Lead Product Developer - Energy Footwear (Multiple Openings)

Nike Inc; Beaverton (OR); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Nike, Inc. in Beaverton, OR, is seeking a Lead Footwear Product Developer to drive concept-to-commercialization of pioneering footwear. You will lead cross-functional teams, manage timelines, and ensure design intent, quality, cost, sustainability, and performance targets are met.

The role demands deep technical knowledge of lasts, uppers, materials, tooling and manufacturing, plus strong leadership and communication across global teams. Travel up to 10% may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or suitable experience in a relevant field.
• 6+ years of footwear product creation experience.
• Background in engineering, material development, and footwear manufacturing is a plus.
• Leads footwear development projects at an accelerated pace.
• Strong knowledge across lasts, uppers, materials, tooling, costing and manufacturing.
• Ability to manage projects, solve problems, and make decisions.
• Effective communication across functions, geographies, and leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead product creation from concept through commercialization.
• Provide project direction within fast-paced development environments.
• Ensure design intent, quality, performance, cost, sustainability, and timing targets.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem-solving

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in marketing, business, materials, engineering or related field

Job description

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

The Footwear Energy Team creates culturally relevant, groundbreaking footwear that surprises our most discerning consumers. The team delivers Nike’s pinnacle expressions across collaborations, fashion collections, and athlete-led initiatives. We routinely partner with athletes and influencers to create performance and lifestyle products through dynamic, evolving processes.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Lead Footwear Product Developer drives product creation from concept through commercialization. This role provides project and process direction within fast-paced, close-to-market development environments while ensuring each project meets design intent, quality, performance, cost, sustainability, and timing expectations.

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, material development, engineering, physical sciences or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training.
• 6+ years of Footwear Product Creation experience
• Background in engineering, material development, and footwear manufacturing is a plus.
• Lead footwear product development projects at an accelerated pace, through all phases of product creation.
• Leverage deep technical knowledge across lasts, uppers, materials, tooling, costing, engineering, testing, and manufacturing.
• Motivated and driven self-starter who can exhibit strong project management, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Communicate effectively across functions, geographies, and leadership levels.
• Demonstrate resilient leadership with high tolerance for ambiguity and changing priorities.
• Build strong partnerships across global, culturally diverse teams.
• Balance strategic thinking with hands‑on execution to deliver product excellence.
• Travel up to 10% as needed.

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

This role sits within Nike’s Product Creation Team—a collective of developers, engineers material experts, and testing analysts obsessed with raising the bar of footwear product excellence. The Lead Developer partners closely with Design, Marketing, Product Creation and Innovation teams, and collaborates daily with both onshore and offshore manufacturing partners to bring bold ideas to life.

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.