Product Engineer/ Commercialisation Engineer - North Vietnam

Vietnam, Ninh Binh | Supply Chain  Team | Director of PD and Commercialisation

Who is Allbirds?

At Allbirds, we believe in using business as a force for good. We’re a global footwear and apparel brand with roots in New Zealand and our headquarters in San Francisco. Since 2016, we’ve been on a mission to prove that comfort, design, and sustainability aren’t mutually exclusive. Our commitment to creating better things in a better way is fueled by a belief that the fashion industry needs to focus less on flash and more on thoughtfulness. And as a certified B Corp, we’re dedicated to making the most sustainable products we can using premium natural materials - designed for life’s everyday adventures.

Where we need help

The role of Product Engineer/Commercialisation, will be the bridge between product development and production, using deep technical expertise to ensure a seamless delivery of product from development  to production with all relevant stakeholder sign off. You will drive best practices and technical standards around Allbirds footwear product creation, providing technical product input, and guidance to team members to deliver product that is on time,  manufacturable, cost effective and meets performance/ quality expectations of the brand and consumer.  This role will support the smooth transition of our product creation process into bulk production ensuring that all appropriate sign off gates and confirmations have been delivered. 

What does the job entail? 

• Through a solid production engineering background, be the bridge between product development and production to ensure a smooth transition of products into production, with all confirmation processes in place. 
• Using a deep knowledge of manufacturing techniques,  ensure production ready products that have been fully signed off, and risk assessed, through the use of PFC’s and SOP’s. 
• Possess a deep understanding of blueprints and tooling, with the confidence to highlight constructional issues with moulds and tooling from the concept drawings.
• Ensure calendar compliance for all products and work with production/planning to highlight any areas of risk to product ex factory.
• Become the Asia expert in our preferred materials, for example Green EVA and plant leathers, and be able to onboard new suppliers to our preferred materials.
• Actively contribute to the development process through direct interaction, and make recommendations and provide problem solving solutions throughout the creation process.
• Review wear test shoes with product development and QC/Factory teams and offer support on fit, and construction solutions as needed.
• Ensure technical best practices for manufacturing processes and document these standards to ensure consistent guidelines during the footwear creation process.
• Deep understanding of  upper pattern creation, including creation of last drafts, pattern shells, and grading. 
• Partner with Asia PD to build upon best practices in Allbirds product creation.
• Understand complex constructions and  make early recommendations on product construction techniques & solutions..
• Manage the delivery of fully risk assessed and production ready products into production following a fully documented process with all relevant stakeholders aligned 
• Knowledge of knitting methods and constructions a plus! 

What are we looking for?

• Passionate about sustainability and making things in a better way
• Low ego and high horsepower, you are continuously seeking improvement processes for Allbirds and for your own development.
• Perpetually curious, always seeking to improve your understanding of Allbirds’ businesses, and identify new opportunities by questioning assumptions and taking the initiative to solve problems 
• Entrepreneurial, self-directed and resourceful, you thrive in a highly dynamic, and unstructured environment, and never hesitate to get things done.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, or equivalent/experience
• 5+ years of Footwear Creation, Development, Commercialization or Manufacturing experience.
• Deep knowledge of Tooling, compounds, and pattern grading.
• Strong Project Management skills with a keen attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to develop relationships with individuals and teams of diverse disciplines and cultural backgrounds to build effective working relationships..
• Strong at leadership quality 
• Fluent English communication.
• Able to influence at all levels of an organization, and vendor base.
• Able to work independently with minimal direction.
• High learning agility, to implement processes across footwear vendors in Vietnam
• Ability to travel domestically 

More practical skills needed:

• Experience with knitted uppers preferred
• Mandarin would be helpful.
• Chemical/compound  experience 

What do we offer?

• Competitive salary 
• Medical/Dental/Vision insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Fitness benefits
• Free shoes

Diversity

Allbirds is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. Allbirds policy prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, marital or veteran status, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member), sexual orientation, pregnancy, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. It also prohibits discrimination based on a perception that anyone has any of those characteristics or is associated with a person who has or is perceived as having any of those characteristics. All such discrimination is unlawful.