We thought we'd round up some of the more awesome-looking job opportunities in the bike industry that we've seen lately. The ones where you're most likely to be able to jump out for a ride at lunch or get to geek over bike-related things all day.
Don't see anything that you're interested in? Many of these companies have multiple jobs posted on their websites, so we'd recommend doing a deep dive into the career section on each company's website. Still nothing? Lots of companies will have a jobs@ email address for you to send your resume to and they'll reach out if something comes up that is suited to your skillset. Happy hunting!
OneUp Components
Senior Graphic Designer
OneUp Components is looking to hire for three positions, including a Graphic Designer who will be responsible for the look and feel of everything OneUp does and will "help define the OneUp brand." The position is full time, and you'd be working 9 out of 10 business days in a two week period.
Among other roles, SRAM is looking for someone to "write, design, and communicate technical information through print and digital documentation for all SRAM brands and departments to be used by technical and non-technical, internal and external audiences."
Salary: starts at $45,000 USD and up to +30% based on skills and experience level. (Learn More)
Norco Bicycles
Web Designer (MTB)
Norco is looking for someone to "assist with the ongoing development and maintenance of consumer facing websites and applicable applications."
Yeti is looking for someone to "oversee Yeti Cycles paid media, public relations, digital marketing, product marketing, and events." Bonus? They're located near five major trailheads and shut it down from 11:30am-1pm every day to ride.
Salary: $75,000-100,000 USD annually - depending on experience. (Learn More)
Canyon
Brand Community Manager
Canyon is looking for an experienced community manager to work out of Koblenz or Amsterdam. A perk includes taking your current favorite bike from the Canyon catalogue home with you on loan.
The Director of Brand Marketing will be "a key leader within the marketing team to drive the brand and business for our portfolio of brands, including FOX, Marzocchi, Race Face, and Easton Cycling."
Specialized has a ton of positions available, including this one for a Global Marketing Line Producer who will "collaborate closely with internal and external creative, photo/video, and project management teams to successfully execute photo/video shoot logistics at the highest level."
Ibis is looking for someone to join their team who "will design, engineer, and manage the development of Ibis aluminum bicycle frames." A nice perk? Ibis Employees are given one bicycle frame and one wheelset each year at no charge.
Pearl Izumi is looking for a Director for the US Sales. "This role will recruit, train, direct, manage and support independent sales force to ensure that sales objectives are achieved. This role will also be responsible for selling and managing retail customers, wholesale accounts, and select major customers nationally and relentlessly delivering budget."
Salary: $120-150K USD annual base salary, full sales commission, benefits, and more (Learn More)
Trek
Web Content Specialist
Trek is looking for a Web Content Specialist to "support on-time implementation of digital content to our global website using a variety to content management systems and software." Fun fact, if you get this job, you get tuition reimbursement up to $15,000 for undergraduate & Masters programs.
The Events Lead will be responsible for "US-based corporate, national, regional and local brand events focused on logistics including promotions, lodging, transportation, meals, and entertainment planning."
NS Bikes is looking to hire a Product Manager. "The primary task of PM is to ensure that the products within the brand reach the market at a specific time, at a certain price, and that they have full support in the field of spare parts, commercial and marketing information."
As the Marketing Manager - Brand at Rocky Mountain Bicycles, your "mission is to build awareness of our brand and products through the creation and execution of multi- channel and globally relevant campaigns and programs. This role will partner with cross-functional teams and will be responsible for strategy development, execution, measurement, and budget management of best-in-class global marketing programs, including delivery across all owned, earned, and paid channels."
Dainese is looking for someone to join the Helmets Research & Development team who "will be responsible for the design and engineering of the helmets, product improvement activities and support for the transfer of projects into production."
POC is looking for a Supply Planner for North America. This person will be "responsible for reducing costs and waste by optimizing allocation between distribution centers and improving logistical efficiencies."
As the VP of Global eCommerce "you will be responsible for driving the 100% eCommerce Global strategy and execution, day-to-day site operations, and consumer experience for the 100% eCommerce business."
Crankbrothers is looking for someone to "manage international distributors and key accounts to ensure achievement of annual objectives, including coordinating go-to-market plans and new product launches with international distributors, key accounts and IBDs."
Judging by the peak on their current helmets, Dainese could benefit from an engineer with experience in product design. The safest helmet is the one that gets worn, that thing looks embarrassing.
@kazwei: The first responsibility of Dainese’s new mechanical engineering hire should be to redesign that visor and offer it as a retrofit part named “The Revisor.”
how do i apply for the technical communicator job at SRAM it could use a intelligent good writer (and rider!) like me, and because they and me have a common interest of bikes. i also have references if your looking for people who can recommend me because we worked together before and they are also in the bike industry to and I did a technical internship but they didn’t hire me after it was over.
@watchtower: you guys just don't understand English humour, we find it comical to point out one minor insignificant flaw with something or a situation where there is obviously far bigger issues at hand, it's how we cope with living in England...
@ctd07: born and raised in London, I was probably gazing out the window dreaming of sunshine in that particular humour class, wouldn't be the first time.
@ctd07: I like this explanation of humor. Like cracking a joke on the Titanic after someone yelled 'Iceberg!' Jokes don't try to fix anything, but they are sometimes a lot more fun to listen to than the back and forth between 'us and them.'
@ceecee: Their is one “your” in their but you might not have scene it because its between alot of other errors which i can’t seam to catch and correct before posting for all intensive purposes,
@Mfro: and being a Intense rider i always like riding a “Intense if purposes” permit but sometimes it rains in Seattle with lightening and so i chose to ride my vintige Special ed Stumphumper. i think it’s supposed to say Specialized Stumpjumper but the last owner was a idiot and changed the vintige stickers it made me so mad be cause its worth less know.
@valrock: ive never understood commas and i dont even know why they even exist why are they even a thing! the things i dislike most are one that a period is more useful then commas too they just mess up the flow of a writing and three they just look annoying when their all over the place and looking like a person cant speak or write without pausing all the time to think or something who knows maybe we will all hopefully get to the point that commas get swept in to the dust bin of history wear they be long!
Dear young professional bicycle mechanics: If you leave the bike industry and enter the trades (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, welding, masonry, etc... You will make more money and be appreciated more if you show up and work hard.
The work is harder, dirtier, more dangerous, and more uncomfortable, but the pay is SO much better, and you won't have to deal with E-bikes, HR Karen, delusional customers.
You will be able to afford a new bicycle (and a eventually a new car) but you will also probably have less free time to ride
@mi-bike: he did say more dangerous. If you’re hurting yourself with paper clips more often than tradesmen hurt themselves with power tools you’re definitely doing it wrong
@mi-bike: uh, well, using a table saw is more dangerous than anything you do in a bike shop, so not necessarily.
@axleworthington pretty sure I know which bike shop you worked at, and they don't have HR and pay well for the industry, not that they don't have other problems. also, as someone that worked in trades for a long time, there are definitely HR Karens and delusional customers. and a lot of angry alcoholics.
bike industry pay as a whole is terrible, though, I'll give you that.
Long time bike industry mechanic here. You’re right. The pro deals (that you can hardly even get anymore) are NOT worth the garbage pay. None of us were in the industry to make great money, but eventually there comes a point where you can barely afford life living on that kind of salary. Even as a highly trained mech with multiple master tech certs from various brands and many years of experience. This is exactly why I moved to aviation. Way more time off, WAY better pay, and way better benefits (some of the best in the country). There are a hell of a lot more rules and regulations if you don’t want to go to jail, but absolutely worth it. The bike industry will continue to lose high quality mechanics because there’s literally no point in furthering your education and expertise anymore. MAYBE if you’re a traveling factory race mechanic but that’s literally it.
@mi-bike: accidents can happen even when you’re highly skilled and paying close attention. I would agree that many (not all) trades jobs do carry higher consequences than anything in a bike shop IF you do mess up.
@mick06: Nobody needs to get hurt doing their job, including tradies using power tools. The greater the inherent risk of a particular activity, the more important it is that you have the right training, procedures, and equipment to prevent incidents. If you're doing it right, a potentially dangerous job has become a low-risk one.
@mi-bike: nah. I worked in woodworking for like 15 years. even the most trained, most skilled people with the best safety equipment get hurt. I know several lifetime, highly skilled woodworkers that have lost fingers after 20 years in the industry, etc. It's just a fact of working in trades. I was a best of the best woodworker and made furniture for the richest of the rich, have pieces in the white house (pre-trump), etc. I lost count of how many times I got cut, burnt, nails or staples though my fingers, etc. Nearly lost my whole arm in a joiner once, pure luck on that one.
almost all of the top 25 most dangerous jobs are trades jobs, and not for no reason.
@mi-bike: risk (probability) and consequence (magnitude) are two different things. I work on jet engines now. Because of my skill and amount of training and education, it’s low risk and relatively safe. BUT for many of the tasks involved in working on propellers and turbines, and crawling around on wings/fuselages etc the consequence can be extremely high despite being low risk. I don’t need to be mansplained to about how proper training is required for more dangerous jobs lol. I’m well aware. My literal only point was that it’s pretty hard to severely injure yourself in a bike shop. I’ve cut a couple fingers open, and some other minor injuries here and there. But there are trades jobs out there that do carry higher consequence IF you do mess up. The potential for human error is unavoidable in every industry.
@swillett116: Didn't want to 'splain anything. I work in a dangerous job with moderate risk and high consequences myself. My point is that in all dangerous jobs, the risks and likely consequences can be reduced. The poster above you about how injuries are a fact of working in trades is an example of the wrong attitude. Work can be done safer, and by a multitude of means. I agree that not all risk can be eliminated and incidents will occur, but (and not saying this applies to you) if you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the problem.
@swillett116: Techs in the bike industry need to become specialized as soon as they can. A shop mechanic has a broad skill set that's not worth as much as a specialized technician in suspension or electronics. I had a long path in retail before I decided to take one last shot at the industry, luckily it paid off, but it wasn't easy. Technicians should consider race tech support or outside tech rep positions if they like to travel, and engineering technicians if they enjoy a lab setting.
@mi-bike: but you said if his trades job is dangerous he is doing it wrong. Now you’re saying your job is dangerous. So does that mean you’re crap at your job??
@mick06: Good catch. I work in a potentially* dangerous job with moderate risk and high consequences. I have many control measures in place for me and my crew that drastically reduce the risk and the likely consequences.
@plume: specializing in a specific area does help a *bit*. I’ve worked both in shops and for manufacturers with only a small bump in pay. I’m glad you found something that pays well. I personally just got sick of the industry (especially all the performative/virtue signaling BS on top of poor pay) and moved to a different one that affords me a quality of life that the bike industry could never give me, regardless of being a specialist of any type. I hope it continues to be a good industry for you, for real! It is fun when you can make it work.
@axleworthington it’s why I left the bike/ ski industries for firefighting. Its indeed a bit more dangerous, but my pay doubled and gained a legit path to retirement. You work a lot of weekends which is a bummer when you are a parent, but you get to ski/ bike midweek without the crowds. When I retire from firefighting, I may go back to turning wrenches just for the fun of working in a bike shop again. I started working on the ski hill again just to get the family passes, and it’s been good to be back working on the hill again. Meanwhile, having enough pay to be comfortable in life and not living check to check is a big bonus.
Just started as a first year apprentice in HVAC and I make more than I did as a bike mechanic with 10 years experience, extensive e-bike knowledge, my own tools, and 10/10 customer service. I just couldn't handle peoples unrealistic expectations and bickering anymore. My mental health, my personal relationships, my time spent riding, and my wallet all love the change.
Biggest regret is focusing my career in the cycling industry. If, like you said, I focused on a different trade, by now I'd be earning a hell of a lot more....
Agreed. I build powerlines. I would absolutely love working in a bike shop but the money is way to good in the trades! I have time to ride my bike but also the money to ride whatever I want..
@Vikingdude: Yeah dude, that's all I'm trying to say. I hate to see skilled guys working for nothing. If I work OT, I basically make double what I did at a bike shop. Being broke sucks.
@axleworthington: that's sad to hear. Sometimes it's the employers who are to blame. If there are no industry regulations, no consequences, no willingness to improve the workers draw the short stick.
@mi-bike: I work with a lot of Mexicans who I respect immensely for their work ethic. They keep calling me "verga" which I think means "friend" One guy fell off a roof and could not be life-flighted due to a snow storm. (ski town) Another guy fell a long way to his immediate death off a roof and died in front of his brother who was the foreman. Tragic.
@mobaar: Engineers are fully convinced that all non-engineering jobs are "marketing" and also pointless. It takes several years of engineering school and professional work to get your head that far up your own ass but most of them manage.
I looked at this as a significant amount of turnover in the marketing category across the industry, not the lack of need for better/more engineering... Things that make you go, "hmmmm".
Cosigned as hard as possible. Post your wages, cowards. "Pay commensurate with experience" and the like just means "we are going to try to lowball you as hard as possible after wasting your time on an interview."
@Typo-Knig: Its funny because it's true. Even the suburbs outside of Denver, Colorado Springs, and Fort Collins have people priced out. Starter homes for $400k? GTFO
@Sycip69er: it’s out of control. Bought our first home in FTC back in 2006 for what felt like a lot. Recently saw it valued at over $440k. Over 100 years old, 800 SQF on 1/3 acre and it’s very “quaint” to put it politely.
@Sycip69er: Indeed. I lived in Denver proper in the late 90's and early 00's. I bought half of a duplex (750 sqft) in a neighborhood called Potter Highlands in 98 for $117k. I creep on that property on zillow occasionally. Today it's "valued" at $542k. Utterly ridiculous...
I'd love to move back to Denver, but I'm beyond priced out now.
@justanotherusername: Marketing budgets are completely out of control. I'd be interested how marketing people get decision makers to give out those budgets. Oh wait...
We need marketing people to sell our over expensive bikes, but then we need to increase our prices to pay our growing marketing staff. Infernal circle...
@justanotherusername: i reckon those nuclear folks especially the weapons boys are pretty quiet ...though it would make funny copy, new for 2023 wipe out a million more per yield than last years outgoing version
@HankDamage: What do you mean by marketing budgets are 'out of control'? - Care to quantify that with some actual evidence?
Wake up - The bike industry isn't the little bro scene it was years ago, its a growing market expected to be worth $120 billion by 2030, companies that have a product to sell need to market that product.
If you want a different kind of marketing go buy a Starling or Orange - just don't forget that their 'made in the uk' or 'made in a shed' is marketed to you too....
@Compositepro: They exist! We call them lobbyists instead and we don't get invited to their sales pitches as we're not in charge of military purchasing. Well, I don't get invited, maybe you do.
@justanotherusername: I didn't mean limited to the MTB or cycling industry, but marketing budgets of virtually any business of significant size with a b2c component.
80k/year a for a graphics designer that will define the look for a brand? Oneup, I love you guys and your stuff you make, but let's be real here, that's insanely low for that tier of designer let alone the cost of living there.
I'd recommend doing some research for salaries for that field and the skill level you're needing and update the listing or consider using a graphic design house instead to help refresh your branding, website, logo, graphics, etc.
100%, especially when the job details include so many production roles (Developing the larger brand ident and then… Shopify? Art directing photography and then… packaging design?) I think these are two separate jobs, and probably neither are paid enough.
Yeah every open job I've seen at OneUp offers below average pay. Great products and people, but they should throw around a bit more cash given how popular they are and how much product they must sell....
I dunno, 80K for a job that is almost pointless seems fair! The logo is good, nice simple gimmick free packaging, products that largely sell without much marketing.....maybe I'll apply ha ha.
@emptybe-er: Yeah that is just insane. Cleary, Sram doesn’t value someone writing clear tech manuals and documentation for customers and mechanics. In a market jam packed with job openings in so many industries, I truly don’t understand how they expect to get good candidates for this.
Good luck getting anyone worth a f*ck for under $100k to be your Lead Manager of any department. That's not enough money to attract real corporate talent that could bring serious business acumen
@brianpark that Rocky Mountain position sounds like something you would be interested in!
In other news, holy cow Norco, a website designer has been sorely needed. The "new" website redesign last year was atrocious, Geo charts borderline unusable on mobile.
THIS! Been saying this since they changed it. They are selling 10K bikes like you sell a popsicle. To be fair, this is likely sitting at a brand agency level. But shame on Norco for not pushing back on it.
Not sure, but 45k/year at sram in COS is far less than you could earn at a bike shop locally. Imagine working at SRAM only to not be able to afford mountain biking lol
@borisimobike: SRAM thinks people will work for them just for the joy and take that terrible salary... and unfortunately for most people some sucker will happily take that underpaid role
@rideitall-bmx-dh-road-unicycle: 100%. And it's not just the bike industry. In my experience most of the outdoor sports market plays on peoples passion and excuses low wages for "interesting" work.
Bike mechanics: do yourself a solid and get into a trade job. There is a huge demand for apprentices in skilled trades. You will have a clear path towards retirement, make a LOT more money and have better insurance (if you're working for a small bike shop you may not have any at all). Bike discounts don't mean much if you are living check to check and eating ramen your whole life.
Considering what some of these companies charge for their products (Yeti!) and the current market for such roles, the compensation is woefully low. Makes me wonder, just who is the bulk of the profit going to. Most of these jobs entail a substantial amount of weekends as well. I would love to land a good gig in the MTB industry, but taking a 50+% pay cut and giving up my weekends to boot? Not me. Not even if they gave me a new bike for free every year! Recent graduates do that to build a career, experienced sales & marketing folks don't usually take that plunge.
@mi-bike: I mean, she's an incredibly talented and successful Director of Marketing, and I'm a part time bike mechanic and full-time carer for our child.
But sure, I can't see why they wouldn't give me the job over her...
Seriously, good luck with that one. I used to be limited by my realistic commuting distance unless I was willing to uproot my family. Now, it's all Slack and Zoom, so the only limitation is the minor inconveniences of differing time zones. Everyone I know is taking advantage of this and changing jobs since the only way to get decent pay bumps is to change employers.
i think this is a funny way of saying you get every other friday off, or 'compressed hours' as some in engineering call it (add half an hour to each day and then get every tenth off without affecting holiday)
There are also so many jobs in professional trail building available, almost every company I know has a shortage of builders. So if you want a cool job that’s physical and extremely rewarding become a trail builder!
the fact that the vast majority of these jobs are marketing really says something about the modern US bicycle industry. Engineering and production all done in asia for pennies, paint & decal design, & expensive race teams done in the US.
Almost everywhere, even inside some major metro areas. If you can't get a bike industry machining job, work a non-bike machining gig for a couple of years and I promise you will have everything you need to get into the bike side. Even better, get a union machining job and actually make enough money to buy parts at retail.
Yes, you frequently get it at just above what it costs to manufacture/source, which is an even steeper discount over what shop employees get. It keeps you on the latest and greatest so long as you can either find a dirt-cheap living situation, are independently wealthy, or have a partner in a more conventional job to make real, adult money.
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* yes, intentional.
You could've included some other stuff too. Like maybe 'seen' instead of 'saw'...or a there/their flub.
For all in ten sieve porpoises….
Or in tents if per purses
The work is harder, dirtier, more dangerous, and more uncomfortable, but the pay is SO much better, and you won't have to deal with E-bikes, HR Karen, delusional customers.
You will be able to afford a new bicycle (and a eventually a new car) but you will also probably have less free time to ride
@axleworthington pretty sure I know which bike shop you worked at, and they don't have HR and pay well for the industry, not that they don't have other problems. also, as someone that worked in trades for a long time, there are definitely HR Karens and delusional customers. and a lot of angry alcoholics.
bike industry pay as a whole is terrible, though, I'll give you that.
almost all of the top 25 most dangerous jobs are trades jobs, and not for no reason.
I just couldn't handle peoples unrealistic expectations and bickering anymore. My mental health, my personal relationships, my time spent riding, and my wallet all love the change.
One guy fell off a roof and could not be life-flighted due to a snow storm. (ski town)
Another guy fell a long way to his immediate death off a roof and died in front of his brother who was the foreman. Tragic.
Priorities, man. But seems about right for where this industry is headed.
And this is Pinkbikes' list. If you look at SRAM's openings, there are 10 in marketing, and 30+ in engineering.
www.sram.com/en/company/careers/current-openings
That’s the main difference when you go for an engineering oriented brand vs a flashy-trendy brand!
www.pinkbike.com/news/video-friday-fails-120.html
I'd love to move back to Denver, but I'm beyond priced out now.
The bike industry certainly isn't worse than others.
Wake up - The bike industry isn't the little bro scene it was years ago, its a growing market expected to be worth $120 billion by 2030, companies that have a product to sell need to market that product.
If you want a different kind of marketing go buy a Starling or Orange - just don't forget that their 'made in the uk' or 'made in a shed' is marketed to you too....
I'd recommend doing some research for salaries for that field and the skill level you're needing and update the listing or consider using a graphic design house instead to help refresh your branding, website, logo, graphics, etc.
In other news, holy cow Norco, a website designer has been sorely needed. The "new" website redesign last year was atrocious, Geo charts borderline unusable on mobile.
www.revelbikes.com/careers
But sure, I can't see why they wouldn't give me the job over her...
Seriously, good luck with that one. I used to be limited by my realistic commuting distance unless I was willing to uproot my family. Now, it's all Slack and Zoom, so the only limitation is the minor inconveniences of differing time zones. Everyone I know is taking advantage of this and changing jobs since the only way to get decent pay bumps is to change employers.
Is this normal?!!
How uncivilized! 70-72 hours per fortnight down here. Four weeks annual leave at least too...
"Explain to the audience the advantage of 28.99mm standard..."
their tech "writing" caters to double digit IQ ADD types. Rip
Would not have guessed that, but a good way to save money I guess.
Great.