Freelance Prototype Build Engineer Jobs in Utah (NOW HIRING)

Description:

Design Engineer – Bicycle Tires

ENVE Composites | Ogden, Utah

Are you an engineer who gets excited about the science behind what makes a tire fast, predictable, durable, and confidence-inspiring? At ENVE, 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 isn't a role where you'll simply maintain existing products or execute someone else's designs. We're looking for someone who can help lead our tire development strategy and own 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 with one objective: develop tires that set new benchmarks for performance.

ENVE Composites, based in Ogden, Utah, is a leading manufacturer of premium carbon fiber bicycle components and bikes. Since 2007, we've been driven by innovation, precision, and a passion for creating world-class cycling products. Our team is made up of dedicated people who take pride in what they create and support one another in a collaborative environment.

What you’ll do…

This role combines engineering, material science, testing, and hands-on product development. You'll help establish ENVE's tire development pipeline and lifecycle strategy while turning performance objectives into products riders can experience on the road and trail.

You'll be responsible for:

• Developing new tread patterns for road racing, endurance, gravel, XC, trail, and enduro applications.
• Selecting, evaluating, and specifying rubber compounds to achieve targeted performance characteristics.
• Engineering casing constructions, including ply materials, angles, reinforcements, and bead designs.
• Creating and maintaining detailed CAD models, technical drawings, and engineering specifications.
• Developing prototype build plans and comprehensive lab, track, and field-testing protocols.
• Analyzing      test data and translating results into meaningful design improvements.
• Collaborating with suppliers on materials, tooling, manufacturing processes, and production readiness.
• Supporting product launch through quality standards, specifications, and manufacturing documentation.
• Staying connected to advances in tire technology, material science, competitive products, and rider needs.

Ultimately, you'll be balancing the characteristics that make tire engineering so challenging—and so interesting: rolling resistance, grip, durability, puncture protection, weight, compliance, and ride quality.

This role is probably a great fit if you...

• Love understanding why a product performs the way it does—not simply whether it passes a test.
• Have hands-on experience developing tires, rubber products, or other high-performance materials.
• Understand how tread patterns, rubber compounds, casing construction, and materials interact to influence performance.
• Enjoy moving between CAD, test data, prototypes, suppliers, manufacturing, and real-world product testing.
• Are comfortable challenging assumptions and iterating until the product meets the performance target.
• Can turn test results and rider feedback into thoughtful engineering decisions.
• Enjoy working cross-functionally and can communicate effectively with engineers, product teams, suppliers, manufacturing teams, and riders.
• Want meaningful ownership of a product from concept through production.
• Are energized by the opportunity to help build something exceptional rather than simply maintain what's already been created.

 What Success Looks Like

As you grow into the role, you'll help ENVE:

• 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 our 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.
• This is an opportunity to have significant influence over the next generation of ENVE tires. We're looking for someone who combines technical depth with      curiosity, disciplined testing, strong engineering judgment, and the desire to create products that perform at the highest level.

Requirements:

Required qualifications:

• 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 have the opportunity to 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.

More importantly, you'll have the opportunity to help shape what ENVE tires become.

If you're excited by the challenge of combining engineering, materials, testing, and rider experience to create truly exceptional cycling products, we'd love to meet you.

What We'll Provide

Compensation according to experience

Bachelor’s degree; <3 years’ tire experience: starting at $63.8k

Bachelor’s degree; 3+ years’ tire experience: starting at $80k

Bachelor’s degree; 10+ years’ tire experience: starting at $100k

Benefits

ENVE offers a comprehensive best-in-class benefits package, including:

• 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

Work Schedule & Environment

• Full-time position, Monday–Friday, 8-hours 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 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 

ENVE Composites is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected characteristic.