Product Testing Analyst II

Columbia Sportswear • Portland, OR

7h • Hybrid

About The Position

Columbia Sportswear builds innovative products that perform in the outdoors, backed by rigorous testing, consumer insights, and cross‑functional collaboration. Our Testing & Insights team plays a critical role in ensuring our footwear and apparel meet the highest standards of performance, comfort, durability, and consumer satisfaction. This role supports seasonal product creation by validating performance through structured wear‑testing programs, clear data analysis, and strong partnerships across design, development, materials, and innovation teams. You will help ensure every product reflects Columbia’s commitment to quality and is ready to exceed consumer expectations in real‑world conditions.

Requirements

• Able to analyze trends and translate findings into recommendations for product teams.
• Comfortable learning scientific testing methods and synthesizing data into clear, concise reports.
• Curious, analytical, and detail‑oriented with strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Experienced in managing multiple projects with competing deadlines.
• Highly organized with strong presentation capabilities.
• Proficient with Microsoft and Adobe applications; Python and MESH01 experience is a plus.
• A bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 3 years of experience in footwear/apparel product testing, manufacturing, or development.
• Strong analytical capabilities and the ability to communicate findings effectively.
• Experience conducting or supporting consumer or wear‑testing programs.
• The ability to build strong relationships across cross‑functional teams.
• Technical aptitude and enthusiasm for continuous improvement of testing practices.

Nice To Haves

• Ideally experienced in sensory, physiology, or biomechanical testing with people and products.

Responsibilities

• Manage key milestones within the product creation calendar to deliver actionable results and insights.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to ensure products are tested and evaluated according to Columbia’s performance and quality standards.
• Develop and execute comprehensive test plans focused on function, durability, and consumer expectations.
• Collaborate with product development teams to identify key styles for evaluation each season.
• Conduct seasonal footwear and apparel fit and wear tests.
• Assess product liking, performance, and durability to determine alignment with Columbia’s standards.
• Lead feedback sessions and synthesize athlete/tester insights into meaningful recommendations.
• Communicate complex technical findings in a clear and accessible way to diverse audiences.
• Deliver insights that influence innovative technologies and new product concepts through the voice of the consumer.
• Recruit and maintain strong relationships with targeted testers and influencers.
• Build strong cross‑functional partnerships with design, merchandising, development, innovation, materials, quality, and liaison teams.
• Oversee ordering, tracking, and cataloging of all test samples.
• Manage ongoing archiving of records, files, and physical samples.
• Bring an innovative, curious mindset to testing protocols, methodology improvements, and process evolution.

Benefits

• At Columbia Sportswear Company, we’re proud to offer regular full-time employees a benefits package that includes a variety of services and products to help make your life and work more rewarding.
• Our benefit programs contribute to overall employee well-being by aligning those programs with the fundamental elements of well-being: physical, social/emotional, financial, career and community.
• Benefits that can protect your family’s financial future and help you save money through our 401k plan plus a generous company match.
• Columbia offers medical, dental, vision, life Insurance, disability, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, and an assortment of voluntary benefit offerings (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services).
• In addition, Columbia offers EAP + which is free and confidential 24/7/365 counseling services.
• We have extensive wellness benefits, employee discounts and a generous time off program available.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level