At Air Manufacturing Innovation (Air MI), we deliver on Nike's most daring dream: giving every athlete the unparalleled sensation of walking on air. Since Nike introduced the Air sole in 1979, no technology has become more synonymous with Nike than Air. Our teams engineer, make, and perfect Nike's most advanced footwear components. Masters of teamwork, we challenge assumptions in order to get faster, drive efficiency and fine-tune technology to deliver quality performance plastic. At our state-of-the-art facilities located globally, Air MI is taking Air to places that we never thought possible.
WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH
As a Lead Product Development Engineer, the candidate will join the Design Engineering team at Air Manufacturing Innovation as an individual contributor and report to the Senior Manager, Global Design and Development. The role influences technical outcomes across the function without people management authority. The Lead collaborates with Tooling, Manufacturing Engineering, and Manufacturing Operations, Materials, Project Management, Supply Chain, and other partners, and provides technical coaching to Engineer I and Engineer II teammates.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are looking for a Lead Product Development Engineer to join engineers commercializing and manufacturing Nike Air products. This individual contributor role works cross functionally on new products, processes, materials, and continuous improvement while helping less experienced engineers grow their technical skills.
The candidate needs deep expertise in project management, product development, tool design, materials, and machine safety, plus the ability to influence peers and partners without formal authority. The ideal candidate guides Engineer I and Engineer II teammates on methods and priorities, drives alignment on complex work, and communicates clearly to senior stakeholders. This role has no direct people leadership responsibilities: no performance management, staffing decisions, or team management
What You Bring:
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering or other manufacturing related degree, or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training
- Minimum 6 years of related manufacturing experience within a high-volume manufacturing production environment
- Proficiency using CAD for complex product and tooling design. CAD Automation experience is strongly preferred
- Experience using PDM software configuration and in depth understanding of revision control. Teamcenter experience is preferable
- Experience with programming languages for scripting and developing applications for NX Open API sets you apart
- Rhino/Grasshopper experience is preferred
- Validated project management skills and proven ability to influence cross-functional partners without formal authority
- Great teamwork and communication skills; proven ability to coach Engineer I and Engineer II engineers on technical work
- Experience with Six Sigma Tools, Lean Manufacturing methods, and industrial equipment safety is preferred
- A demonstrated understanding of fabrication and tolerancing for machined and additive tooling
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally on occasion
WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON
You will deliver complex part and tooling design while influencing how the team works, without managing people. You will coach Engineer I and Engineer II engineers, drive computational design practices, and partner across Air MI to align technical priorities on your programs and shared team initiatives.
- Lead part and tooling design for new product development and continuous improvement programs
- Drive computational design best practices and contribute to design and tooling operational excellence
- Guide Engineer I and Engineer II engineers on CAD, PDM, tolerancing, and technical problem solving (coaching, not people management)
- Collaborate with Tooling, Manufacturing Engineering, and Manufacturing Operations, Materials, Project Management, Supply Chain, and other partners to align tasks, projects, and technical decisions
- Support development of new Air products and daily manufacturing operations
- Solve problems using limited information and implement solutions while anticipating downstream impacts
- Contribute to documenting and maintaining standard work instructions for the design team
- Influence Air MI partners and leaders on project direction through technical expertise and relationship building, not formal authority
- Use a collaborative approach to build alignment on tough technical and organizational topics (escalate people decisions to people managers)
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 Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering or manufacturing related degree, or equivalent experience
- Minimum 6 years of related manufacturing experience in high-volume production environment
- Proficiency using CAD for complex product and tooling design
- CAD Automation experience
- Experience using PDM software configuration and in-depth understanding of revision control
- Teamcenter experience
- Experience with programming/scripting for NX Open API
- Rhino and Grasshopper experience
- Validated project management skills and ability to influence cross-functional partners without formal authority
- Strong teamwork and communication skills; ability to coach Engineer I and Engineer II teammates
- Experience with Six Sigma tools, Lean Manufacturing methods, and industrial equipment safety
- Demonstrated understanding of fabrication and tolerancing for machined and additive tooling
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally on occasion
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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