Product Development & China Sourcing Manager – Premium Fitness Accessory

We are a Sydney-based fitness brand looking for an experienced, highly technical Product Development Manager and Sourcing Agent based in China (preferably Guangdong province—Shenzhen/Dongguan) to take our proprietary gym accessory, BLOKZ, from 2D concepts to mass production. This is a premium, multi-material product designed to reduce range of motion during the first repetition on plate-loaded gym machines. The design language and manufacturing tolerances must match the execution of high-end fitness brands like Velites Sport. The ideal candidate must bridge the gap between industrial engineering and factory-direct procurement. You will be responsible for translating our design mockups into production-ready CAD, sourcing specialized component manufacturers, managing the prototyping phase, and establishing a consolidated assembly line. Please keep in mind, you as our agent does not need to create the CAD drawings, but ideally find a manufacturer who will produce the drawings for us. Our product is inherently simple, so this shouldn't be too much of an ask. Scope of Work & Milestones Phase 1: Engineering & CAD Development Translate our detailed 2D visual concept diagrams and internal cross-sections into industry-standard parametric 3D CAD models (STEP/IGES formats). Optimize the design for manufacturing (DFM), specifically engineering the internal barbed metal anchor pin that must be securely injection-moulded/bonded deep within the high-density foam core. Finalize the Bill of Materials (BOM) with precise technical callouts for every component, dimension, and surface finish. Phase 2: Factory Sourcing & Material Procurement Because this product combines foam moulding, precision metalwork, and cable assembly, you will need to bypass trading companies and source direct component manufacturers to maximize our profit margins: The Core: Find a specialized factory capable of moulding high-density EVA foam to an exact 75 Shore A hardness with a matte black, easy-clean skin and crisp, deeply etched branding. The Hardware: Source a precision CNC machining or metal injection moulding (MIM) facility to fabricate the anodised aluminium magnet housing and permanent metal loops. The Magnet: Source a high-grade industrial supplier for custom square N52 Neodymium pot magnets featuring a precision-etched circle marker. The Tether: Source a supplier for high-tensile braided steel cabling over-moulded with a smooth TPE protective jacket. Phase 3: Assembly Consolidation & Prototyping Establish an in-country logistics pipeline where the raw components (foam, magnets, hardware) are drop-shipped to a single facility (ideally a specialized textile or assembly workshop) for final kitting. Oversee the manufacturing of a functional "Golden Sample" prototype. Perform initial pull-strength tests on the cable-to-block junction to ensure the assembly is completely inseparable under gym load conditions before shipping the physical sample to us in Sydney for final verification. Phase 4: Tooling & Mass Production Setup Negotiate Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs), factory tooling/mould amortization costs, and per-unit FOB pricing. Create a rigorous Quality Control (QC) checklist for a third-party inspection agency to verify anodising consistency, magnet retention force, and foam density prior to international export to Port Botany, Sydney. Required Candidate Competencies Location: Must be physically located in the Guangdong region (Shenzhen, Dongguan, Guangzhou) to conduct on-site factory audits and face-to-face engineering reviews. Technical Skills (Not Necessary): Proficient in SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or AutoCAD. Deep understanding of DFM principles, injection moulding draft angles, metal anodising finishes, and material hardness metrics (Shore scales). If you can find a manufacturer or another professional to do this for us, this is just as sufficient. Supply Chain Expertise: Proven track record of managing multi-material product consolidation and working directly with raw tier-1 component suppliers in China. Languages: Native Mandarin/Cantonese speaker with fluent, professional written and spoken English. Experience: Experience in connecting business owners to manufacturers in China who are suitable for their product design and manufacturing needs as well in assisting in the process of logistics.