Lead, Footwear Design Exploration

Under Armour; Baltimore (MD); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid "UA Give Back" Volunteer Days

Under Armour Merchandise Discounts

Competitive 401(k) plan matching

Maternity and Parental Leave

Health & fitness benefits

Job summary

Under Armour is seeking a Lead, Footwear Design Exploration to identify opportunities and develop exploratory design work that drives future growth of our footwear. Reporting to the Director, Exploratory Design, the role connects athlete needs, market shifts, and new technologies to actionable opportunities.

The position is located in Baltimore with a hybrid schedule (4 days in-office per week) and travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with typically 8 years of relevant experience or Master's degree with typically 6 years of relevant experience or typically 12 years of relevant work experience without degree.
• Experience in Footwear Design, Innovation, Concept Design, Product Creation, or a related creative product field.
• Strong understanding of footwear consumer needs, category trends, product creation processes, and marketplace dynamics.
• Knowledge of footwear construction, materials, manufacturing considerations, and exploratory product creation.
• Strong concept development, visualization, storytelling, and presentation capabilities.
• Ability to translate insights, trends, and athlete needs into compelling design opportunities.
• Experience using AI-enabled design tools, visualization platforms, and emerging creative technologies preferred.
• Strong creative judgment, product sensibility, collaboration skills, and ability to influence cross-functional partners.

Responsibilities

• Identify emerging footwear trends, athlete needs, consumer shifts, cultural influences, and whitespace opportunities.
• Translate insights into concepts, inspiration, visual assets, exploratory prototypes, and actionable product direction for Footwear Design and Product Creation teams.
• Explore new forms, constructions, materials, technologies, and design opportunities while keeping exploratory work connected to athlete relevance and business opportunity.
• Create inspiration and opportunity platforms that support seasonal kickoffs, exploratory initiatives, Greenhouse work, and future product pipeline discussions.
• Partner with Footwear Design, Product Management, Merchandising, Innovation, Development, Testing, strategic factory partners, and materials and technology partners to develop and refine concepts.
• Utilize AI-enabled design tools and visualization technologies to accelerate concept generation, design iteration, creative exploration, and asset creation.
• Maintain ongoing alignment with category teams to ensure exploratory outputs remain practical, relevant, actionable, and connected to Footwear priorities.
• Share insights, concepts, and exploratory outputs that build organizational capability and support a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and continuous learning.

Skills

Footwear Design

Concept Development

Visualization

AI Tools

Cross-functional Collaboration

Storytelling

Presentation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Visualization Platforms

AI-enabled Design Tools

Prototyping

Job description

Values & Innovation

At Under Armour, we are committed to empowering those who strive for more, and the company's values - Act Sustainably, Celebrate the Wins, Fight on Together, Love Athletes and Stand for Equality - serve as both a roadmap for our teams and the qualities expected of every teammate.

Values & Innovation

At Under Armour, we are committed to empowering those who strive for more, and the company's values - Act Sustainably, Celebrate the Wins, Fight on Together, Love Athletes and Stand for Equality - serve as both a roadmap for our teams and the qualities expected of every teammate.

Our Values define and unite us, the beliefs that are the red thread that connects everyone at Under Armour. Our values are rallying cries, reminding us why we're here, and fueling everything we do.

Our pursuit of better begins with innovation and with our team's mission of being the best. With us, you get the freedom to go further - no matter your role. That means developing, delivering, and selling the state-of-the-art products and digital tools that make top performers even better.

Purpose of Role

The Lead, Footwear Design Exploration is responsible for identifying emerging opportunities, creating concepts, and developing exploratory design work that supports the future growth of Under Armour Footwear. Reporting to the Director, Exploratory Design, this role connects athlete needs, marketplace shifts, emerging technologies, cultural influences, and design trends to actionable footwear opportunities. This role is a creator first, developing concepts, inspiration, visual assets, and exploratory product ideas that help Product Creation teams see around corners, challenge convention, and pursue opportunities that can drive future growth and differentiation.

Your Impact

• Identify emerging footwear trends, athlete needs, consumer shifts, cultural influences, and whitespace opportunities that can strengthen Under Armour’s position in the market.
• Translate insights into concepts, inspiration, visual assets, exploratory prototypes, and actionable product direction for Footwear Design and Product Creation teams.
• Explore new forms, constructions, materials, technologies, and design opportunities while keeping exploratory work connected to athlete relevance and business opportunity.
• Create inspiration and opportunity platforms that support seasonal kickoffs, exploratory initiatives, Greenhouse work, and future product pipeline discussions.
• Partner with Footwear Design, Product Management, Merchandising, Innovation, Development, Testing, strategic factory partners, and materials and technology partners to develop and refine concepts.
• Utilize AI-enabled design tools and visualization technologies to accelerate concept generation, design iteration, creative exploration, and asset creation.
• Maintain ongoing alignment with category teams to ensure exploratory outputs remain practical, relevant, actionable, and connected to Footwear priorities.
• Share insights, concepts, and exploratory outputs that build organizational capability and support a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and continuous learning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with typically 8 years of relevant experience or Master's degree with typically 6 years of relevant experience or typically 12 years of relevant work experience without degree.
• Experience in Footwear Design, Innovation, Concept Design, Product Creation, or a related creative product field.
• Strong understanding of footwear consumer needs, category trends, product creation processes, and marketplace dynamics.
• Knowledge of footwear construction, materials, manufacturing considerations, and exploratory product creation.
• Strong concept development, visualization, storytelling, and presentation capabilities.
• Ability to translate insights, trends, and athlete needs into compelling design opportunities.
• Experience using AI-enabled design tools, visualization platforms, and emerging creative technologies preferred.
• Strong creative judgment, product sensibility, collaboration skills, and ability to influence cross-functional partners.

Workplace Location

• Location: This individual must reside within commuting distance from our Baltimore, MD (HQ) office.
• Work Schedule: This role follows a hybrid work schedule, requiring 4 days in-office per week.
• Travel: As needed to support product creation, partner engagement, and exploratory development.

Sponsorship Eligibility: (US ONLY) UA does not offer sponsorship of job applicants for employment-based work authorization for this position at this time.

Relocation

• Relocation may be provided up to a specified amount

Base Compensation

$110,000.00-$150,000.00 USD

Most new hires fall within this range and have the opportunity to earn more over time. Initial placement within the salary range, however, is based on an individual's relevant knowledge, skills and experience for the position. UA is committed to helping our teammates succeed and advance in their careers. Base salary is only one component of our competitive Total Rewards package.

Benefits & Perks

• Paid "UA Give Back" Volunteer Days: Work alongside your team to support initiatives in your local community
• Under Armour Merchandise Discounts
• Competitive 401(k) plan matching
• Maternity and Parental Leave for eligible and FMLA-eligible teammates
• Health & fitness benefits, discounts and resources- We offer teammates across the country programs to promote physical activity and overall well-being

Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity

At Under Armour, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, family or paternal status and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Under Armour seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people representing a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact our Human Resources team via [e-mail].