Footwear Material DesignerHybrid

Title: Footwear Material Designer

Location: Beaverton, OR

Duration: 6 months contract

NIKE, Inc. does more than outfit the world's best athletes. It is a place to explore potential, obliterate boundaries and push out the edges of what can be. The company looks for people who can grow, think, dream and create. Its culture thrives by embracing diversity and rewarding imagination. The brand seeks achievers, leaders and visionaries. At Nike, it’s about each person bringing skills and passion to a challenging and constantly evolving game.

The Jordan Design team is inspired by the Greatest of All Time and is focused on continuing to deliver product that is made and engineered to the exact specification of championship athletes. On and off the court, we want our consumers and athletes to feel confident in the way they look and feel, the same way the greatest player who ever played the game felt every time he laced up his J’s. Jordan Design is a high-performance team that works together, pushes the boundaries, and always stays focused on delivering the best product for the consumer. This position comes at a pivotal moment for Jordan Brand as we continue to expand our impact, elevate consumer experiences, and push the edges of creativity and sport culture.

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

As a Footwear Material Designer in Jordan Kids + Core , this individual partners with other design functions—including industrial, color, and graphics—as well as cross-functional teams such as product management, product development, material development, operations, and merchandising. They lead material design for footwear projects from concept through final approval. They also engage with the broader design community and reports directly to the Director, Kids + Core Color + Material Design. 

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Jordan Brand seeks a highly collaborative Footwear Materials Designer 2 with proven experience, strong problem-solving skills, and creativity. The ideal candidate excels at translating consumer insights into material palettes, demonstrates both broad and specialized material expertise, and maintains attention to detail while managing multiple projects. In this role, you will drive an emotional connection to footwear through the use of narrative and storytelling.

Bachelor's degree in Design or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience, and training.

• To be considered, you must submit a creative design portfolio. Please provide website links or attach pdf files when you apply.
• Ideally 5+ years of relevant design experience
• Creative experience : consumer/segment/dimensions
• Familiarity with product manufacturing processes including leather/textiles/trims/plastics/pigments
• Digital design acumen, design-based software a must: Adobe Creative Suite
• Experience with presentation programs: Keynote, PowerPoint are a plus
• Positive, collaborative approach. Receptive to feedback and diverse perspectives.
• Ability to approach projects with passion and influence through teamwork and adaptable to change
• Understand project briefs and budgets, and innovate within parameters
• Deliver on timelines and deadlines with attention to detail and clear communication
• Cobbling and prototyping skills are a plus 

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON

As the Footwear Material Designer 2 on the Kids + Core team, you will bring to life trend-relevant, consumer right narrative-driven concepts by being a material specialist at the product and collection level. This will require driving product excellence through the connection of design, development, and manufacturing. You will develop distinctive material palettes for new products, innovate within the brief and budget, oversee the material journey throughout the product lifecycle, and lead seasonal and updates in partnership with color and graphic design teams. Through research and deep consumer understanding, you will be on the cutting edge of youth culture, trends, fashion, art, design and sports-related products.

Key responsibilities include:

• Collaborating with material development and vendors to ensure all materials meet Nike standards and align with seasonal aesthetics and product performance
• Delivering clear and compelling material solutions for seasonal projects, consistent with creative direction and meeting the project brief
• Upholding high standards for quality and craft, and making necessary adjustments to maintain these standards
• Preparing tech packs, material briefs, and CADs that clearly convey the material palette and product build, while making cost-effective adjustments at each sample stage
• Championing clarity in documentation, presentations, and reporting to support informed decision-making, while following internal processes and goals