Race Engineer

Posted 4 Days Ago
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Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, DEU
In-Office
Senior level
Other
The Role
The Race Engineer serves as the engineering liaison between Specialized, elite athletes, race teams, and product organizations. They translate rider feedback, race observations, and performance data into product requirements and engineering solutions; define testing and validation programs; design prototypes; analyze performance; and support races, training camps, supplier visits, and product development. The role requires deep cycling, aerodynamics, biomechanics, CAD, testing, and communication expertise, plus extensive travel.
Summary Generated by Built In
Race Engineer

About the Role

Racing has always been one of Specialized’s most powerful innovation platforms. We are seeking an experienced Race Engineer to connect our athletes, teams, and engineering organization, ensuring insights from the highest levels of competition directly influence the next generation of Specialized product

Working across Product Management, Engineering, Applied Technologies, and S-Racing, the Race Engineer will translate athlete feedback, race observations, Retül data, aerodynamic measurements, and performance analysis into actionable insights and engineering requirements and solutions that directly shape future Specialized products.

This role sits at the intersection of engineering, performance, and racing. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable working with elite athletes, world-class engineers, product teams, media, and industry partners. They are technically credible, highly connected, hands-on, and driven to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of performance gains.

Key Responsibilities

  • Serve as the primary engineering liaison between Specialized product teams, professional athletes, and race programs.
  • Build trusted relationships with athletes, coaches, mechanics, performance staff, engineers, suppliers, and external technical partners to support athletes and teams with testing, validation, and performance-focused engineering solutions.
  • Translate rider feedback, race scenarios, and performance data from testing and training environments into structured product requirements and measurable engineering targets, collaborating with cross-functional teams to influence future commercial product development.
  • Define and execute validation programs, testing protocols, performance metrics, and prototype feedback loops to support the development and implementation of new products into top level racing.
  • Design, prototype, and implement solutions using CAD, rapid prototyping, and hands-on problem-solving skills to move quickly in demanding race and testing environments.
  • Communicate technical findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences acting as a technical ambassador for Specialized innovation with athletes, media, and external partners.
  • Lead Specialized engineering support at team and athlete races, training camps, testing sessions, product development activities, and supplier visits.

Qualifications & Experience

  • Engineering degree or equivalent experience in Mechanical Engineering, Sports Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Biomechanics, Applied Physics, or a related field.
  • 5+ years of experience in engineering, product development, performance analysis, race engineering, or a related discipline.
  • Deep knowledge of competitive cycling, rider performance, aerodynamics, biomechanics, bike fit, and product validation.
  • Proven ability to translate athlete feedback and performance data into actionable engineering requirements and product innovations.
  • Strong analytical, CAD, prototyping, testing, and problem-solving skills.
  • Experience with wind tunnel, velodrome, laboratory, and field-testing methodologies.
  • Familiarity with simulation, performance modeling, data analysis, and engineering-development processes.
  • Experience working with elite athletes, race teams, and multidisciplinary product-development organizations.
  • Strong road cycling expertise required; mountain bike experience a plus.
  • Well-connected within cycling, engineering, and supplier communities.
  • Exceptional communication skills and the ability to build trust across athletes, race teams, and engineering organizations.
  • Comfortable working across European and North American cultures and traveling extensively in support of racing and product development.

Personal Attributes

  • Obsessed with innovation and rider performance.
  • Personable, credible, and an exceptional communicator.
  • Curious, collaborative, humble, and comfortable challenging conventional thinking.
  • Able to combine technical rigor with practical decision-making.
  • A hands-on, resourceful problem-solver who acts quickly and gets things done.
  • Comfortable engaging confidently with leading engineers, athletes, and performance experts.

The successful candidate will become a trusted partner to Specialized athletes and engineers, accelerate the flow of race-proven insights into product development, and help create measurable competitive advantages for riders.

If you're an engineer, innovator, and problem-solver who thrives in elite racing environments and believes the best products are born from competition, we'd love to hear from you.

Skills Required

  • Engineering degree or equivalent experience in Mechanical Engineering, Sports Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Biomechanics, Applied Physics, or a related field
  • 5+ years of experience in engineering, product development, performance analysis, race engineering, or a related discipline
  • Deep knowledge of competitive cycling, rider performance, aerodynamics, biomechanics, bike fit, and product validation
  • Ability to translate athlete feedback and performance data into engineering requirements and product innovations
  • Strong analytical, CAD, prototyping, testing, and problem-solving skills
  • Experience with wind tunnel, velodrome, laboratory, and field-testing methodologies
  • Familiarity with simulation, performance modeling, data analysis, and engineering-development processes
  • Experience working with elite athletes, race teams, and multidisciplinary product-development organizations
  • Strong road cycling expertise
  • Connections within cycling, engineering, and supplier communities
  • Exceptional communication skills and ability to build trust across athletes, race teams, and engineering organizations
  • Ability to work across European and North American cultures
  • Willingness to travel extensively in support of racing and product development
  • Mountain bike experience

Specialized Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Specialized and has not been reviewed or approved by Specialized.

  • Retirement Support A 401(k) with Fidelity offers up to $5,000 in annual employer matching with immediate vesting, and the company covers plan administrative fees for active employees. This provides strong retirement support within the total package.
  • Parental & Family Support Published materials describe 6–8 weeks at 100% pay for birthing recovery and 8 weeks of fully paid parental bonding, alongside fertility benefits and adoption assistance. Some materials indicate certain roles or locations may offer even longer fully paid leave.
  • Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits Cycling‑centric perks include substantial gear discounts, race entry fee support, on‑site fitness options, healthy on‑site meals, an employee bike service center, and a dog‑friendly HQ. These benefits can meaningfully enhance day‑to‑day experience for those who value the cycling culture.

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The Company
HQ: Morgan Hill, CA
2,337 Employees
Year Founded: 1974

What We Do

Founded on the principle of performance and fueled by innovation, our focus on the rider and their needs is our constant. From seasoned pros and weekend warriors, to kids and commuters—if you ride, we’re for you. The passion we have for sharing our love of bikes with the world can be seen in those who choose to work here. Headquartered in Morgan Hill, CA, the passionate and creative teammates at Specialized have designed and manufactured the world's most innovative bikes and gear since 1974. Are you ready to join our team and help pedal the planet forward?

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