Hoka Materials Developer - HOKA Footwear

Overview

At Deckers Brands, Together, Every Step is a promise kept that every employee can bring their authentic self, is valued and supported, as a whole person, at work and beyond. Together, Every Step is how we continue to deliver exceptional business results, experience an amazing place to work, and have a positive impact on the communities and world around us.

Job Title: Materials Developer I - HOKA Footwear

Reports to: Sr. Manager, Materials Development - HOKA Footwear

Location: Portland, OR - Hybrid

As a Material Developer I for HOKA Footwear, you’ll play a vital role in shaping the future of performance footwear. You’ll support the product creation process by executing seasonal material developments that align with HOKA’s goals for performance, aesthetics, and sustainability. Working closely with design and development teams, you’ll help manage timelines, organize materials, and ensure quality and consistency across every project.

We celebrate diversity of your background, your experiences and your unique identity. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and equitable workplace where all of our employees can Come as They Are. We believe that when we bring our different perspectives to work, we are truly Better Together.

• Support technical material development for HOKA performance footwear throughout the product creation cycle, including prototyping, product briefing, design reviews, and development sample gates.
• Assist the material design team in advancing key seasonal material strategies through concepting, research, development, and vendor technologies.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure clear communication of material selections, timelines, and testing needs.
• Capture and relay feedback between teams and suppliers to drive continuous improvement.
• Coordinate with vendors to track samples, maintain and organize the material studio, and support testing and commercialization of materials.
• Learn and grow technical knowledge of material types, testing standards, and supplier capabilities to take on more ownership within seasonal development cycles.
• Gather and organize material options that align with product goals for performance, aesthetics, sustainability, cost, and regional sourcing.
• Prepare materials for team reviews and key milestones, maintaining accurate records in product lifecycle management systems.
• Work alongside sourcing and procurement teams to log vendor updates, track open issues, and escalate concerns to ensure alignment during the product creation process.
• Analyze, research, and communicate with international suppliers to identify new technologies and supplier expertise.
• Interpret, translate, and analyze material test results to ensure performance durability metrics are met.
• Advance and incorporate new technologies, machines, yarns, and sustainability initiatives into the seasonal calendar.

• Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Textile Science/Development, Textile Engineering, or a related field; a Master’s degree is a plus.
• Bring 0-2 years of relevant work experience, which may include footwear product creation, material development, engineering, or science.
• Have a basic understanding or strong interest in footwear materials and construction, including textiles, synthetics, and manufacturing methods.
• Are familiar with tools such as Excel, Adobe Illustrator, PowerPoint, or similar platforms for organizing data and communicating ideas.
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to follow through on assigned tasks.
• Possess a collaborative mindset and are comfortable working with cross-functional teams and taking direction from more experienced team members.
• Eager to learn how to interpret design intent and apply materials to footwear performance needs.
• Interested in growing technical knowledge around testing, sustainability, footwear development, and material performance.
• Have key awareness of insights and trends for the footwear industry or comparable industries.
• Able to travel up to 10% of the time, both domestically and internationally.

• Competitive Pay and Bonuses - We’ve created a variety of competitive…