring consistency, quality, and scalability
Establish and maintain regular communication with Asia-based factory partners, sharing key consumer insights, testing outcomes, and product learnings
Ensure factory teams are informed and aligned on fit, wear, and performance expectations to support future development and continuous improvement
Establishes proactive and consistent communication and feedback with their team
Provides continuous feedback to team and individual development, and holds everyone accountable for meeting these expectations