Design Engineer (Bicycle Tires)

About the role

We're looking for an experienced Product Design Engineer – Bicycle Tires to help shape the future of our high-performance tire portfolio across road, gravel, and mountain bike applications. This role involves leading tire development strategy and owning the product development process—from initial concept and tread design through compounds, casing construction, prototype testing, validation, and commercialization. You'll work alongside passionate cyclists, engineers, product experts, testers, suppliers, and commercial teams to develop tires that set new benchmarks for performance.

Responsibilities

• Develop new tread patterns for road racing, endurance, gravel, XC, trail, and enduro applications.
• Select, evaluate, and specify rubber compounds to achieve targeted performance characteristics.
• Engineer casing constructions, including ply materials, angles, reinforcements, and bead designs.
• Create and maintain detailed CAD models, technical drawings, and engineering specifications.
• Develop prototype build plans and comprehensive lab, track, and field-testing protocols.
• Analyze test data and translate results into meaningful design improvements.
• Collaborate with suppliers on materials, tooling, manufacturing processes, and production readiness.
• Support product launch through quality standards, specifications, and manufacturing documentation.
• Stay connected to advances in tire technology, material science, competitive products, and rider needs.

What Success Looks Like

• Establish a disciplined, rolling tire development pipeline and lifecycle strategy.
• Develop high-performance tires across road, gravel, and mountain bike categories.
• Create measurable performance targets and robust validation methods for new tire designs.
• Advance understanding and application of tread design, compounds, casing construction, and tire mechanics.
• Strengthen collaboration with manufacturing and material suppliers.
• Translate lab, track, and real-world testing into faster and more effective design iterations.
• Build the engineering knowledge, specifications, testing standards, and documentation needed to support a world-class tire portfolio.
• Deliver products that riders can genuinely feel perform differently.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Polymer Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on product development experience involving tires, rubber products, or closely related performance materials; bicycle, automotive, motorcycle, or industrial tire experience is preferred.
• Proven experience designing tread patterns and developing or specifying rubber compounds.
• Strong understanding of casing construction, fabric/cord materials, and tire mechanics.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD, such as SolidWorks or equivalent.
• Experience planning, conducting, and interpreting physical testing, including areas such as rolling resistance, wet/dry grip, abrasion, and puncture resistance.
• Demonstrated ability to manage product development from concept through production while working with cross-functional teams.
• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and technical documentation skills.
• Willingness to travel for product testing, supplier/manufacturing visits, and field testing.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience developing road, gravel, or mountain bike tires.
• Knowledge of advanced rubber compounds, including silica, carbon black loadings, and dual-compound constructions.
• Familiarity with finite element analysis (FEA) for tire structures.
• Experience working with Asian or European tire manufacturers and suppliers.
• A passion for cycling and an understanding of the performance expectations of serious riders.
• Adaptability in a fast-changing work environment.

Why ENVE

At ENVE, performance isn't an abstract engineering specification—it's something our customers experience every time they ride. You'll work in a collaborative, rider-focused environment with access to world-class testing resources and a culture that values innovation, quality, thoughtful engineering, and continuous improvement. This role offers the opportunity to help shape what ENVE tires become.

Pay

• Bachelor’s degree; <3 years’ tire experience: starting at $63,800
• Bachelor’s degree; 3+ years’ tire experience: starting at $80,000
• Bachelor’s degree; 10+ years’ tire experience: starting at $100,000

Benefits

• 120 hours of paid time off annually
• 96 hours of paid holidays annually
• Medical (PPO w/FSA or QHDHP w/HSA), prescription, dental, and vision coverage
• Company-paid life insurance, short- and long-term disability
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid parental leave
• Professional development opportunities
• Employee discounts on ENVE products

Schedule

• Full-time position, Monday–Friday, 8-hour days or a 9/80 schedule
• Occasional extended hours, weekends, or alternate shifts may be required
• Regular onsite attendance required; this is not a remote opportunity

Work Environment

• Work environment includes office and outdoor settings, with occasional time in manufacturing areas
• Must be able to lift 20 lbs. and perform physical tasks such as standing, bending, and reaching