Senior Designer, Footwear Materials

Senior Designer, Materials (Footwear)

Location: Greater Portland Area

Duration: 6-month contract

About the Role

We're looking for a highly creative and consumer-obsessed Senior Materials Designer to help shape the future of footwear within one of the most iconic sportswear brands in the world. This role sits within the Men's & Women's Sportswear Classics Expression team, working on some of the brand's most recognizable lifestyle silhouettes.

You'll play a critical role in driving material innovation, storytelling, and trend-relevant design-elevating the connection between product and consumer through thoughtful, narrative-driven material choices.

What You'll Do

• Design and develop innovative materials for footwear, from concept through production
• Translate consumer insights, cultural trends, and streetwear influences into compelling material stories
• Create mood boards, concept presentations, and seasonal narratives
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Color, Graphics, Digital, and Product teams
• Build and refine samples, including hands-on mockups and 3D material explorations
• Partner with development and manufacturing teams to bring designs to life and solve technical challenges
• Work across multiple projects and seasonal timelines in a fast-paced environment

What You Bring

• 3+ years of experience in Materials Design, Textile Design, Footwear Design, or related field
• Strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end design process and storytelling (concept execution)
• High taste level with a strong understanding of consumer trends, culture, and tactile materials
• Experience working on consumer products at scale
• Ability to clearly articulate your individual contributions and decision-making in past work
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work cross-functionally

Nice to Have

• Background in footwear, apparel, or industrial materials design
• Passion for streetwear and contemporary culture
• Experience with sustainability or innovative materials
• Familiarity with the footwear product creation process

Who You Are

• Creative problem solver with a strong point of view
• Detail-oriented and highly collaborative
• Curious, open-minded, and culturally aware
• Confident communicator who can advocate for design decisions
• Positive, team-first mindset

Why This Role

This is a unique opportunity to work on iconic global products, influence material direction at scale, and collaborate with some of the best creative minds in the industry.

If you're passionate about materials, storytelling, and shaping the future of footwear-we'd love to see your work.

#LI-MM3