Research Engineer - Performance
Apply on TaylorMade Golf's site
The Performance Research Engineer will play a critical role in advancing TaylorMade's leadership in golf equipment performance. This role bridges physical testing, player testing, Tour-level data collection, and advanced analytics to deliver actionable insights that influence product design, product validation, and performance optimization. The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer with strong mechanical aptitude, advanced data skills, deep golf intuition, and the ability to translate player feedback into clear engineering direction.
Essential Functions and Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the design and execution of advanced performance testing protocols for golf clubs and balls, including lab, player, field, and Tour-based testing environments.
- Serve as a category-focused Performance Engineering owner for one or more product areas, with potential emphasis across Woods, Irons, Putter/Wedge, or cross-category initiatives.
- Support PGA/LPGA Tour and elite-athlete testing by collecting clean, repeatable, decision-ready data while operating professionally and respectfully in player-facing environments.
- Analyze large datasets from lab, player, and field testing to extract insights on ball speed, launch, spin, consistency, delivery, impact location, dispersion, and performance tradeoffs.
- Translate Tour and player-test observations into clear engineering recommendations, product questions, validation plans, and follow-up experiments.
- Develop and maintain automated data pipelines, dashboards, and reporting tools for performance tracking, project communication, and cross-functional decision-making.
- Collaborate with R&D, Product Development, Tour, Fitting, Consumer Insights, and Analytics teams to integrate player feedback and real-world data into product design.
- Conduct competitor benchmarking and present findings that influence product strategy, category positioning, and performance targets.
- Support the development of new test methods, instrumentation, normalization approaches, and repeatable workflows that improve testing quality and organizational leverage.
- Help train engineers and player test analysts on Tour-facing testing etiquette, data collection standards, and best practices for working with elite athletes.
- Performs other related duties and assignments as required.
Knowledge and Skills Requirements:
- Strong golf background, with low single-digit handicap preferred, and a deep understanding of equipment-player interaction.
- Demonstrated experience designing statistically rigorous experiments, including power analysis, Design of Experiments (DOE), measurement system analysis, and confidence-based decision making.
- Experience applying AI-assisted workflows to experimental planning, statistical analysis, test automation, reporting, and synthesis of complex engineering datasets
- Ability to communicate complex findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences, including R&D leadership, category teams, Tour representatives, and cross-functional partners.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and contribute to a culture of shared learning, humility, and high-quality execution.
- Comfort operating in both structured lab environments and dynamic player-facing environments where priorities, schedules, and test conditions can change quickly.
Education, Work Experience, and Professional Certifications:
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Computer Science or related), Applied Mathematics, Physics, Data Science, or a related technical field.
- Master's degree plus 0-2 years of relevant experience, or Bachelor's degree plus 2-4 years of relevant experience.
- Experience with golf launch monitors, motion capture, or high-speed video analysis.
- Familiarity with advanced statistical methods (e.g., ANOVA, regression modeling, machine learning).
- Ability to integrate engineering judgment, statistical rigor, subjective feedback, and real-world testing observations into clear product development recommendations.
- Analytical, detail-oriented, intellectually curious, and comfortable challenging assumptions with data.
- Hands-on, proactive, and willing to move between lab execution, field testing, analysis, and executive-level communication.
- Collaborative and humble, with the ability to build trust across R&D, Tour, Product Development, and player-facing teams.
- Passionate about golf, equipment performance, and continuous improvement.
- Able to operate with professionalism and discretion around elite athletes, confidential prototypes, and competitive product information.
Work Environment / Physical Requirements:
- Hybrid office, lab, field-testing, and Tour-support environment with extensive computer use, data review, and communication across teams.
- Ability to work extended hours during key testing cycles, product deadlines, player-test windows, or Tour-related activities.
- Comfortable working in dynamic environments with frequent context switching, changing test conditions, and real-time decision-making.
- Light physical activity, including moving test equipment, prototypes, and other lightweight materials.
- Regular travel to test facilities, player testing sessions, and PGA/LPGA Tour events may be required.
TaylorMade is a performance driven organization and our total rewards approach to compensation is designed to support this. We consider many factors in determining base compensation, including position scope, job related knowledge, education, skills, experience, and work location. The expected annual base pay range for this position is $88,000 - $100,000. Additional benefits, such as health & wellness, performance bonuses, product discounts, holidays, paid time off, etc. may also be offered in accordance with our plans.
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TaylorMade Golf Company is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religious creed, color, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military and veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law, ordinance, or regulation.
About TaylorMade Golf
TaylorMade Golf is a manufacturer of high performance golf equipment and golf balls.
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