WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH
This role sits within Nike’s Category Engineering team—a collective of developers, engineers and innovators obsessed with raising the bar of footwear product excellence. The Lead Engineer reports into Category leadership, partners closely with Design, Marketing, Product Creation and Innovation teams, and collaborates daily with both onshore and offshore engineering partners to bring bold ideas to life.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Nike is looking for a Senior Footwear Product Engineer who thrives at the intersection of creativity and precision. This person transforms concepts into commercially successful products, driving footwear from idea to manufacturing with an unwavering focus on quality, cost, performance, and craft. They think holistically, understanding how materials, construction methods, tooling, manufacturing processes, and athlete needs come together to create exceptional product.
The ideal candidate brings a strong engineering point of view, uses data to inform decisions, and confidently navigates trade-offs to move teams forward. They excel in ambiguous environments, solving complex challenges with clarity, curiosity, and speed. A natural collaborator, they build strong relationships across functions, geographies, and external partners while influencing decisions that elevate product quality, consistency, and innovation. They are passionate about continuous improvement and committed to delivering scalable engineering solutions that bring design intent to life.
- 3–4+ years of experience in footwear engineering, product development, or a related field
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Product Creation, or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training
- Experience with footwear construction, materials, tooling, and manufacturing processes preferred
- Proficiency with technical drawings, 2D/3D CAD tools, and digital product creation systems preferred
- Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional teams and manufacturing partners through product creation and commercialization
WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON
You will drive product excellence from concept through commercialization, combining athlete insights, engineering expertise, and craftsmanship to create innovative footwear at scale. Working across global teams and manufacturing partners, you'll solve complex challenges, improve processes, and ensure products deliver against performance, quality, and cost expectations.
- Review physical prototypes, technical packages, digital drawings, and 3D files across development milestones to ensure product accuracy, quality, and manufacturability
- Partner closely with Design, Product Management, and Development teams to refine constructions, materials, and engineering standards
- Collaborate with Product Creation Centers, the Program Management Office (PMO), and manufacturing partners to align execution strategies and engineering best practices
- Translate consumer insights and design intent into scalable engineering solutions that can be successfully manufactured across regions
- Support costing initiatives by identifying efficiencies that improve value without compromising quality, performance, or craftsmanship
- Lead engineering decisions throughout the product lifecycle, balancing technical requirements, business needs, and consumer expectations
- Help establish and evolve engineering best practices that elevate footwear quality, consistency, and product creation excellence across categories and geographies
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
- 3–4+ years of experience in footwear engineering, product development, or a related field
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Product Creation, or a related field; suitable combinations of education, experience, and training may be accepted
- Experience with footwear construction, materials, tooling, and manufacturing processes
- Proficiency with technical drawings, 2D/3D CAD tools, and digital product creation systems
- Ability to influence cross-functional teams and manufacturing partners through product creation and commercialization
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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