Lead 3D Footwear Designer, Digital Design Nike

CDFAM - Computational Design Symposium; Beaverton (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

NIKE, Inc. in Beaverton, OR, seeks a highly skilled 3D design expert with mastery of design tools, manufacturing knowledge, and generative AI workflows. You will drive design innovation, mentor team members, and bridge digital craft excellence with cutting-edge digital tools.

Expect fast-paced projects, collaboration with footwear design and engineering, and leadership in AI-enabled design initiatives. You will lead rapid form studies, create production-ready models, and contribute to tool

Qualifications

• BA/BFA degree or equivalent in related field
• 6+ years of 3D design creation experience
• Expert-level polygon, subD, and NURBS modeling
• Proven AI workflow experience and tools

Responsibilities

• Lead complex footwear projects from concept to manufacturing.
• Drive design direction and rapid form studies for quick explorations.
• Deliver production-ready 3D models and renderings for high-profile projects.
• Collaborate with footwear design, development, and engineering for feasibility.
• Mentor Junior Designers and work on multiple sport teams.
• Create custom tools and workflows to accelerate capabilities.
• Champion AI adoption and integrate AI tools into practice.
• Ensure output aligns with brand protection standards and is consumer-facing ready.

Skills

3D design

Generative AI workflows

Blender

Maya

Rhino

Grasshopper scripting

SubD/Polygon modeling

Rendering

Product development knowledge

Education

BA/BFA in related field

Tools

Blender

Maya

Rhino

Grasshopper

Houdini

Vizcom

3D printing

Job description

Become a Part of the NIKE, Inc. Team

NIKE, Inc. does more than outfit the world’s best athletes. It is a place to explore potential, obliterate boundaries and push out the edges of what can be. The company looks for people who can grow, think, dream and create. Its culture thrives by embracing diversity and rewarding imagination. The brand seeks achievers, leaders and visionaries. At NIKE, Inc. it’s about each person bringing skills and passion to a challenging and constantly evolving game.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

You’re a highly skilled 3D design expert with mastery of design, multiple digital design tools, deep manufacturing knowledge and computational design. You’re a power user of generative AI workflows and actively contribute to tool development. You drive design innovation in hackathons, influence design direction, and serve as a subject matter expert for both craft excellence and emerging digital capabilities, with the ability to work at speed without compromising design quality.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

You’ll tackle the most complex footwear projects while partnering with Footwear Design. You’ll drive design direction, create innovative solutions, mentor team members, and serve as the bridge between digital craft excellence and cutting-edge digital capabilities.

• Unlock the full power of 3D design taking ideas from concept to manufacturing
• Create rapid 3D form studies and design iterations that allow quick explorations, evaluation, and refinement of ideas during concept development
• Deliver production-ready 3D models and visualizations for high-profile projects with new methods of make, collaborating closely with footwear design, development and engineering to ensure feasibility
• Partner closely with a footwear design category team to influence direction, present design solutions, and create refined concepts that accelerate decision-making during co-creation timelines
• Work across multiple dimensions on inline, priority, hackathon, and special quick-strike projects, including high-profile collaborations with heavy leadership scrutiny and compressed timelines
• Create and share custom tools, scripts, and workflows that accelerate the team’s capabilities and establish new best practices
• Serve as subject matter expert with pipeline teams, and development partners to share best practices and understand how 3D tools can be leveraged across the organization
• Champion generative AI adoption by demonstrating advanced workflows, identifying high-impact use cases, and helping others integrate AI tools effectively into their practice
• Partner with the GenAI team, Global Tech, and CP&I to define requirements, test workflows, and provide feedback that helps refine and scale AI-powered design tools for the global design community
• Mentor 3D Designer I and II team members, helping them develop both traditional 3D skills, computational workflows, and proficiency with generative AI workflows
• Ensure all work meets the aligned output strategy and process to deliver and support asset management transition across digital pipelines
• Ensure all work meets brand protection standards and is consumer-facing ready, understanding that your 3D models and renderings may be shared with Brand or become public

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

You’ll be aligned to a specific Sport team, working independently on high-complexity projects and partnering closely with your Sport team’s Footwear Product Designer and Design Director. You will collaborate with senior leadership, development, engineering, and factory partners while also partnering with the GenAI team, Global Tech, and CP&I to refine and scale digital and AI-powered design tools. You’ll mentor junior designers and may work across multiple Sport teams for special initiatives.

WHAT YOU BRING

• BA/BFA degree in related field preferred. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training
• 6+ years of experience in 3D design creation
• Expert-level Polygon, SubD and NURBS modeling across multiple software packages with knowledge of computational design and procedural modeling (Blender, Maya, Rhino, Grasshopper, Houdini etc.), with the ability to move efficiently between modeling methods based on design and speed requirements
• Ability to create rapid form studies and iterative concept models, including custom Grasshopper scripts and computational workflows that enable designers to quickly explore, evaluate, and refine design directions.
• Expertise identifying emerging technologies and rapidly translating them into practical workflows that enhance speed, quality and design excellence
• Deep understanding of product engineering, development requirements, and manufacturing constraints. Professional footwear experience strongly preferred
• Proven track record applying and refining generative AI workflows to deliver innovative design solutions (Vizcom is required and experience with AI-assisted coding workflows is preferred.)
• Hands-on expertise with 3D printing technologies, including optimizing geometry for additive manufacturing and validating prototypes through iterative testing
• Advanced rendering skills with ability to create custom environments, materials, and lighting setups
• Experience collaborating with engineering teams to develop custom tools and workflows
• Portfolio demonstrating ability to design, model, and execute high-quality 3D content with footwear experience preferred

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. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.

NIKE, Inc. is a growth company that looks for team members to grow with it. Nike offers a generous total rewards package, casual work environment, a diverse and inclusive culture, and an electric atmosphere for professional development. No matter the location, or the role, every Nike employee shares one galvanizing mission: To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world.

NIKE, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.