Research & Development Manager (R&D)

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Multiple Cities, China

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Posted 7 hours ago Report Job

We are seeking an experienced Research and Development Manager based in Yiwu, China, to lead the end-to-end development of new consumer goods within our travel, health, and fitness product categories. This is an individual contributor role working closely with an offsite team across product, sales, marketing, and operations functions. The successful candidate will own the full product development lifecycle from concept through to mass production including supplier identification, prototyping, costing, BOM management, quality oversight, and compliance. The role requires deep familiarity with the Chinese manufacturing landscape, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to work autonomously while keeping the offsite team aligned and informed.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end product development from concept to mass production for travel, health, and fitness products, translating briefs into manufacturable specifications, drawings, and technical files.
Manage prototype, sampling, tooling, and pre-production cycles, ensuring quality, timeline adherence, and continuous improvement of existing SKUs based on feedback and data
Identify, vet, onboard, and manage suppliers across key China hubs (Yiwu, Ningbo, Shenzhen), including factory audits, capability assessments, and relationship management as the primary on-ground contact.
Negotiate pricing, MOQs, lead times, and payment terms while driving supplier performance across quality, delivery, and responsiveness.
Develop and maintain BOMs and detailed cost breakdowns (materials, labor, packaging, tooling, freight), leading cost optimization and tracking raw material price risks.
Define and enforce quality standards, coordinate testing and certifications (CE, FCC, RoHS, REACH, CPSIA, Prop 65), and manage inspections, non-conformance, and CAPA processes.
Oversee packaging development (structure, print, artwork) ensuring compliance with shipping, retail, and regulatory requirements across target markets.
Drive project execution, stakeholder communication, market intelligence, and IP/risk management, including supplier coordination, sourcing support (e.g., Canton Fair), trend analysis, and protection of designs, molds, and confidentiality agreements.

Skills & Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Design, Product Design, or a related field, with 5–8 years of experience in product development, sourcing, or R&D within the consumer goods industry in China.
Proven track record of taking products from concept to mass production, working with overseas brands or buyers.
Strong experience in travel goods, health & wellness, or fitness/sports equipment, with an established supplier network across Yiwu and broader Chinese manufacturing regions.
Hands-on expertise in preparing BOMs, cost sheets, and detailed technical product specifications.
Working knowledge of international product compliance and certification requirements across key markets.
Bilingual fluency in Mandarin Chinese (native or near-native) and English (business-level), with strong cross-cultural communication capabilities.
Proficiency in CAD tools (e.g., SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Rhino), ability to interpret technical drawings, and strong project management skills to handle multiple parallel projects.
Strong commercial acumen, negotiation skills, and attention to detail, combined with proficiency in Microsoft Office and project tracking tools, and the ability to work autonomously with minimal supervision.