Materials Designer 3

Job Title: Materials Designer III
Location: Beaverton, OR
Duration: 09 months
Hybrid: Mon Thurs onsite, Fri remote

Job role:

• Location and/or time zone: PHK, not open to relocation
• Reason for opening: Leave Coverage
• Expected contract length: 6 months
• Team details & who they will work with: Core & Flex Studio Footwear Product Design, Design FW Excellence

Desired Candidate Profile:

• Minimum required years of experience: 10 YOE of technical skill in footwear Materials Design
• Education requirements: Bachelor's or equivalent experience

Must have skills:

• Working on NSW (sportswear), non sneakers, and performance products: knits, leathers, suede, synthetics,
• wovens, - a wide range of material usage
• Is aware of the business and production side of materials
• Experience working with Materials and finishes, can connect development teams with new materials and vendors

Nice to have skills:

• High taste level for lifestyle or performance products.
• Can discuss conceptual to practical, 2D to 3D products, strong story telling
• Portfolio: shows their thought process, where they start and how they got to the end, moodboards

Software/technical requirements:
Previous Client/industry experience preference: Materials Design at highly preferred, if recent

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

As a Material Designer, in FW Material Design, you will collaborate closely with teams across Footwear Industrial Design, Color Design, Graphic Design, Digital Design, Marketing, and Development to bring the seasonal creative direction to life through innovative Footwear Materials Design. This role reports directly to the Running Footwear Materials Design Director

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We re seeking an exceptional Footwear Materials Designer who can blend expertise, creativity, and problem-solving skills to help shape the future of Footwear Materials. This role sits within the Core Footwear group which covers Running, training, basketball, lifestyle and sandals at key competitive price points.

The ideal candidate will be an independent leader, driving material design expressions as well as new creations. They will be a highly creative problem solver who refuses to settle for anything less than the best in design and material innovation - meeting the needs of athletes and consumers both on and off the field. This individual will focus on enhancing the consumer experience through materials that balance performance and trend relevance across a range of products, while fostering a deep emotional connection through compelling storytelling and narrative. A strong passion for advancing the purpose-driven initiatives around sustainability and people is essential.

• Bachelor s degree in Design, Art, or a related field such as Fashion Design, Product Design, Industrial Design, Accessory and Footwear Design, or Textile Design. (Alternatively, a Master s degree in one of these areas) Will Accept any suitable combination of education experience and training.
• 4 years of relevant design experience, demonstrating the ability to push the boundaries of material design and/or proven expertise in Material design, Textile Design or Footwear Design with a focus on upper materials and build.
  " Ability to translate consumer insights into compelling narratives and product executions.
  " Strong capability to leverage manufacturing processes to elevate new ideas, techniques, and materials.
  " Experience building 3D samples and crafting mockups by hand.
  " Highly organized, self-sufficient, and motivated, with a passion for leading teams.
  " Proven experience collaborating and communicating with manufacturing partners to ensure design intent and material execution accuracy.
  " Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite programs, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.
  " Ability to manage and contribute to multiple seasonal projects within tight timelines and limited resources.
  " A strong understanding of the Footwear Product Creation process is a plus.
  " An active, engaged contributor in both the creative process and cross-functional communication.
  " Confident in presenting and articulating design concepts to internal and external audiences.
  " Skilled in collaboration and cross-functional teamwork with key partners.
  " A deep passion for sport culture and the categories in which you design.

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON

Your day-to-day role will involve working across a diverse range of footwear within Create and Expression.

If this sounds like you, you ll be developing technically complex material designs using the latest innovations, while also curating and elevating existing materials for refresh and collection models. Your work will span the entire process, from concepting and ideation to finalizing tech packs, collaborating closely with manufacturing partners, and at times directly engaging with athletes. The daily responsibilities in this role are dynamic, challenging, and deeply rewarding, offering opportunities to make a meaningful impact at every stage of creation.