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Wheel Design Engineer II

Trek Bicycle · Waterloo, WI · Full time

Posted Sep 29, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Walk me through a carbon wheel or composite part you designed from concept to production. What tradeoffs did you make?

What they are checking: Real experience owning a composite product through development, not just one phase of it.

Tell me about a time you iterated quickly and a design idea failed. What did you learn?

What they are checking: Comfort with fast iteration and learning, which the posting emphasizes.

Do you ride, and how does that affect how you design?

What they are checking: Whether real riding experience informs their engineering judgment.

What would you do

A new rim passes lab tests but riders report cracks at the spoke holes. How do you investigate?

What they are checking: Connecting field failures to test gaps and design root cause instead of blaming riders.

The aero team wants a deeper, wider rim but it adds weight. How do you settle that?

What they are checking: Using data and rider needs to resolve cross-team design tension.

About the work

How do you balance aerodynamics, weight, stiffness and durability when designing a road rim?

What they are checking: Whether they can reason through competing targets that define a road wheel.

How do spoke count and lacing pattern affect a wheel's stiffness and strength?

What they are checking: Core wheel engineering knowledge that separates wheel designers from general mechanical engineers.

What lab and field tests would you run before signing off a new road wheel for production?

What they are checking: Knowledge of impact, fatigue and stiffness testing and how they relate to real riding.

How do you work with a carbon supplier to make sure a layup is built the way you designed it?

What they are checking: Supplier collaboration and quality control in composite manufacturing.

How do you decide between a hookless and hooked rim bead, and what does that mean for tire compatibility and safety?

What they are checking: Awareness of current road wheel design debates and their safety implications.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Trek Bicycle.

A bit about us Trek is an awesome place to work, with amazing benefits for all employees. We build only products we love, provide incredible hospitality to our customers, and change the world by getting more people on bikes. When you’re on our team, you’re taken care of, encouraged to learn and grow, and given lots of opportunities to do so. Give us your best, and we’ll give it right back. Sound pretty sweet? Then come join us! Job Description Are you looking to be part of a motivated team that is pushing the limits of product performance, bringing new and innovative wheels to riders everywhere? Do you love solving problems, iterating quickly, and delivering creative solutions? Do you want to work within a culture that embraces continuous learning and development of new skills through exposure to evolving opportunities? Trek’s engineering team is looking for a highly motivated and experienced engineer to come work in our inspiring work hard / play hard environment, take the lead on wheel design and development, and help create the next generation of road wheel products that will have a big impact on the cycling industry. YOU WILL • Lead the technical design and development of road wheel systems, including carbon rims, hubs, and spoke/lacing configurations, focusing on aerodynamics, weight, stiffness, and durability from the concept phase through to production. • Create and deliver engineering specification packages that communicate effectively with internal and external partners to ensure products meet project requirements. • Translate customer and rider feedback into engineering specifications for wheel products. • Work with Trek racing teams to develop products that perform at the highest level, and provide expertise to bike groups, athletes, marketing, and other internal customers. • Develop collaborative relationships with vendors and coordinate engineering activities with domestic and international teammates, traveling as necessary. • Learn, create, and implement new engineering tools that will enable you and your teammates to create best-in-class products. • Mentor and provide technical guidance to other engineers, and own technical decisions across wheel programs. • Conduct patent searches, generate ideas, and stay informed of new technology through technical publications and seminars. WHAT YOU NEED TO SUCCEED • Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent, with 5+ years of experience in product development. • Experience with bicycle wheel design, build, and manufacturing. • Experience designing composite structures, including laminate/layup design, with an understanding of how material and process choices affect performance. • Execution experience of multiple project cycles from concept through to production. • Ability to iterate quickly on designs, with an eagerness to take a hands-on approach to rapid prototyping and identifying problems. • Experience using CAD modeling software (preferably Onshape) to create 3D models and 2D engineering drawings. • Ability to understand and apply GD&T methodology. • Skills in structural analysis, design failure risk analysis, design for manufacturing and assembly, test plan creation, troubleshooting test results, and creating technical documentation and reports. • Experience with wheel test development and validation, such as impact, fatigue, stiffness, and aerodynamic testing, and knowledge of relevant standards. • Ability to interpret data and solve complex problems, bringing a creative approach to open-ended technical problems with a drive to innovate! • Self-motivated and detail oriented, with strong planning, communication, and accountability skills in a fast-paced team environment working with domestic and international teammates. ALSO, OF INTEREST! • Experience with design analysis using FEA and CFD, and with wind tunnel testing. • Proficient in bike assembly and wheel building. • Experience researching and developing new testing methods and standards to improve performance and quality. • Knowledge of tire and rim interface standards (ETRTO / ISO) and tubeless system design. • Experience designing for manufacturing with composite materials, plastics, and metals, using processes such as bladder molding, compression molding, forging, CNC machining, and injection molding. • Positive attitude that fosters continuous improvement and flexibility. Trek Benefits: • Flexible and fun company culture • Competitive health care • PPO & HDHP medical plan options, Dental insurance, Vision insurance • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) • Free life insurance & optional term life insurance • Competitive vacation package • 401(k) with match and Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP) • 12 weeks of maternity leave with 100% pay • Flexible holiday schedule – 10 company holidays • Tuition Reimbursement up to $15,000! (Undergraduate & Masters programs) • Employee discounts on all product • Deep partner retail discounts We are an Equal Employment Opportunity (“EEO”) Employer. Trek strictly prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, veteran or military status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination. We are an E-Verify employer. For more information, please click on the following links: E-Verify Participation Poster: English / Spanish E-Verify Right to Work Poster: English | Spanish

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