Footwear Developer I

Brooks Sports Inc; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid time off

Annual bonus

Product discounts

Job summary

Brooks Sports Inc in Seattle seeks a Footwear Developer I to support inline and SMU products, working with senior developers, engineers, designers, and global partners from concept to sample tracking, influencing fit, feel, and ride.

This growth-focused role is ideal for someone early in their development career, highly collaborative, and detail-oriented, with exposure to all aspects of product creation and opportunities to travel internationally.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Biomechanics, Design, Kinesiology, or another technical field; equivalent experience also considered.
• 3+ years in footwear, apparel, or consumer goods; 1+ years in athletic footwear development preferred.
• Strong collaboration and cross-functional teamwork across disciplines and time zones.
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to clarify complex details.
• Willingness to travel internationally to factory locations.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of new uppers, SMUs, and color/material updates with senior team members and Asia-based developers.
• Manage full sample process across projects; track, receive, distribute, review, and communicate across teams to ensure accuracy and alignment.
• Collaborate with Product Line Management, Design, Asia Development, and Engineering to ensure your products deliver on Fit, Feel, and Ride.
• Own testing, validation, and feedback loops for your designated projects to ensure product quality and performance integrity throughout the creation cycle.

Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Attention to detail

Microsoft Office

Illustrator

PLM systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Bachelor's degree in Biomechanics

Bachelor's degree in Design

Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology

Tools

FlexPLM

Illustrator

PLM systems

Job description

Who We Are:

At Brooks, we believe movement is the key to feeling more alive. That’s why we’re driven to create gear and experiences that take people to the place that makes them feel more alive — whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line.

Everyone who works at Brooks is propelled by a company culture that sparks excitement, fuels collaboration, inspires creativity, and ignites innovation.

Our brand values help bond us together and drive our success:

• Runner First
  • We act in the best interest of the runner
• Word is Bond
  • We do what we say we’ll do
• Champion Heart
  • We give our all in everything we do
• There is no “I” in Run
  • We stay generous with our humanity
• Keep Moving
  • We find ways to move every day, because joy is kinetic!

We welcome everyone from every walk of life looking to inspire others through the power of movement - because we’re all moving towards something. Let’s run there.

Your Job:

As a Footwear Developer I, you’ll play a hands-on role in supporting the creation and execution of seasonal inline and SMU (special make-up) products. You’ll work closely with senior developers, engineers, designers, and global partners to bring footwear projects to life from concept and material updates to fit validation and sample tracking.

This is a growth-focused role ideal for someone early in their development career who’s eager to learn, highly collaborative, and detail-oriented. You’ll gain exposure to all aspects of the product creation process while making a tangible impact on product quality, cost, and performance.

Ready to build the future of performance footwear, one project at a time? Join us and take your first step toward becoming a technical expert, creative thinker, and trusted contributor in the world of footwear creation.

Brooks offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in performance product development by working with industry experts, within a culture that values growth, curiosity, and collaboration. You'll receive competitive compensation and global exposure, allowing you to make a significant impact as a creative thinker and trusted contributor in the world of footwear creation.

Responsibilities:

Product Creation

• Lead the execution of new uppers, SMUs, and color/material updates in partnership with senior team members and Asia-based developers.
• Manage the full sample process for your projects; track, receive, distribute, review, and communicate across teams to ensure accuracy and alignment.
• Collaborate with Product Line Management, Design, Asia Development, and Engineering to ensure your products deliver on our brand promise of Fit, Feel, and Ride.

Engineering & Commercialization

• Participate in development of new tooling projects alongside more senior developers and engineers, gaining exposure to mold and outsole engineering.
• Maintain technical packages, including BOMs, blueprints, and upper patterns, ensuring accuracy and clarity for factory partners.
• Own testing, validation, and feedback loops for your designated projects to ensure product quality and performance integrity throughout the creation cycle.

Drive Process & Communication

• Lead multiple small- to mid-size projects with accountability for timelines, costing targets, and production readiness.
• Communicate product specifications and changes clearly to global teams to ensure alignment on performance and manufacturability.
• Identify process improvements and implement best practices in data accuracy, sample management, and cross-functional coordination.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Participate in Asia development trips (2–4 times annually) to collaborate directly with factories and suppliers on construction, quality, and sampling.
• Continuously evolve your knowledge of vendor capabilities, lead times, material behavior, and manufacturing processes.
• Stay informed on market trends, consumer needs, and sustainability opportunities that influence future product creation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Biomechanics, Design, Kinesiology, or another technical field; equivalent experience also considered.
• 3+ years’ experience in footwear, apparel, or consumer goods; 1+ years in athletic footwear development preferred.
• Curiosity and drive to learn the craft of footwear creation from fit and function to construction and costing.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work cross-functionally with teammates across disciplines and time zones.
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to clarify complex details.
• High level of organization, follow-through, and accountability
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office, Illustrator, and PLM systems (FlexPLM experience a plus)
• Detail-obsessed but able to connect the dots across the product lifecycle.
• Enthusiastic about performance product, innovation, and continuous improvement
• Willingness to travel internationally to factory locations as needed.
• A passion for movement and empathy for the runner, no matter your pace or background

Compensation: The pay range for this position, based out of the Brooks Seattle HQ, is $80,175 -$120,315 per year. Base pay offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Other:

Brooks is proud to offer a robust benefits package to our employees and their families!

Benefits - Including medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance, HSA and employer contribution, FSA, family & fertility assistance, 401K Savings Plan and match, employee assistance program, and transportation assistance.

Paid Time Off - Brooks offers generous time off, including five weeks of paid time off, eleven paid holidays, and paid sick and parental leave.

Bonus - In addition to base pay, Brooks employees may also be offered an annual bonus based on company performance.

Perks- Including product discounts, employee recognition, fitness discounts, volunteer and donation benefits.

Location - You will spend 4 days per week in our Seattle offices, as we believe our organization flourishes when connections, collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and celebrations happen in person.

At Brooks, we celebrate diversity & equity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and encourage people of all backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills to apply. Brooks is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, two-spirit identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, the presence of a physical, mental, or sensory disability, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), caste, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking, HIV or Hepatitis C infection, political ideology, use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability, or on any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, or any other non-merit based factors.