Sport Footwear Designer II

Who We Are:

Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.

As a Performance Sport Footwear Designer II with a focus on Golf, you will play a key role in shaping the future of New Balance performance footwear. You'll design the next generation of golf shoes and performance cleats, blending innovation, functionality, and style to elevate athletes' performance on and off the course. Working within a highly collaborative, cross‑functional team, you'll create forward‑thinking designs driven by athlete insights, performance data, and a deep understanding of the game.

While golf will be your primary focus, this role also offers opportunities to contribute to other performance sport categories across New Balance's global portfolio.

• Lead the creation of fresh, performance‑driven design language for golf and other sport categories. Push the boundaries of innovation through new materials, construction techniques, and sustainable approaches that enhance athletic performance and elevate design aesthetics. You'll also reimagine heritage and trend‑relevant lifestyle models as high‑performance golf footwear, blending iconic New Balance DNA with modern golf‑specific innovation to deliver products that perform on the course and resonate off it.

• Develop a deep understanding of the golf athlete – from swing dynamics and stability needs to comfort and traction – to design products that perform under pressure. Translate insights into footwear that delivers confidence, control, and all‑day comfort across conditions.

• Partner closely with design peers, developers, engineers, and product management to drive concepts from initial sketch through final production. Your creative vision will help influence category direction and inspire the broader performance design team.

• Stay ahead of the curve in both sport and lifestyle trends – with a particular eye on golf's evolving aesthetic and crossover culture. Balance technical performance with a modern, authentic design language that connects with today's athletes and consumers.

• Adopt a mindset of continuous exploration. Prototype, test, and refine ideas through athlete feedback and performance validation. Challenge convention to create products that redefine expectations for golf footwear.

• 5+ years of experience in footwear design, with strong preference for performance categories; experience in golf or cleated footwear design is highly valued.

• A strong portfolio showcasing innovation, storytelling, and functional design solutions that merge performance and style.

• Deep understanding of athlete needs, sport‑specific performance requirements, and consumer behavior – especially within the golf space.

• Strong sole/tooling design development experience.

• Excellent conceptual and visualization skills – ability to bring ideas to life through sketches, 3D modeling, renderings, and physical prototypes.

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Gravity Sketch, Vizcom, or similar digital design tools.

• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to inspire and align cross‑functional partners.

• Passion for innovation, experimentation, and continuous learning in footwear design.

• Solid knowledge of technical footwear construction, materials, and manufacturing processes.

• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally for athlete feedback sessions, testing, and factory visits.

• Hybrid work model:
  In‑office Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Lawrence, MA Corp Only Pay Range: $99,700.00 – $ – $ Annual (actual base pay varying based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, time in role, internal equity, geographic location, and more.)

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