Lead - Sports Engineer (Football)

About the role

On is looking for an autonomous, forward-thinking Lead of Sports Engineering to drive computer-aided engineering for football. Within the Sports Engineering - Innovation team, you will lead and standardize structural mechanics simulations (Finite Element Analysis) across footwear materials, components and products. You will work with cross-functional teams, athletes and external labs to turn scientific insights into product innovation, and build automated virtual testing environments.

Key responsibilities

• Build and run high-fidelity Finite Element models simulating the interaction between foot, footwear and surface, covering materials, components and whole shoes
• Run virtual test scenarios and track emerging research and computational methods in virtual prototyping
• Collaborate with product teams, Tooling Managers, Footwear Developers, Material Scientists and Designers, and align with the Athlete Servicing and Sports Science teams
• Manage collaboration with internal and external labs, test institutes, manufacturers, academic partners and software suppliers
• Translate virtual test results into clear reports and presentations for technical and non-technical audiences
• Improve simulations against real-world failure patterns and lab tests, and provide data to Standards and Compliance experts

Required profile

• 6+ years of footwear-specific experience, working autonomously on innovation projects
• Background in virtual testing (FEA, CAD modelling, simulation) and digital twins
• Strong communication with stakeholders across functions
• Understanding of traditional manufacturing, polymer science and compound mechanics, including digital material cards for hyperelastic foams, rubbers and viscoelastic polymers
• Soccer-specific biomechanics knowledge
• Fluent English, availability to travel up to 10%, calm and organized under tight deadlines

Required skills

• Mastery of Radioss, Abaqus and HyperMesh
• Proficiency in NX, SolidWorks and Rhino
• Strong analytical skills