China Innovation Hub Leader

About the role

China Innovation Hub Leader ROLE SUMMARY As China Innovation Hub Leader, you will lead Specialized's E‑Bike innovation and engineering activities in China, serving as a critical link between global Turbo engineering teams and key Chinese suppliers and technology partners. You will be responsible for driving local development support, benchmarking, and innovation across motor, battery, HMI, and system engineering-ensuring that Specialized remains at the forefront of E‑Bike performance, quality, and rider experience. This role combines hands‑on technical leadership, people management, and supplier‑facing engineering excellence, enabling faster development cycles, deeper market insight into the China E‑Bike ecosystem, and strong alignment with global product and technology strategies. HOW YOU'LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE Leadership & Team Management Lead and develop a team of four engineers based in China, fostering high technical standards, collaboration, and innovation: Motor Engineer - Provides development support in China as a resident at the motor supplier, supporting serial development and competitive benchmarking. Battery Engineer - Supports battery development in China, including benchmarking, supplier quality, and innovation in new battery technologies. HMI Engineer - Supports hardware and software development of HMI systems in China, including competitive benchmarking. System Engineer - Supports system‑level development and testing, with a strong focus on benchmarking the China E‑Bike market. Build a strong local engineering culture aligned with Specialized's global standards, values, and performance expectations. Engineering & Innovation Lead China‑based engineering support for Turbo E‑Bike systems, including motors, batteries, HMI, and system integration. Drive benchmarking and technology scouting within the China E‑Bike market to inform global product strategy and innovation roadmaps. Support serial development, validation, and testing activities in close collaboration with suppliers and global engineering teams. Contribute to innovation initiatives by identifying new technologies, materials, and concepts emerging from the China ecosystem. Supplier & Partner Collaboration Act as Specialized's primary engineering interface with key China‑based suppliers. Ensure alignment on development priorities, quality standards, timelines, and technical requirements. Strengthen supplier relationships to enable speed, transparency, and continuous improvement. Global Alignment & Influence Work closely with the Global Turbo Engineering organization to ensure China‑based activities are fully aligned with global system architecture, standards, and long‑term technology strategy. Provide clear technical input, insights, and recommendations to global stakeholders based on local development and market learnings. Support global development programs by accelerating execution and reducing risk through strong local presence. WHAT YOU NEED TO WIN: Proven experience in engineering leadership within e‑mobility, automotive, electronics, or high‑performance consumer products. Strong technical background in E‑Bike systems, powertrains, batteries, electronics, or system engineering. Experience leading and developing small, high‑impact engineering teams. Hands‑on experience working with Asian suppliers, preferably in China, including on‑site development and serial production support. Strong system‑level thinking with the ability to connect component development to overall product performance and rider experience. Excellent cross‑cultural communication skills and the ability to operate effectively in a global matrix organization. Passion for innovation, mobility, and technology that enhances human performance.