Materials and Performance Engineer
Franklin Sports IncMATERIALS AND PERFORMANCE ENGINEER EXEMPT
Who we are: At Franklin Sports, Inc. we believe that sports make life better. Driven by our passion to get people moving, playing and competing, we bring sports to life for athletes of all ages. Whether our job is designing a product for a World Series MVP or a child enjoying their first swings of the bat, we are dedicated to make sports inspiring, fun and accessible for all. Every day, we collaborate to bring innovation and quality craftsmanship across the world of sport. We are proud of our partnerships with Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, the National Women’s Soccer League, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the Pro Volleyball Federation, USA Pickleball, and Hasbro’s Nerf brand — all of which bring energy, strength, and joy to our products. We are family owned and family driven. To join Franklin Sports is to join the #FranklinFam.
What you will do:
We are excited to hire a Materials and Performance Engineer to expand our internal lab equipment and efficiencies. This role will be a critical driver of innovation within Franklin’s paddle development pipeline. This role leads ongoing research and development initiatives that elevate product performance for the best pickleball players in the world.
Working side by side with top athletes including Anna Leigh Waters, Hayden Patriquin, and Parris Todd, this individual will push the boundaries of materials, construction, and performance. This role requires a forward thinker who thrives on experimentation, emerging technologies, and staying ahead of trends in the sport.
This individual will act as the technical backbone of the product team, driving innovation behind the scenes and ensuring Franklin remains at the forefront of performance driven product development.
The Materials and Performance Engineer will act as a mentor and technical leader within the product organization and will oversee testing resources.
This role will require occasional travelling with overnight stay.
The position is located at our Headquarters in Stoughton, MA and will report to the Sr. Director, Product & Brand Strategy.
#FranklinFamily
IN MORE DETAIL, YOU WILL:
- Lead and drive ongoing product initiatives, ensuring continuous innovation across all paddle platforms
- Own and execute constant R&D efforts focused on advancing materials, construction, and performance technologies
- Partner directly with elite athletes to develop, test, and refine next generation products
- Identify and stay ahead of emerging trends, materials, and technologies within pickleball and adjacent industries
- Serve as the technical engine behind product development, supporting the broader team with deep expertise and insight
- Develop and iterate on new constructions, core technologies, and surface treatments to enhance performance and durability
- Work cross functionally with product, sourcing, and manufacturing teams to bring innovations to market
- Establish and refine testing protocols and performance benchmarks for elite level play
- Translate athlete feedback and lab data into actionable product improvements
- Continuously evaluate competitive products and innovations to ensure Franklin remains a category leader
- Other projects as assigned
WHO YOU ARE:
- Bachelor’s degree in Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related technical field (MBA preferred)
- 6+ years of experience in materials development, performance testing, or technical product validation, ideally within consumer sporting goods or composite manufacturing
- Proven success managing multi phase, multi million dollar projects
- Experience working with global manufacturing partners preferred
WHAT YOU HAVE DONE/ESSENTIAL TO THE ROLE:
- High level of ownership over product innovation and R&D direction
- Key contributor to overall product strategy and long term technology roadmap
- Direct impact on performance outcomes at the highest levels of the sport
- Deep passion for pickleball with a strong understanding of the game and player needs
- Highly analytical with a strong curiosity for materials, engineering, and performance optimization
- Forward thinking mindset with the ability to anticipate trends and innovate ahead of the market
- Strong collaboration skills, especially when working with elite athletes and cross functional teams
- Detail oriented with the ability to balance experimentation and execution
- Self starter who thrives in a fast paced, evolving environment
- Strong communication skills to translate technical insights into clear product direction
- Valid driver’s license in good standing
- Ability to travel up to 10% via car, plane an train including overnight stays
LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY:
Interact independently with internal and external parties, has the knowledge to make independent decisions.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position does not supervise employees.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit/stand; and talk and hear. has color and depth vision, possess the manual dexterity to use hands or fingers to handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear, and needs to be able to lift/carry up to 25 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
If you are interested in joining the #FranklinFamily, please apply.
For this role, the pay range is 118,000 – 148,000 annually, which is what we reasonably expect to offer when filling the position. Your actual offer will depend on things like your experience, skills, and what you bring to the team.
We also want to share with you our benefits at a glance:
- Employee Discounts
- 401K with immediate participation and a 1% match, a retirement 401(K) match of 3% safe harbor match, plus a potential profit-sharing retirement contribution of 1% after a full calendar year of employment
After 30 Days Waiting Period:
- 20 days PTO program/13 Paid Holidays (prorated)
- Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
- Company Paid AD&D and Life Insurance (2 times Base Salary)
- Voluntary Life and AD&D Insurance
- Voluntary Accident Insurance, Critical Illness or Hospital Indemnity
- Company Paid Short- and Long-Term disability plans
- Flexible Spending with $680 Carry Over option and Dependent Care Account Plans
- Employee Life Assistance Plan and Identity Theft Protection Support
- Tuition Reimbursement after waiting period
Franklin Sports is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.