OEM Footwear Sales Engineer

Location: Remote
Reports To: OEM Sales Director
Brand/Segment: Gathr Outdoors

ABOUT THE COMPANY: Gathr Outdoors, a portfolio company of Centre Partners, is a diversified global leader in designing and manufacturing outdoor products and sporting goods. Our core business segments are OUTDOOR (GCI Outdoor, Klymit, Rightline Gear, Cascadia Vehicle Tents & WaterPORT) and RECREATION (PrideSports, Pride Manufacturing, Golf Scorecards & MacNeill Engineering). Each segment provides industry-leading product development, design, and customer support.

At Gathr Outdoors, we believe experiences are always more powerful when spent together outside. We are Better Together, Passionate by Nature, Blazing New Trails & Rugged for a Reason! Come join us...Everyone is welcome at our camp!

We are one of the fastest-growing outdoor manufacturers in the U.S. We live by the belief that experiences are always more powerful when spent together outside. Welcome to our camp! We wish you every success in your new role.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The OEM Footwear Sales Engineer supports OEM customers by combining technical product expertise with strong customer relationships and commercial awareness. This role works closely with OEM partners and internal engineering, product, and sales teams to develop innovative traction solutions and identify new applications for our technologies.

The OEM Footwear Sales Engineer will support traction solutions across field and court sports, help translate customer and athlete needs into technical requirements, and contribute to the expansion of our proprietary dial closure system into new categories and applications.

RESPONSIBILITIES

OEM Partner Support

• Serve as a technical resource for OEM customers throughout the product development process.
• Build strong relationships with OEM product, development, and engineering teams.
• Translate customer requirements into actionable technical and product solutions.
• Coordinate with internal engineering, product, sales, and manufacturing teams to support customer programs.
• Assist with customer presentations, product reviews, technical discussions, and issue resolution.

Traction Product Development

• Support development and innovation of traction systems across track & field, soccer, baseball, American football, rugby, and cricket.
• Partner with engineering and product teams to translate athlete and customer needs into differentiated solutions.
• Evaluate competitive technologies, materials, and manufacturing trends.
• Support product concepts from initial development through testing and commercialization.
• Balance performance, durability, manufacturability, and cost when evaluating solutions.

Court Traction

• Support traction development for basketball, tennis, pickleball, volleyball, badminton, and table tennis.
• Translate sport-specific performance needs into technical and product requirements.
• Collaborate with OEM customers and internal teams on new traction concepts and applications.

Dial Closure System – New Applications

• Identify potential new categories and applications for the dial closure system.
• Work with sales, engineering, and product teams to evaluate customer needs and market opportunities.
• Support proof-of-concept development, testing, and customer presentations.

Cross-Functional & Business Support

• Partner closely with sales, engineering, product, marketing, manufacturing, and operations.
• Provide technical input for customer proposals, business opportunities, and product development programs.
• Track customer projects, technical requirements, development milestones, and follow-up activities.
• Support OEM account planning and new business development initiatives.
• Participate in customer meetings, trade events, and industry activities as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

• Experience in engineering, technical sales, product development, or a related role within footwear, sporting goods, or consumer products.
• Technical knowledge of footwear components, traction systems, materials, or manufacturing processes preferred.
• Experience working directly with OEM customers or other B2B partners preferred.
• Ability to understand customer needs and translate them into practical technical solutions.
• Strong project management and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across sales, engineering, product, and manufacturing teams.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple customer and development projects simultaneously.

SKILLS/PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Technical aptitude with a strong customer-service mindset.
• Effective communicator who can explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Collaborative and relationship focused.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage competing priorities.
• Curious and innovative with an interest in new technologies and applications.
• Self-directed and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365 and technology-enabled business tools.

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering and a minimum of 8-10 years of relevant engineering experience required; an equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience may be considered in lieu of the degree requirement.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities.

• Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external partners using telephone, computer, and other technology.
• Ability to occasionally move throughout an office environment and remain in a stationary position approximately 50% of the time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Typical office/remote work environment.
• Domestic and international travel may be required to support OEM customers, product development, and business initiatives.

Gathr Outdoors is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request by emailing People@GathrOutdoors.com. No applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.