Principal Materials Architect, Footwear

KEEN; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 167,000 - 176,000; Full time

Job summary

KEEN seeks a Principal Materials Developer in Portland to lead enterprise materials strategy, development, and commercialization for footwear. You will align design intent with sustainability, quality, and manufacturing readiness across regions, acting as a senior technical authority without direct reports.

You will mentor others, set material standards, and drive complex initiatives with partners in Product, Design, Innovation, Sustainability, Sourcing, and Manufacturing, ensuring scalable,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Materials Engineering, Textiles Engineering, Product Development, or related field required.
• Minimum ten years of materials development experience across footwear programs.
• Experience influencing global cross-functional teams and working with suppliers, tanneries, mills, laboratories, and manufacturing partners.

Responsibilities

• Define enterprise materials strategies, metrics, and governance.
• Lead development and commercialization of high-complexity materials.
• Set global material standards, libraries, and data governance (Centric PLM).
• Create multi-season material roadmaps aligned with business objectives.
• Provide technical governance across the materials development process.
• Partner with leaders across Product, Design, Innovation, Sustainability, and Sourcing.
• Develop and communicate material performance standards and testing protocols.
• Influence cross-functional teams to improve product differentiation, quality, and manufacturability.

Skills

Footwear materials

Materials development

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

PLM systems

CAD tools

Executive communication

Global supply chain

Education

Bachelor's degree in Materials Engineering/related field

Tools

PLM systems

CAD software

Materials data tools

Job description

KEEN seeks a Principal Materials Developer in Portland to lead enterprise materials strategy, development, and commercialization for footwear. You will align design intent with sustainability, quality, and manufacturing readiness across regions, acting as a senior technical authority without direct reports.

You will mentor others, set material standards, and drive complex initiatives with partners in Product, Design, Innovation, Sustainability, Sourcing, and Manufacturing, ensuring scalable,