Product Design and Development - Materials Designer

Footwear Materials Designer – Core Footwear

Location:

Beaverton, OR Duration: 6 Months Type:
Full-Time, Contract

Note:

Portfolio required – must show thought process, mood boards, and progression from concept to final execution. Previous industry experience in Materials Design highly preferred.

Description:

A global athletic brand is looking for an exceptional Footwear Materials Designer to blend expertise, creativity, and problem-solving skills to help shape the future of Footwear Materials. This role sits within the Core Footwear group – covering Running, Training, Basketball, Lifestyle, and Sandals at key competitive price points. In this role, you will develop technically complex material designs using the latest innovations, while also curating and elevating existing materials for refresh and collection models.

Your work will span the entire process, from concepting and ideation to finalizing tech packs, collaborating closely with manufacturing partners, and at times directly engaging with athletes. You will collaborate closely with teams across Footwear Industrial Design, Color Design, Graphic Design, Digital Design, Marketing, and Development.

Top 5-7

Skills:

Requirements for the role:

• 10+ years of technical skill in Footwear Materials Design
• Bachelor's degree in Design, Art, Fashion Design, Product Design, Industrial Design, Accessory and Footwear Design, or Textile Design (or suitable combination of education, experience, and training)
• Experience working on NSW (Nike Sportswear), non-sneakers, and performance products – knits, leathers, suede, synthetics, wovens – a wide range of material usage
• Awareness of the business and production side of materials
• Experience working with Materials and finishes – can connect development teams with new materials and vendors
• Ability to translate consumer insights into compelling narratives and product executions
• Strong capability to leverage manufacturing processes to elevate new ideas, techniques, and materials
• Experience building 3D samples and crafting mockups by hand
• Highly organized, self-sufficient, and motivated – passion for leading teams
• Proven experience collaborating and communicating with manufacturing partners to ensure design intent and material execution accuracy
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• Ability to manage and contribute to multiple seasonal projects within tight timelines
• Confident in presenting and articulating design concepts to internal and external audiences
• Skilled in collaboration and cross-functional teamwork with key partners
• Deep passion for sport culture and the categories in which you design
• Portfolio required – shows thought process, mood boards, and progression from concept to final execution

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Design, Art, Fashion Design, Product Design, Industrial Design, Accessory and Footwear Design, or Textile Design (Master's degree also accepted)
• Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience, and training
• 10+ years of technical skill in Footwear Materials Design

Preferred Qualifications (Nice to Have):

• High taste level for lifestyle or performance products
• Can discuss conceptual to practical, 2D to 3D products – strong storytelling
• Previous industry experience in Materials Design – highly preferred
• Strong understanding of the Footwear Product Creation process
• An active, engaged contributor in both creative process and cross-functional communication

Mindlance is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of Minority/Gender/Disability/Religion/LGBTQI/Age/Veterans.