SUMMARY OF POSITION:

The Product Developer is responsible for managing the end-to-end development of sports medicine products, with a strong emphasis on ensuring all products meet regulatory, quality, and compliance requirements. This role oversees product execution from concept through production, acting as the liaison between internal teams and external vendors to ensure alignment on specifications, timelines, and standards.

A critical component of this role is supporting and managing compliance needs throughout the development lifecycle. The Product Developer ensures all products adhere to applicable regulatory standards and internal quality systems, including maintaining accurate and complete technical documentation (tech packs, material specifications, BOMs), supporting Quality Management System (QMS) requirements, and coordinating product testing and validation. This includes working closely with vendors and third-party labs to ensure materials and finished goods meet performance, safety, and durability standards prior to production.

The role is also responsible for tracking and resolving compliance-related issues during development, including failed test results, material deviations, or construction inconsistencies. The Product Developer ensures corrective actions are implemented and documented, and that all pre-production and production samples (proto, fit, size set, PP, TOP) are reviewed and approved against both design intent and compliance standards.

The Product Developer partners cross-functionally with product management, technical design, sourcing, and quality teams to ensure products are delivered on time, on cost, and fully compliant for market release.

This role requires strong attention to detail, a high level of accountability, and the ability to manage multiple projects while maintaining clear, consistent communication across all

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Product Development Execution

• Manage end-to-end product development from concept through production (proto, fit, size set, PP, TOP) ensuring alignment to design intent, performance, and quality standards
• Track development timelines and sample status, ensuring milestones and key deliverables are met
• Partner with Product Management and Design to ensure product meets consumer needs, performance expectations, and target cost.

Vendor Communication & Coordination

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all development-related communication with factories and material vendors
• Lead daily/weekly communication to track progress, resolve issues, and ensure alignment on expectations
• Ensure vendors follow all development standards, tech pack requirements, and quality expectations
• Drive accountability with vendors on sample accuracy, material execution, and on-time delivery

Compliance & Regulatory Management

• Ensure all products meet applicable regulatory, safety, and compliance requirements for sports medicine products
• Maintain accurate and complete documentation to support Quality Management System (QMS) requirements (tech packs, testing records, approvals, change logs)
• Coordinate product testing (materials and finished goods) with internal teams and third-party labs to validate performance, durability, and safety standards
• Review test results and manage corrective actions for any failures, ensuring root cause is identified and resolved prior to production
• Support regulatory documentation and audit readiness, ensuring traceability and proper record retention

Quality Assurance & Product Validation

• Validate product performance, fit, and durability through sample review, wear testing, and lab testing
• Ensure consistency between development samples and production (PP/TOP), identifying and resolving discrepancies
• Partner with Quality and Technical Design teams to uphold product standards and address any risks prior to production

Costing & Sourcing Support

• Support target costing initiatives by working with vendors on material selection, construction efficiencies, and cost breakdowns
• Review costing details for accuracy and alignment to targets, ensuring transparency in materials and manufacturing costs
• Collaborate with Sourcing to align on factory capabilities, materials, and production readiness

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Product Management, Design, Technical Design, and operations teams to ensure alignment throughout development
• Communicate project status, risks, and solutions clearly to internal stakeholders
• Support product line reviews, development meetings, and milestone checkpoints

Project & Workload Management

• Manage multiple product development projects simultaneously while maintaining organization, prioritization, and attention to detail
• Proactively identify risks, delays, or issues and drive solutions to keep projects on track
• Maintain clear documentation and tracking tools to ensure visibility and accountability across all projects

POSITION SPECIFICS:

• This is a full-time position
• Typical workdays are Monday – Friday
• This position is based out of the Costa Mesa, CA office
• This position requires in-office attendance at least 4 days per week (subject to increase in future).
• This position is expected to travel approximately 1-2 a year to overseas factories.

PAY TRANSPARENCY:

• The Company is committed to fair, equitable, and transparent compensation. Final compensation will be determined by various factors such as your relevant work experience, education, certifications, skills, and geographic location.
• The salary range for this role in Fountain Valley, CA is $85,000.00 - $95,000.00.
• In addition, you may be eligible for additional compensation, such as a bonus. Employees may also be eligible for a wide range of other benefits, including health & wellness benefits, retirement, time off, employee discounts, and others.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This position does not have any leadership requirements and/or responsibilities.

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• +5 years Product development of sports performance products with experience working with product managers and manufacturers (international)
• Preferred degree in apparel and/or industrial design.
• Ability to produce tech-packs
• Development experience with both hardgoods and softgoods
• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator
• Proficient in Adobe Photoshop
• Excellent creative skills associated with innovative product design
• Proficient using MS Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint) is required
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to succeed within a team driven business environment
• Demonstrate strong work ethic, reliability, teamwork and flexibility
• Ability to manage multi-task requirements on a daily basis
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Must be available for a flexible schedule of domestic and international travel (1-2x per year)
• Must successfully pass criminal background check
• Must have valid driver’s license

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Candidate must be able to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with ability to: sit/; use hands to finger, handle, and feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

This job specification should not be construed to imply that these requirements are the exclusive standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required by their supervisor.

United Sports Brands is an Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer.