WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH
As a Lead Designer in Core Footwear, you will be working together with a large project team of different professionals (engineering, product management, marketing, merchandising, testing, product development, costing, etc.), collaborating within the design community (industrial designers, materials, color, graphics, 3D, etc.), and mentoring other designers.
You'll partner with your category team members in design, development and merchandising to ensure feasibility of designs, meeting price point, merchandising needs and product creation timelines. You will work under the direction of our Core Snr Design Director and will present your design concepts to various audiences.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for a Lead Footwear Designer to help lead and develop seasonal design concepts for footwear. Product Design at Nike is a diverse culture of creativity, collaboration and innovative thinking on all levels. This role requires strong passion and knowledge of footwear product creation and the ability to problem solve every step of the way, from concept to final design.
The ideal designer is a curious observer, eager participant and a cultural sponge – seeking insights to solve problems. You leverage your design skills along with highly creative problem solving to create innovative product solutions that elevate the experience and key benefits relevant to the athletes and communities we serve. You will use your design versatility to create visually stunning and industry-leading product through deeply resonating stories – across the wide range of product in the sport performance and sport lifestyle footwear landscape.
Bachelor’s degree in industrial design or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training
5-7 years of relevant work experience in designing and developing innovative footwear and other products
Previous footwear design experience required
Must be able to build accurate 2D technical drawings (tech packs)
Ability to translate consumer knowledge and insights into product solutions and narratives
Experience in technical footwear design – Performance footwear experience design is a plus
Proficient in Adobe CC and comfortable working within new digital spaces
3D design skillset: Gravity Sketch, Rhino, Blender or any 3D software is a plus
Cobbling and prototyping skills are a plus
Strong sketching, illustration, and rendering skills
Solid knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials
Must be able to generate a broad range of concepts and solutions for each project
Experienced with presentation programs: Keynote, Powerpoint, Acrobat, etc.
Positive personality and energy
Interest in mentoring fellow designers
Catalyst to make connections with other Design groups
Motivated and hardworking about bringing others along
Extraordinary teammate, and humble leader
Collaborator with a skill in connecting the dots
Contribute and align to shared team culture and behaviors
Speaks up with courage for self and the team
Open minded, good listener, receptive to candid feedback and diverse points of view
WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON
Core Footwear is responsible for design and creation of price point product across 6 category “Fields of Play”, including running, basketball, training, classics, modern lifestyle and sandals.
As part of the Nike Core Footwear design team, you will work with your Snr. Design Director and category Product Manager partners to create groundbreaking footwear across the various categories of Nike design – from lifestyle to performance. You'll lead or participate in Key Brand and Footwear Initiatives from design through execution. You'll champion a culturally connected vision with emphasis on product design integrity, forward thinking innovation, industry leading quality & product performance. You will bring to life the seasonal creative direction through footwear product design, future forward trends, and innovations.
We expect you to explore new opportunities, take risks, and change the game! In your day to day, you will collaborate with project teammates on researching, gaining insights, problem solving around style, performance and manufacturing, working with athletes, and crafting a vast range of creative solutions that are considerate of cost. With each project, you will also participate and present the work in informal and formal reviews.
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 industrial design or related field (or suitable combination of education, experience and training)
- 5-7 years of relevant work experience in designing and developing innovative footwear and other products
- Previous footwear design experience
- Ability to build accurate 2D technical drawings (tech packs)
- Ability to translate consumer knowledge and insights into product solutions and narratives
- Experience in technical footwear design
- Proficient in Adobe CC
- 3D design skillset (Gravity Sketch, Rhino, Blender or other 3D software)
- Cobbling and prototyping skills
- Strong sketching, illustration, and rendering skills
- Solid knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials
- Ability to generate a broad range of concepts and solutions for each project
- Experienced with presentation programs (Keynote, PowerPoint, Acrobat, etc.)
- Interest in mentoring fellow designers
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Nike Insights
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.
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