Footwear Development Intern ( Los Angeles, CA) at adidas

Wayne State University; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 26,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leadership Speaker Series

Intern Innovation Challenge

Networking opportunities

Social Activities

Job summary

A leading university is offering a 2026 Undergraduate Internship in Footwear Development in Los Angeles, California. Interns will support the development of Performance Basketball footwear, collaborating with designers and engineers. Interested candidates should be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program and able to work full-time during the summer. The internship focuses on innovation in footwear and offers a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Passion for footwear development and performance basketball products.
• Strong organizational and communication skills are essential.
• Availability for a 12-week full-time internship program.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development of Basketball footwear across multiple projects.
• Support sample management throughout the development process.
• Participate in fit sessions and athlete feedback reviews.

Skills

Passion for footwear development

Strong organization

Communication skills

Problem-solving abilities

Interest in footwear construction

Ability to multitask

Education

Currently enrolled in an undergraduate program

Tools

Illustrator

Excel

Job description

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2026 US UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIP

Footwear Development

Creating the future of sport inspires our work every single day. We’re always on the lookout for talented new students. Always learning, always improving. Curiosity keeps us growing both as a company and as individuals. Come test your strengths, broaden your skills, share your input, and pursue your passion with an internship at adidas.

Team Description

We are looking for a driven and detail‑oriented Basketball Footwear Development Intern to support our team in creating the next generation of Performance Basketball footwear. You’ll support our team in bringing concepts to life by collaborating with Developers, Designers, and Product Marketing—from early prototyping through final sample rounds. This role is ideal for someone passionate about Footwear creation, Performance innovation, Materials, and learning hands‑on development skills.

Key Accountabilities

• Assist in the development of Basketball footwear across multiple seasonal and innovative projects.
• Support sample management: tracking, organizing, measuring, and reviewing samples throughout the development process.
• Participate in fit sessions, wear testing, and athlete feedback reviews, documenting insights and next steps.
• Help with material research, competitive benchmarking, and construction analysis to support decision‑making.
• Collaborate with Design, Engineering, Marketing, and Sourcing to ensure teams stay aligned.
• Assist in communication with factories and suppliers to track updates, revisions, and sample expectations.
• Maintain project timelines, documentation, and internal tools to keep development on track.
• Support day‑to‑day operational tasks essential to the footwear creation process.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Passion for footwear development, performance basketball products and innovation.
• Strong organization, communication, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Interest in footwear construction or materials.
• Ability to multitask while maintaining a high level of detail.
• Experience with Illustrator or Excel is a plus, but eagerness to learn is essential.
• Curious, proactive, and motivated to learn.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate program at a College/University
• Anticipated graduation date is between December 2026 and August 2027
• Eligible to work in the US without restrictions.
• Available to participate in our 12‑week full‑time internship program from May/June to August/September 2026

Application Task | adidas 1-Pager

In early 2024, we began the three chapter journey into the future, centered on our new brand campaign, You Got This. "You Got This" is designed to motivate everyone to overcome pressure and realize their personal potential.

Instead of a cover letter, please submit a 1-page PDF answering the following prompt: Show us who you are and what “You Got This” means to you. This is your chance to think outside the box, show adidas your authentic self and what makes you passionate about joining the Brand. The only requirement is that the adidas 1‑Pager is submitted as a PDF. It can be in any format such as print, visual, written, digital, a link, etc.

2026 Internship Program Overview

The Internship Program includes the following elements to round out the work you do with your team on a day‑to‑day basis:

• Intern Orientation
• Leadership Speaker Series
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
• Intern Innovation Challenge
• Social Activities
• Networking

Work Culture

• We operate in a hybrid work environment, with 4 days in office and 1 day remote.
• Though our teammates hail from all corners of the world, our working language is English.
• Diversity and Inclusion at adidas means championing individual uniqueness and cultivating a culture of belonging in which everyone can create at the best. We embrace diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and seek to create a workforce that reflects our consumers and communities.
• The base pay for this position is $32/hour.

Note

The application for a 2026 internship will close on Thursday, January 8th at 11:59pm PST. We will not accept any late applications. You will receive confirmation that your application has been received, and we will communicate your status by the end of February. Thank you for your patience while we review your candidacy!