Footwear Development Manager (m/f/d)
Germany / Bayreuth
CYBEX is a company that puts tomorrow’s people at the heart of its brand. Always questioning the status quo and not afraid of challenging the establishment, CYBEX has become not just a leader in child safety but is seen as an innovative lifestyle and fashion brand for parents. We offer car seats, baby carriers, kids furniture and strollers enabling parents to keep their little ones safe in style. After growing rapidly in the last few years, we look for ambitious talent to contribute to CYBEX’s success story.
Your seat to fill:
- Lead the end-to-end footwear development process from initial concept through commercialization and production readiness, ensuring alignment with brand, consumer, cost, and performance objectives
- Translate design concepts into technically feasible, manufacturable, and cost-effective footwear solutions
- Create and maintain technical specifications, product requirements, and development documentation throughout the product development process
- Collaborate closely with Design, Product Management, Innovation, Sourcing, Quality, suppliers, and factories to align technical execution and development activities
- Lead prototype and sample development, coordinating technical reviews, fitting sessions, wear testing, and sample iterations
- Evaluate and optimize footwear fit, comfort, functionality, quality, durability, and safety throughout development
- Define and review footwear constructions, materials, components, lasts, tooling, and manufacturing processes to support product requirements
- Identify technical challenges early and develop practical solutions in close collaboration with internal teams and external partners
- Ensure children’s fit, growing feet, ease of use, and product safety requirements are considered throughout the footwear development process
Manage development timelines and milestones while supporting product testing, validation, costing, quality processes, and production readiness
Your stroll to CYBEX:
- Degree or professional qualification in Footwear Development, Footwear Technology, Product Engineering, Industrial Design or a related field.
- Several years of professional experience in footwear development; experience in juvenile or children's footwear is preferred.
- Strong technical understanding of footwear constructions, materials, components and manufacturing processes.
- Experience working directly with footwear factories, suppliers and development partners.
- Strong understanding of footwear fit, lasts, patterns, tooling and product testing.
- Ability to translate creative concepts into technically feasible and scalable products.
- Strong project management skills and experience managing multiple developments and seasonal timelines.
- Good understanding of quality, costing and commercialization requirements.
- Knowledge of children's product safety requirements and testing standards is an advantage.
- Hands-on, solution-oriented and highly organized working style.
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
- Fluent English and willingness to travel internationally when required.
CYBEX operates globally and has employees from copious nations. If you are keen to leave your footprint in a swiftly growing business that offers plenty of opportunities to grow both on a professional and individual level, you’ve come to the right place. You’ll have the chance to develop your personal profile in an international environment. As part of Goodbaby International Holdings Ltd., CYBEX is dedicated to creating an inclusive working environment that encompasses diversity and equal opportunities. At CYBEX, we place great importance on our values: Imagination, Belief, Passion, Strength, Respect, and Love. These values shape our company culture and drive us to develop innovative solutions and achieve exceptional results.