Engineering and Operations Project Manager

About Selkirk Sport

At Selkirk Sport, we're passionate about pushing the boundaries of pickleball innovation. Our mission is to Fuel the Pickleball Obsession by creating the sport's premier products and ecosystem. As a leading global brand in premium pickleball equipment, we're expanding our international presence and seeking top-tier talent to support our growth in the U.S. and abroad.

We pride ourselves on a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Selkirk applies first-principles thinking to design scalable, process-driven systems that create lasting operational advantage.

About the Role
Selkirk Sport is expanding our Asia operations and looking for a bilingual Engineering Manager to lead manufacturing execution, quality oversight, and new product introductions across our partner factories in Vietnam and China. We are open to a strong engineer ready to step into management or a senior engineering manager with deep experience. What matters most is the ability to take technically complex projects from concept to full production with precision, ownership, and strong cross-cultural communication.
This role is the engineering and manufacturing backbone of our Asia operation. You will drive production readiness, solve technical issues on-site, collaborate closely with U.S. R&D teams, and ensure our products meet Selkirk's uncompromising quality standards.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Execution

• Lead the full lifecycle of engineering and manufacturing projects, from initial Tech Pack handoff to pilot builds, validation, and mass production.
• Work closely with factory engineering teams to interpret specifications, resolve open questions, and ensure accurate execution.
• Manage day-to-day coordination with U.S. engineering, product, and supply chain teams to keep timelines and deliverables on track.

Manufacturing & On-Site Problem Solving

• Spend time at factories during critical builds to monitor processes, troubleshoot production issues, and implement corrective actions.
• Diagnose root causes for defects or process deviations and collaborate with factory engineers to drive improvements.
• Ensure tooling, jigs, materials, and process controls align with Selkirk standards.

Quality Leadership

• Oversee the work of on-site QC inspectors in Vietnam and China, providing direction, training, and standards.
• Review QC reports, verify factory adherence to specifications, and conduct periodic audits.
• Implement US Team policy and refine quality procedures to ensure product consistency and reduce operational risk.

Cross-Border Communication

• Communicate clearly in Mandarin with Taiwanese and Chinese factory leadership, owners, and technical staff.
• Summarize factory updates, risks, and results concisely in English for the U.S. team.
• Serve as the cultural and technical bridge ensuring alignment across continents.

Team Building (Current and Future)

• Provide leadership to existing Asia-based QC personnel.
• Over time, help expand and structure the Asia engineering and quality team as operations grow.
• Cultivate a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to enhance manufacturing processes, efficiency, and product reliability.
• Share insights with U.S. R&D to influence design-for-manufacturing and future product development.
• Recommend factory capability upgrades or process innovations as Selkirk expands into new materials or technologies.

What We're Looking For:
Required:

• An entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial mindset, with strong ownership instincts Mandarin and English fluency
• Strong engineering background (mechanical, manufacturing, industrial, or related field)
• Proven ability to execute engineering/manufacturing projects end-to-end
• Hands-on problem-solving skills and a willingness to be physically present on the factory floor
• Ability to travel frequently across Asia
• Excellent communication skills and comfort operating across cultures and time zones

Preferred

• Experience in composites, sporting goods, consumer hardware, or similar manufacturing environments
• Experience leading engineering or manufacturing teams (for manager-level candidates)
• Familiarity with NPI processes, quality systems, PLM tools, and manufacturing documentation
• Prior experience working with Chinese/Taiwanese-owned factories