New

Senior Footwear Designer

Columbia Sportswear
life insurance, 401(k)
United States, Oregon, Portland
Feb 26, 2025
This is a hybrid role based out of our HQ office near Portland, Oregon. The expectation is for employees to be in-office 3 days or more per week, depending on business need. This in-office expectation is subject to change at business discretion. ABOUT THE POSITION As a Senior Footwear Designer, you will work closely with Design Director and Product Line Management to design and develop high-performance collections, overseeing concept development, technical detailing, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure innovative, functional designs that align with brand vision and meet market demands, while staying at the forefront of performance technology and material advancements. HOWYOU'LLMAKE A DIFFERENCE Conceptual Design: Develop and execute innovative footwear concepts for Performance Outdoor categories based on deep understanding of athlete needs, market trends, and brand identity. Technical Design: Create detailed technical drawings, specifications, and tech packs to communicate design intent clearly to development teams and manufacturers. Material Innovation: Research and incorporate new materials and technologies to enhance performance attributes like cushioning, stability, breathability, and durability. Collaboration: Partner closely with product development, engineering, marketing, and merchandising teams to ensure design feasibility, alignment with product strategy and timely delivery. Trend Analysis: Monitor industry trends, competitor landscape, and consumer insights to inform design decisions and stay ahead of the market. Prototype Development: Lead the creation and evaluation of prototypes, providing feedback to refine design and functionality. Presentation and Communication: Present design concepts to key stakeholders, clearly articulating the design rationale and key performance benefits. Project Management: Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget constraints. REQUIRED SKILLS and QUALIFICATIONS: Design Expertise: Proven experience in designing high-performance footwear with a strong understanding of biomechanics, foot anatomy, and performance needs. Technical Skills: Proficiency in 2D and 3D design software (e.g. Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Gravity Sketch, AI tools) to create detailed sketches and technical drawings. Material Knowledge: Extensive knowledge of footwear materials, including their performance characteristics and manufacturing processes. Collaboration Skills: Excellent ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams to bring designs to life. Communication Skills: Clear and concise communication of design concepts to both technical and nontechnical audiences. Possess well-developed ability to read, write and speak English. Trend Awareness: Deep understanding of current and emerging trends in the performance footwear market. Degree/Experience: Bachelor's degree in Footwear Design, Industrial Design, or related fields with 5-8 years of experience in performance footwear design, preferably at a senior level. DESIGN PORTFOLIO LINK OR ATTACHMENT REQUIRED ON RESUME OR APPLICATION. #LI-JC1 #Hybrid This job description is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities, but constitutes a general definition of the position's scope and function in the company. Columbia Sportswear is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. The Know Your Rights poster is available here: https://www.eeoc.gov/poster The pay transparency policy is available here: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OFCCP/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf Columbia Sportswear is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please notify your recruiter. At Columbia Sportswear Company, we're proud to offer regular full-time employees a benefits package that includes a variety of services and products to help make your life and work more rewarding. Our benefit programs contribute to overall employee well-being by aligning those programs with the fundamental elements of well-being: physical, social/emotional, financial, career and community. Benefits that can protect your family's financial future and help you save money through our 401k plan plus a generous company match. Columbia offers medical, dental, vision, life Insurance, disability, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, and an assortment of voluntary benefit offerings (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and legal services). In addition, Columbia offers EAP + which is free and confidential 24/7/365 counseling services. We have extensive wellness benefits, employee discounts and a generous time off program available. If you need an accommodation/adjustment to successfully complete and submit your application, please reach out to AskHR@columbia.com with the Subject: Applicant Assistance Requested.