Senior Designer, Footwear Materials

Overview

Placement Type:

Temporary

Salary:

$38.40-42.67 Hourly

up to $42.67/hr

Start Date:

Jun 4, 2026

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