Senior Developer, Footwear Innovation

Position Summary

As a Senior Developer on the Footwear Innovation team, you’ll guide an idea through its full journey, from the earliest prototype to a refined, thoroughly validated shoe ready for production. You’ll lead prototype creation across every stage, partner as an equal with our Advanced Development Team in Kobe, and serve as the person leadership relies on to understand where a project stands and where it’s going.

You’ll also help develop the next generation of ASICS developers, sharing the craft as you work. It’s a meaningful opportunity to carry performance running innovation from first concept to finished product, and to help shape how ASICS creates for years to come.

In the first year, this role includes the opportunity for an extended assignment at ASICS global headquarters in Kobe, Japan. This is a meaningful chance to immerse in the ASICS development culture and build the direct partnership with our global development teams that this role depends on.

• Lead prototype creation across every stage. From early local prototypes through refined, factory‑developed prototypes validated with consumers and in testing, on the path to production.
• Provide leadership to Design and Product Management teams to uncover new ways innovative materials and designs can be made manufacturable and meet performance, sustainability, cost, and quality objectives.
• Own product performance integrity by working with Product Testing teams to determine testing needs, explore new methods, understand results, and make decisions based on learnings.
• Partner with the Advanced Development Team in Kobe as an equal to create and drive technical packages, BOMs, and tooling across the full development process.
• Ensure product quality by collaborating with Engineering and Quality Assessment teams at all stages of creation.
• Critique, adjust, and evaluate technical blueprints (outsole / midsole / upper), upper patterns, and materials from a performance, manufacturing, and functional perspective.
• Effectively communicate with Factory and Asia Development teams to align product expectations and drive on‑time delivery of samples.
• Own direct communication of project status, progress, and key decisions to leadership.
• Mentor and support more junior team members, passing on the ASICS development craft.
• Own sample management for assigned projects, including receipt, distribution, checking, and updates.
• Participate in development trips, 3–4 per year, to work with manufacturers and suppliers.
• Build and maintain a knowledge base of vendor capabilities, factory relationships, quality issues, materials pricing, and lead times.
• Anticipate the downstream effects of decisions and be proactive with solutions to mitigate delays.
• Identify opportunities to streamline operations and implement new processes across cross‑functional teams.
• Keep abreast of market trends, new technologies, and consumer needs to ensure products meet the functional demands of our runners.
• Act as a proxy for the Advanced Development Manager as needed.

• Bachelor’s degree in Biomechanics, Engineering, Kinesiology, or related technical field; equivalent combination of education and experience considered in lieu of degree(s).
• 8+ years of successful experience leading the development of high‑performance, technical running footwear projects.
• Proven leadership in technical running footwear product development, process, project management, costing, and manufacturing from conception to retail.
• 4+ years of athletic footwear innovation experience strongly desired.
• Ready to learn the ASICS development approach and earn trust as a partner to our global team.
• Willingness and talent for mentoring less‑experienced teammates in footwear development and the innovation mindset.
• Optimistic that a solution to difficult challenges can be found, with the perseverance to keep investigating options and pivoting when needed.
• Curious and open‑minded; inventive, and willing to challenge the status quo in pursuit of better products and processes.
• Comfortable working in new arenas of footwear development where a specific direction and solution path is unclear at the start.
• Proven ability…