Nike

Expert Designer, Basketball Footwear Product Design, Global Jordan

Posted One Month Ago

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Beaverton, OR, USA

In-Office

Senior level

Other • Retail

At NIKE, Inc., technology is laying the foundation for our digital transformation and direct-to-consumer strategy.

The Role

Design and develop innovative performance basketball footwear for Jordan, collaborating with athletes, materials, color, graphics, manufacturing, and cross-functional teams. Create seasonal and model design direction, generate concepts, produce sketches and renderings, and guide products from ideation through prototyping. The role requires strong knowledge of footwear construction, materials, manufacturing, and basketball performance, along with frequent travel to athletes and overseas product creation centers. The designer will also mentor teammates and help maintain a cohesive design vision.

Summary Generated by Built In

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for an Expert Designer, Footwear for Jordan Basketball, that will be responsible for new creation design for performance footwear of the Jordan Brand. This role will work directly with professional athletes to design world-class signature and non-signature basketball footwear.

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON

Using a strong understanding of lateral sport performance, construction and manufacturing experience, and both business and design needs--this candidate will continually raise the bar in the performance and style of Jordan Basketball footwear. This designer demonstrates the ability to understand subcultures linked to the world of basketball, as well as provide a point of view for distinction from trends & competitors.

Travel to meet athletes will be required, and in some cases necessary under short notice. This role will also require regular travel to overseas Product Creation Centers multiple times per year.

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

This designer will work daily with Materials Design, Color Design, and Graphic Design, to collaboratively create concepts reviewed by the Design Leadership Team. Beyond the design team, the Expert Designer will also help lead the cross-functional team to maintain a clear and holistic design point of view in the midst of multiple levels of feedback & stakeholders without losing sight of the mission outlined by the brief. Where there is ambiguity, the Expert Designer will work with their team and leadership to sharpen the key needs and next steps for progress.

The Expert Designer will work closely with the Design Director to create model & seasonal design direction that expands upon the seasonal creative vision from the Senior Director. As a model for creative excellence, the Expert Designer will mentor other product design teammates and display the behaviors necessary to rise to the occasion as a team.

This designer always treats others thoughtfully and with respect to create a welcoming and inclusive team environment. The successful candidate will look to build the confidence of teammates in order to create a relationship based on feedback as a cultural norm. The relentless desire to pursue greatness drives the determination and resilience to succeed at this role.

To be considered for this role, please submit a portfolio (as a pdf or include a URL on your resume)

WHAT YOU BRING

Bachelor's Degree in product design or a relevant design degree or a combination of relevant education, experience, and training.

At least 5 years of experience designing and developing innovative footwear products
Experience working with a signature athlete, specifically basketball a plus
Proficient in Photoshop and Illustrator skills
3D design program experience a plus
Top notch ideation & styling
Cobbling and prototyping skills are a plus
3D design program experience are a plus
Strong sketching, illustration, and rendering skills
AI exploration and rendering abilities a plus
Solid knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials
Must be able to generate a broad range of concepts and solutions for each project

Team Requirements:

Positive attitude and energy
Team player
Collaborator and works well with others

We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.

Skills Required

Bachelor's degree in product design, a relevant design discipline, or equivalent education, experience, and training
At least 5 years of experience designing and developing innovative footwear products
Portfolio submitted as a PDF or resume URL
Experience working with a signature athlete, preferably in basketball
Proficiency in Photoshop and Illustrator
Experience with 3D design programs
Strong ideation and styling skills
Cobbling and prototyping skills
Strong sketching, illustration, and rendering skills
AI exploration and rendering abilities
Knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials
Ability to generate a broad range of concepts and solutions
Positive attitude and energy
Ability to work collaboratively as a team player

Nike Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Nike and has not been reviewed or approved by Nike.

Retirement Support — A 401(k) with a company match is complemented by options such as a Mega Backdoor Roth and deferred compensation for eligible earners. Financial coaching and structured savings programs support long-term financial security.
Equity Value & Accessibility — An Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a stock discount sits alongside broad-based equity vehicles like RSUs and non-qualified stock options. These avenues expand wealth-building opportunities beyond base pay.
Parental & Family Support — Paid parental leave includes maternity and paternity time, recently expanded in the U.S. to 16 weeks and extended to part-time retail teammates. Additional supports include childcare assistance at select locations and family-building benefits such as fertility, surrogacy, and adoption.

Learn more about Nike's Compensation & Benefits →

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The Company

HQ: Beaverton, OR

73,000 Employees

Year Founded: 1972

What We Do

At NIKE, Inc., we innovate to serve athletes*. Every teammate - from coder to creator - plays a role in making these athletes’ dreams real. Our tech, data, and digital teams push limits every day, building the future of sport and the tools that drive it. Here, curiosity is fuel. Innovation is the game plan. Different perspectives keep us on the offense. You’ll solve challenges worth tackling, grow fast and belong to a team that backs you to do the right thing. Bring your drive. Bring your bold. Let’s move the world, together. Take your first step at nike.com/careers * If you have a body, you’re an athlete.

Why Work With Us

At NIKE, Inc., your dedication fuels the future of sport. There is a sense of pride that comes from representing an iconic brand and shaping its future. Here, we treat every day as a new opportunity to push boundaries, ask tough questions and share whole-hearted convictions. We are a team – united by the belief that anything is possible.