Lead Footwear Product Designer, Core Footwear

Position Overview

As a Lead Designer in Core Footwear at Nike, you will work with a diverse project team—including engineering, product management, marketing, merchandising, testing, product development, and costing—and collaborate with the design community (industrial designers, materials specialists, color experts, graphic designers, and 3D professionals). Under the guidance of the Core Senior Design Director, you will mentor other designers and present your innovative design concepts to various audiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and category partners in design, development, and merchandising to create groundbreaking footwear across lifestyle and performance categories.
• Present design concepts and key initiatives from ideation through execution, ensuring alignment with price points, timelines, and merchandising needs.
• Mentor fellow designers and act as a catalyst for creative collaboration across multiple design groups.
• Engage in research and problem solving to translate consumer insights into compelling product narratives and solutions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in industrial design or a related field – or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training.
• 5-7 years of experience in designing and developing innovative footwear and other products.
• Proven expertise in technical footwear design, including the ability to create accurate 2D technical drawings (tech packs).
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud applications and a comfort level with digital design tools.
• Strong sketching, illustration, and rendering skills along with a solid understanding of manufacturing processes and materials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with 3D design software (Gravity Sketch, Rhino, Blender, or similar) is a plus.
• Additional skills in cobbling and prototyping are advantageous.
• Previous performance footwear design experience is a plus.
• A positive, energetic personality with proven mentorship and collaboration skills.

Benefits & Perks

• There are two openings for this position.
• Join a creative and innovative culture that values forward-thinking design and industry-leading quality.
• Accommodations: We offer various accommodations (screen readers, sign language interpreters, closed captioning, etc.) to ensure an accessible interview process. If you need assistance, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.

Please attach your portfolio or include a link in your resume.