Freelance Outdoor Gear Testing Jobs (NOW HIRING)

BearVault is a small business with a well-established brand in a niche market. As we branch out beyond our core product, we’re looking for sharp, innovative, and enthusiastic team members who can join us to navigate the trail ahead. This is the right place for agile, entrepreneurial, and creative thinkers who want to help grow the brand and product line.

Working in a small team affords an exciting mix of roles and responsibilities for all employees, and an energetic, collaborative small team environment. Each employee is expected to lead and own their primary area of responsibility, start to finish. Work is intense, demanding, and self-driven. Team members support each other by contributing ideas, input, and different perspectives. The scope of work is broad and varied, interesting and fun to be a part of.

A love of the outdoors and nature is at the core of what we do, and while team members engage in outside pursuits each in their own way, all appreciate the natural world. An ethical and considerate approach is fundamental to our business culture.

• Lead and own product design and development from start to finish
• Take a critical, analytical, and creative approach to find even better solutions to customer needs.
• Plan and track the product development schedule and progress from concept to market-ready finished products
• Lead the design, creation, prototype and testing process
• Research and Analyze materials, construction techniques, and user features.
• Design and specify product attributes for performance and manufacturing
• Analyze costs and benefits of various design, material, and manufacturing options
• Source materials, components, and manufacturing suppliers for products
• Develop quality standards for testing and QC procedures, and ensure designs meet technical superiority standards
• Oversee regulatory compliance of products
• Work with the team members on selecting and defining: marketing attributes to optimize the product’s position in the marketplace; technical details, including ensuring the accuracy, legality, and integrity of product claims; sustainability attributes; and financial considerations such as a cost/benefit/volume analysis.
• Work with management and attorneys on intellectual property associated with each product
• Work with management on contracts related to design and manufacturing
• Meticulously maintain organized records of all options, decisions, sources, specifications, etc.
• Work closely and communicate well with team members as well as outside contractors and consultants to execute all goals.

• 5-10 years of experience in technical design/product development, preferably in the outdoor industry, demonstrating a broad array of skills, training and experience to match the job requirements
• Firsthand experience in using outdoor gear in your own recreational pursuits
• Able to work independently, take initiative and ownership of work, set structure and goals to work efficiently through projects
• Strong work ethic and a history of accomplishments
• An agile, idea-popping way of thinking, driven by curiosity and a desire to improve beyond the status quo
• Enjoys critically analyzing and creatively solving design problems, embracing an improvement-oriented mindset.
• Superior interpersonal skills and professionalism, including the ability to be inclusive of other ideas and perspectives
• Possess a working knowledge of Design Software, Google Suite
• Able and willing to work full time in our office in Louisville, Colorado

Annual Salary Range: $68,000 to $94,000. Salary is based on experience, education, skills/achievements, and fit with expectations.

We believe in work-life balance, and we operate on a 4-day +10 work schedule (4 days/~32 hours/week, plus 10 additional work days in a year). Schedule flexibility is required from time to time for travel and work events. We offer competitive compensation, and for full-time permanent employees: a QSEHRA healthcare program, a top of the line Delta Dental and Vision Plan, a 401k plan with unconditional 5% matching, and 3 weeks of paid leave that begins to accrue on day one. As the company grows, there is room for employees to grow into positions of increased leadership and responsibilities.

BearVault encourages an open-minded, collaborative, inclusive and fair work environment for its employees. BearVault prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, marital status, pregnancy, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations.