Generative AI Lead Designer

Nike Inc.; Beaverton (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Nike Inc. is seeking a GenAI designer to bridge creative design and AI tooling in the Design Generative Studio in Beaverton. You will build AI-augmented workflows that fit into the creative process and empower designers worldwide.

You'll collaborate with AI/ML engineers, footwear designers, and global technology teams to translate design needs into technical requirements and deliver production-ready tools that scale across Nike's design community.

Qualifications

• 4-5 years of design experience with a track record in creative technology and tool-building.
• Hands-on experience with node-based visual coding environments for generative AI tooling.
• Strong knowledge of 2D and 3D design workflows; understanding of footwear design is a plus.
• Portfolio showing both creative output and technical/tool-building work.

Responsibilities

• Partner with footwear designers to map current 2D/3D workflows and identify AI-augmentation opportunities.
• Design and prototype generative AI workflows using node-based tools for footwear challenges.
• Collaborate with global AI/ML engineers to translate design needs into technical requirements.
• Scale prototypes toward enterprise-grade tools for designers worldwide.
• Contribute to training materials, workshops, and demonstrations to promote AI adoption.
• Stay updated on generative AI developments and integrate new models and techniques.
• Share learnings across the organization to grow design community capabilities.
• Provide hands-on support during Creative Launch and design reviews to maximize AI tool impact.

Skills

Design experience

Tool-building

Generative AI

2D/3D design workflows

Portfolio demonstrates tool-building

Education

Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Architecture, Fashion Design, or related creative discipline

Tools

Node-based visual coding environments

Job description

WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH

Nike's Design Generative Studio is exploring the future of footwear design at the intersection of creativity and AI technology. You'll partner with world-class designers and engineers globally, reporting to the Generative Studio leadership. Your work will directly impact design teams worldwide as you help build and implement AI-augmented workflows that empower our creative community. You'll collaborate closely with AI/ML engineers, footwear designers, and global technology teams to help transform how Nike approaches product creation.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We're looking for a GenAI designer who is both a strong designer and a hands-on tool builder. You bring solid creative foundations paired with a genuine passion for generative AI, an appetite for learning fast, and a natural drive to share what you build with others. You're not just a tool user - you like rolling up your sleeves to create solutions when existing tools fall short, and you're comfortable working at the intersection of art and technology. This role is a great fit for someone who enjoys bridging experimental AI prototypes and production-ready tools, and who can translate design needs into technical requirements (and back the other way).

• 4-5 years of experience in design, with clear steps toward creative technology and tool-building
• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design, Architecture, Fashion Design, or a related creative discipline. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience, and training
• Hands-on experience with node-based, visual coding environments for generative AI creative tooling, and a track record of building custom workflows within them
• Solid working knowledge of 2D and 3D design workflows and software, with an understanding of footwear design principles (or the ability to quickly pick this up)
• Awareness of additive manufacturing and 3D printing, and how AI-generated concepts can move into physical prototypes.
• Portfolio showing both creative output and technical/tool-building work
• Bonus: experience with spatial computing (AR/VR), web development for rapid prototyping, or active participation in the AI/design community

WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON

You’ll help shape how Nike approaches footwear design by building and refining AI-augmented workflows that fit naturally into our creative process. Alongside the wider team, you’ll create custom tools, support adoption across the design community, and contribute to defining a new creative discipline at Nike.

• Partner with footwear designers to understand existing 2D and 3D creative workflows, and identify high-value opportunities for AI augmentation that enhance rather than replace human creativity
• Design and prototype clean, modern generative AI workflows using node-based visual coding environments, tailored to footwear design challenges, iterating quickly on feedback from the design community
• Collaborate with global AI/ML engineers to accelerate the development and deployment of generative AI solutions, acting as a link between creative and engineering teams and translating design needs into technical requirements
• Help scale prototypes from proof-of-concept toward enterprise-grade tools that serve designers worldwide, working with global technology teams on reliability, performance, and accessibility
• Support AI adoption by contributing to training materials, workshops, and demonstrations that make generative AI tools approachable for designers of all technical levels
• Stay close to developments in generative AI, evaluating and integrating new models and techniques, and helping build a culture of experimentation on the team
• Share learnings and best practices across the organization to grow the wider design community's capabilities and help drive adoption of new methodologies
• Provide hands-on support to design teams during key moments such as Creative Launch, Creative Direction Week, and other design reviews, so teams can get the most out of AI tools when it matters most.

We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed.