Footwear Designer - Inline; Altra

Footwear Designer – Inline

As part of the Footwear Design team at Altra, you will create innovative, athlete-informed performance footwear that brings Altra’s design language and product vision to life. Working closely with Product Management, Development, Color/Material/Graphics, and Innovation, you will help shape seasonal inline products from concept through commercialization.

• Own the design execution of inline footwear projects from initial concept through tech pack completion, including upper, midsole, outsole, and overall visual storytelling.
• Translate product briefs into compelling design solutions that align with Altra’s brand DNA, athlete needs, and category opportunities.
• Create and present 2D sketches, 3D digital models, and presentation materials to communicate design intent clearly and effectively.
• Partner closely with Product Management, Development, and Color/Materials teams to bring aligned product solutions to life.
• Integrate seasonal material, color, and trend direction into footwear concepts while maintaining performance-first integrity.
• Refine product through prototyping, testing, and fit reviews, responding to feedback with thoughtful iteration.
• Maintain strong communication with development partners and factory teams to ensure design fidelity through commercialization.
• Stay connected to the running consumer, marketplace, and competitive landscape to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.
• Participate in athlete testing, product reviews, and market research to deepen understanding of performance needs.
• Help evolve Altra’s design language by contributing new ideas, fresh perspectives, and future-thinking design solutions.
• Travel 10% domestically or internationally as required.

Required Qualifications:

• 3–5 years of footwear design experience, preferably in performance, athletic, or outdoor categories; or a 4-year college/university degree in industrial, graphics, apparel, or footwear design (equivalent experience may substitute).
• Strong understanding of footwear construction, materials, manufacturing processes, and product creation timelines.
• Exceptional 2D sketching and visual communication skills with the ability to clearly express ideas and concepts.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; experience with 3D tools such as Rhino or Blender is strongly preferred.
• Understanding of AI design process and workflows is a plus.
• Ability to think conceptually and solve design problems through the lens of athlete performance and brand authenticity.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work cross-functionally in a team-based product creation environment.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and timelines while maintaining a high standard of design quality and attention to detail.
• Strong presentation skills with confidence in sharing ideas, receiving critique, and iterating quickly.
• Desire to learn and be curious – a design and process sponge.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in performance running footwear or deep familiarity with running culture and biomechanics.
• Experience working directly with overseas factories and development teams.
• Physical prototyping skills and hands‑on model‑making experience.
• Passion for running, movement, and understanding the needs of the athlete.

Hiring Range: $82,080 – $102,600 USD annually. Additional compensation may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Detailed benefits information will be provided during the hiring process.

Benefits at VF Corporation:
For detailed information on benefits programs, please refer to the VF Benefits program overview available during the hiring process.

At VF, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local laws.

If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact us at  VF will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals to the extent required by applicable law. Pursuant to all applicable local Fair Chance Ordinance requirements, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, VF will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.