Chief Technical Engineer

For further optimization and development within our Soft Goods products and projects we are looking for an expert in the following skills set.

This position will be based at our Product Development Centre in Hillerstorp Sweden and report directly to our Senior vice President Product Development. The position will have many internal and external contacts and we expect the highest level of expertise within the preferred skill requirements. Preferred internal candidate are available.

Product Development
- Sampling process for sewn goods
- Redline / improvement process
- BOM review and costing
- Design for manufacturing

Product types:
- Bags and luggage
- Technical backpacks
- Phone and tablet cases
- Stroller and multifunctional child transport products
- Luggage and rolling bags
- Rooftop tents

Production Processes
- Sewing
- Gluing
- laminating
- Vacuum thermoforming
- Press forming
- Compression molding
- Fabric/plastic lamination
- High frequency welding (seamless construction)
- Ultrasonic welding
- Seam taping
- Molding - Extrusion
- Injection molding
- Rotational molding
- Blow molding


- Carbon fiber and fiberglass production - Pre-preg
- Pull-trusion
- Traditional layup



Fabric / Textile Development
- Thread production
- Weaving and knitting process
- Dyeing process(es) - Yarn dying
- Piece dying
- Solution (dope) dying
- Sublimation printing
- Digital sublimation


- Color matching and color management
- Coating / finishing
- Lamination
- Fire resistance
- Finishes and water resistance
- Engineering textiles to meet performance requirements
- Textile risk assessment and chemical compliance management
- Environmental management of textiles - bluesign certification
- Life cycle analysis
- Carbon equivalent calculation



Textile Factory Management
- Asia factory management
- Sewing time estimation
- Production line setup / optimization
- Equipment selection and optimization
- Outward facing customer negotiations
- Supplier problem solving
- Supply chain management

Sourcing
- Factory evaluation and selection - Social compliance
- Quality system evaluation
- Factory process improvement



Culture Management
- Experience hiring, training and managing teams in Asia
- Understanding cultural differences to optimize team performance
- Ability to effectively manage colleagues and teams remotely
- Ability to represent company on-site at Asia factories

Quality Assurance
- FMEA
- Control planning
- Work instructions
- Test fixture design / manufacturing

Quality Control
- Quality control / inspection
- AQL sampling
- Continuous improvement program
- Inspection guidelines and specifications
- Member of the global quality team for textiles, bags and tents

 

Other Skills
- Hardgoods / soft goods integration for complex projects
- Sewing machine selection
- SOP and standards writing
- Scheduling and project management
- Standards developments (ASTM/CPAI/ISO)
- Design/build new test protocol for materials and finished product
- Expertise in Printing process (screen print, offset, gravure)
- Fluent in English and preferable knowledgeable in Cantonese or Mandarin

 

Please apply before July 31. Due to vacations, we will not be available for questions concerning the position.

About Thule Group
Thule Group is a global world leading company of products for sports and outdoor activities. We make it easy for people to bring the things they care for, easily, securely and in style, when living an active life. Under the motto Active Life, Simplified. we design, manufacture and sell products within the four product categories Sport&Cargo Carriers (roof racks, roof boxes and carriers for transporting cycling, water and winter sports equipment, as well as roof top tents for mounting on cars), Active with Kids (bike trailers, strollers and child bike seats), RV Products (awnings, bike racks and tents for motorhomes and caravans) and Packs, Bags & Luggage (everyday backpacks, hiking bike packs travel luggage and camera bags).
Thule Group has about 2,600 employees at 9 production facilities and 35 sales offices worldwide. The Group’s products are sold in 140 markets and in 2020, sales amounted to SEK 7.8 billion.
www.thulegroup.com