Altra: Senior Footwear Designer, Inline

At Altra, we are on a never-ending journey to seek out opportunities to unlock potential in ourselves and others and to create a more diverse and inclusive running community. When we’re all working together as the best versions of ourselves, we can feel empowered both individually and as a community. So, before we get to the job details, take a minute to learn a little more about us – our values and our culture.

If you can see yourself working side-by-side with a team of people driven to discover more about ourselves and the world around us, Altra just may be the place for you.

To learn more about our values and our culture, visit Altra Careers or  Sr. Concept Footwear Designer, Innovation What will you do?

As a Senior Footwear Designer – Inline at Altra, you won’t just design shoes — you’ll help define what’s next in performance running. You’ll work alongside a cross-functional team of developers, materials experts, color designers, product managers, engineers, and testing specialists to create what does not yet exist. This is a role for someone driven to remove boundaries, embrace risk, and push beyond what can currently be seen or done.

You’ll collaborate closely with the Altra Innovation Design Team and tap into the deep expertise of the broader VF Design community. You’ll have access to Altra’s product and leadership teams, as well as a powerful global network of multidisciplinary design peers and leaders across the VF matrix. This role reports directly to the Director of Footwear Design.

We’re looking for someone with a proven track record of independently creating compelling, industry-leading technical-performance footwear designs that stand out for both function and aesthetic innovation. You believe true performance innovation happens at the intersection of art and science, where biomechanics, materials, and engineering meet form, emotion, and visual storytelling. You thrive in ambiguity, make smart, calculated bets, and are energized by solving problems others haven’t solved yet.

From early ideation and experimentation through prototyping and commercialization, you know how to shepherd breakthrough concepts into a real, athlete-ready product.

You inspire confidence, influence across functions, and build strong, trust-based collaborative relationships. You bring a positive, resilient mindset aligned with Altra’s Challenger Spirit and Spirit of Discovery — someone who pushes through roadblocks and brings clarity where others see uncertainty.

What do you need to succeed?

We value diverse paths and perspectives. While formal education in a related field is appreciated, we are most interested in your 5–7 years of experience designing and developing cutting edge performance footwear (and associated products).To thrive in this role, you’ll bring:

A self-driven, problem-solving mindset with strong personal accountability

Deep curiosity and a passion for continuously elevating your footwear design craft

Comfort mentoring and supporting emerging designers

The ability to juggle multiple projects, shift priorities quickly, and excel in a fast-paced environmentA genuine passion for technical performance footwear, running, biomechanics, and human performance — with an appreciation for how art and science come together in great product design

Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally, sometimes for extended periods

Flexibility to work extended hours when needed to meet key milestones

You will also:

Create brand-new concepts that expand what Altra can be, and translate them into footwear that aligns with seasonal vision and brand DNACommunicate clearly and proactively with Innovation Design, Product Development, and Product Management to ensure alignment and successful delivery

Confidently pitch and sell product ideas, presenting design concepts at key milestones to internal and external leaders

Bring hands-on cobbling and prototyping skills (a plus)
Have experience with 3D design tools (a plus, not required)
Demonstrate strong sketching, illustration, and rendering skills, and be able to create detailed 2D tech packs in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.)Possess expert…