The Mission
In Alaska, gear failure isn’t inconvenient — it’s dangerous. We are seeking a Technical Category Manager who knows the difference between a boot that looks "outdoor-inspired" and one that survives a winter in remote wilderness.
The ideal candidate is a product expert who understands how technical footwear is designed, developed, and put together. They’ll lead the development and procurement of footwear designed for the harshest environments on Earth, focusing on durability, waterproofing, and high-performance construction.
Key Responsibilities
• Practical Product Oversight: Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of technical footwear. You should be intimately familiar with vulcanized construction (rubber-to-upper bonding), injection molding, and how to properly gusset a tongue for true waterproofing.
• Design and Development Partnership: Work hand-in-hand with Footwear Designers and Developers to bring concepts to life. You will act as the bridge between creative vision and technical reality, often collaborating with remote teams across different time zones to ensure design intent meets functional requirements.
• Offshore Manufacturing and Costing: Navigate the complexities of overseas production. You will manage Landed Cost models, negotiate FOB prices, and hold factories accountable for quality standards and delivery timelines.
• Technical Problem Solving: When a shipment arrives with delamination issues or a "waterproof" line starts leaking in the field, you are the one who identifies the manufacturing flaw and works with the factory to fix it.
• Material Selection: Source the right "ingredients" for our boots—from heavy-duty leathers and high-traction rubber compounds to the best insulation for sub-zero temps.
• Assortment Strategy: Build a cohesive range across Hiking, Snow, and Industrial categories. You’ll ensure our shelf has the right mix of "hard-work" boots and "high-alpine" gear.
Technical Skills
• Footwear Construction: Real-world knowledge of how boots are lasted, stitched, and vulcanized. You know where the weak points usually are.
• Waterproofing: Proven experience managing waterproof builds, ensuring seams are taped and membranes are correctly integrated.
• Production Savvy: A history of working with offshore partners to manage BOMs and hit margin targets.
• Organization and Detail: Hyper-detail-oriented. You can track SKUs, shipping logs, and technical spec sheets without breaking a sweat.
• Remote Collaboration: Ability to effectively communicate technical feedback and maintain project momentum with distributed design and development teams.
Qualification Criteria
• Experience: 5-7 years in footwear category management or product development. You’ve "been there, done that" in the Hiking or Snow categories.
• The "Fixer" Mentality: A proven track record of solving technical footwear issues, whether it’s a fit problem, a material failure, or a production delay.
• Business Sense: You understand retail math and how to balance a high-quality technical build with a price point the customer can justify.
• Detail-Oriented: You live in the spreadsheets and spec sheets; you believe that "good enough" isn't an option when it comes to Alaskan gear.
Compensation and Benefits
• Salary: DOE
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage
• Paid Time Off (after 90 days)
• Holiday pay
• 401(k)
• Generous employee discounts and complimentary gear rentals
• A collaborative, outdoors-focused team culture
Working with Us
Our Product Design and Development department keeps Alaska Gear Company moving forward. If you’re ready to be art of building gear that people actually rely on, and help outfit Alaska’s most demanding adventurers, we encourage you to apply today.
How to Apply
All applications must be submitted online. Incomplete applications—or those submitted by email, phone, or paper—cannot be considered.
Check out our website, YouTube, and social media to see what we’re building next!
Alaska Gear Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation may call 1-907-331-0381.
In Alaska, gear failure isn’t inconvenient — it’s dangerous. We are seeking a Technical Category Manager who knows the difference between a boot that looks "outdoor-inspired" and one that survives a winter in remote wilderness.
The ideal candidate is a product expert who understands how technical footwear is designed, developed, and put together. They’ll lead the development and procurement of footwear designed for the harshest environments on Earth, focusing on durability, waterproofing, and high-performance construction.
Key Responsibilities
• Practical Product Oversight: Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of technical footwear. You should be intimately familiar with vulcanized construction (rubber-to-upper bonding), injection molding, and how to properly gusset a tongue for true waterproofing.
• Design and Development Partnership: Work hand-in-hand with Footwear Designers and Developers to bring concepts to life. You will act as the bridge between creative vision and technical reality, often collaborating with remote teams across different time zones to ensure design intent meets functional requirements.
• Offshore Manufacturing and Costing: Navigate the complexities of overseas production. You will manage Landed Cost models, negotiate FOB prices, and hold factories accountable for quality standards and delivery timelines.
• Technical Problem Solving: When a shipment arrives with delamination issues or a "waterproof" line starts leaking in the field, you are the one who identifies the manufacturing flaw and works with the factory to fix it.
• Material Selection: Source the right "ingredients" for our boots—from heavy-duty leathers and high-traction rubber compounds to the best insulation for sub-zero temps.
• Assortment Strategy: Build a cohesive range across Hiking, Snow, and Industrial categories. You’ll ensure our shelf has the right mix of "hard-work" boots and "high-alpine" gear.
Technical Skills
• Footwear Construction: Real-world knowledge of how boots are lasted, stitched, and vulcanized. You know where the weak points usually are.
• Waterproofing: Proven experience managing waterproof builds, ensuring seams are taped and membranes are correctly integrated.
• Production Savvy: A history of working with offshore partners to manage BOMs and hit margin targets.
• Organization and Detail: Hyper-detail-oriented. You can track SKUs, shipping logs, and technical spec sheets without breaking a sweat.
• Remote Collaboration: Ability to effectively communicate technical feedback and maintain project momentum with distributed design and development teams.
Qualification Criteria
• Experience: 5-7 years in footwear category management or product development. You’ve "been there, done that" in the Hiking or Snow categories.
• The "Fixer" Mentality: A proven track record of solving technical footwear issues, whether it’s a fit problem, a material failure, or a production delay.
• Business Sense: You understand retail math and how to balance a high-quality technical build with a price point the customer can justify.
• Detail-Oriented: You live in the spreadsheets and spec sheets; you believe that "good enough" isn't an option when it comes to Alaskan gear.
Compensation and Benefits
• Salary: DOE
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage
• Paid Time Off (after 90 days)
• Holiday pay
• 401(k)
• Generous employee discounts and complimentary gear rentals
• A collaborative, outdoors-focused team culture
Working with Us
Our Product Design and Development department keeps Alaska Gear Company moving forward. If you’re ready to be art of building gear that people actually rely on, and help outfit Alaska’s most demanding adventurers, we encourage you to apply today.
How to Apply
All applications must be submitted online. Incomplete applications—or those submitted by email, phone, or paper—cannot be considered.
Check out our website, YouTube, and social media to see what we’re building next!
Alaska Gear Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities who require accommodation may call 1-907-331-0381.