Footwear Materials Engineer

About the role

A leading international brand in the sports and outdoor industry, with in-house product development and a strong commitment to innovation and sustainability, is looking for a Footwear Materials Engineer in Ho Chi Minh City. The engineer plans and coordinates compound development projects from concept through industrialization and scale-up across several production sites.

Key responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate compound development projects from concept through industrialization and scale-up, ensuring material availability and on-time delivery.
• Develop and refine outsole and midsole compounds through testing and final validation so they meet physical performance standards before mass production.
• Drive cost efficiency in compound development and negotiate competitive, fair pricing with material suppliers.
• Ensure consistent product quality through rigorous technical control of development activities.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives within the compound development function.
• Contribute to innovation and new material projects, including sustainable and next-generation materials, with cross-functional teams.
• Support supplier evaluation, selection and development for footwear components.
• Act as technical reference for product, sourcing and production teams on materials, sole construction and compound selection, and build and maintain a compound library tailored to different sports and manufacturing processes.

Required profile

• Minimum 5 years of hands-on experience in footwear compound and sole development (rubber, EVA, PU, TPU or similar), with a proven track record of delivering results.
• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, Materials Science or a related field.
• Strong problem-solving skills, comfortable in complex, fast-moving environments, and able to lead and influence suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Clear and confident communication in English and Vietnamese; Chinese is a strong advantage.
• Detail-oriented, technically curious, self-driven and able to work independently.
• An active interest in sports is a plus.