Product Validation Engineer

Implus•Carlsbad, CA

16h•Onsite

About The Position

Implus Footcare, LLC is an industry-leading global consumer packaged goods company with 16 brands in footwear accessories, hosiery, specialty running, outdoor, fitness and movement categories. Implus is headquartered in Research Triangle Park in Durham, NC with locations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, and South Africa. Our brand family includes Airplus, Balega, DryGuy, Forcefield, Harbinger, Little Hotties, Perfect, RockTape, SKLZ, Sneaker Balls, Sof Comfort, Sof Sole, Spenco, Sport-Brella, TriggerPoint, and Yaktrax. From fitness accessories to training aids, insoles, socks, and shoe care, Implus' products are sold in over 80,000 retail locations across North America and in over 80 countries worldwide. At Implus we believe in the power of diversity, equity & inclusion and are committed to creating an environment where all team members can thrive, regardless of their background, identity, or experiences. We encourage & value different perspectives and are seeking a Product Validation Engineer who shares our commitment to inclusivity and enjoys working collaboratively with colleagues from diverse backgrounds. POSITION SUMMARY: Are you passionate about sports, quality, and hands-on product development? Implus is seeking a Product Validation Engineer to join our team in Carlsbad, CA, supporting the development of fitness and training products trusted by athletes worldwide. In this role, you will support pre-production development through testing, evaluation, and validation of new products. You’ll assess early prototypes, develop test methods, build test fixtures, and conduct both lab and field testing. You’ll also create quality control documentation used to support mass production and ongoing product quality. A core focus of this position is identifying potential failure modes early in the development process. By intentionally stressing products and evaluating performance limits, you’ll help uncover issues before production, reducing risk, defects, and downstream costs. This role works closely with design and engineering teams to ensure products meet performance, durability, and quality expectations.

Requirements

2 to 5 years of experience in product validation, engineering testing, or R&D.
Hands-on experience with tensile testers, force gauges, torque tools, and mechanical testing equipment.
Ability to design and build custom test fixtures and jigs.
Experience developing validation protocols and test methods.
Ability to interpret engineering drawings and specifications.
Strong technical writing and reporting skills.
Strong communication and collaboration skills.
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Product Engineering, or a related technical field.
Equivalent professional experience may also be considered.

Nice To Haves

Experience with both soft goods and hard goods.
Knowledge of DFMEA, DVP&R, or validation frameworks.
Familiarity with ISO 9001, Six Sigma, or similar systems.
Experience with consumer safety standards such as CPSC and Prop 65.
Passion for sports, fitness, or performance products.

Responsibilities

Build, modify, and maintain custom test equipment in our shop, including cycle rigs, tensile fixtures, and durability jigs.
Plan, set up, and execute mechanical, durability, and functional tests for soft and hard goods.
Evaluate, measure, and test prototypes, PPAP samples, and pre-production builds for fit, materials, and performance.
Conduct hands-on field testing with athletes and consumers to assess real-world performance, durability, and usability.
Analyze measurements and test data to identify trends and failure modes, and provide clear, actionable recommendations to Product Development and Engineering.
Document test methods, results, and validation findings, and create QC inspection criteria used during mass production.
Continuously improve test methods, fixtures, and validation approaches based on product learnings and field feedback.
Collaborate with Product Development, Engineering, Quality, and Sourcing teams to identify and reduce risk early in development.
Support DFMEA activities to proactively address potential product weaknesses.
Benchmark competitor products and help define performance and durability standards.
Partner with Quality and Engineering teams to support corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) when issues are identified.
Review customer feedback and marketplace complaints to assess potential quality concerns.
Coordinate with Compliance to support required testing to standards such as REACH, UL, Prop 65, and CPSIA.
Review vendor mass-production inspection reports to support purchase order (PO) shipment approvals.