Senior Footwear Designer

Sunrise Systems, Inc.; Beaverton (OR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Sunrise Systems, Inc. seeks an Expert Designer, Footwear for Jordan Basketball to lead new creation design for performance footwear. You will collaborate with Materials, Color, and Graphic Design to deliver concepts reviewed by Design Leadership, and mentor teammates while maintaining a clear design point of view.

The role partners with a Design Director to shape seasonal direction and drive innovative footwear concepts, balancing briefs with creative excellence across multiple projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in product design or a relevant design field.
• 10+ years of experience designing and developing innovative footwear products.
• Experience working with a signature athlete, basketball a plus.
• Proficient in Photoshop and Illustrator skills.
• Strong ideation, styling, and rendering abilities.
• Solid knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials.
• Ability to generate a broad range of concepts and solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead design for Jordan Basketball footwear with emphasis on performance and style.
• Collaborate with Materials, Color, and Graphic Design to align concepts with brief.
• Mentor and lead cross-functional teams while maintaining design vision.
• Create model and seasonal design direction expanding the creative vision.

Skills

Graphic design

Sketching

Rendering

Typography

Color theory

Brand identity

Concept ideation

Concept development

Education

Bachelor's Degree in product design or design

Tools

Photoshop

Illustrator

Miro

3D design programs

Job description

• We are looking for an Expert Designer, Footwear for Jordan Basketball, that will be responsible for new creation design for performance footwear of the Jordan Brand.

What You Will Work On:

• Using a strong understanding of lateral sport performance, construction and manufacturing experience, and both business and design needs--this candidate will continually raise the bar in the performance and style of Jordan Basketball footwear. This designer demonstrates the ability to understand subcultures linked to the world of basketball, as well as provide a point of view for distinction from trends & competitors.

Who You Will Work With:

• This designer will work daily with Materials Design, Color Design, and Graphic Design, to collaboratively create concepts reviewed by the Design Leadership Team. Beyond the design team, the Expert Designer will also help lead the cross-functional team to maintain a clear and holistic design point of view in the midst of multiple levels of feedback & stakeholders without losing sight of the mission outlined by the brief. Where there is ambiguity, the Expert Designer will work with their team and leadership to sharpen the key needs and next steps for progress.
• The Expert Designer will work closely with the Design Director to create model & seasonal design direction that expands upon the seasonal creative vision from the Senior Director. As a model for creative excellence, the Expert Designer will mentor other product design teammates and display the behaviors necessary to rise to the occasion as a team.
• This designer always treats others thoughtfully and with respect to create a welcoming and inclusive team environment. The successful candidate will look to build the confidence of teammates in order to create a relationship based on feedback as a cultural norm. The relentless desire to pursue greatness drives the determination and resilience to succeed at this role.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor's Degree in product design or a relevant design degree or a combination of relevant education, experience, and training.
• At least 10 years of experience designing and developing innovative footwear products
• Experience working with a signature athlete, specifically basketball a plus
• Proficient in Photoshop and Illustrator skills
• Top notch ideation & styling
• Cobbling and prototyping skills are a plus
• 3D design program experience are a plus
• Strong sketching, illustration, and rendering skills
• AI exploration and rendering abilities a plus
• Solid knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials
• Must be able to generate a broad range of concepts and solutions for each project

Team Requirements:

• Positive attitude and energy
• Team player
• Collaborator and works well with others

Desired Candidate Profile:

• Minimum required years of experience: 10+ yrs
• Education requirements: No

Must have skills:

• Expert-level graphic design skills, including ideation, design development, specification, and final execution, with a strong understanding of typography, color theory, brand identity, and visual systems across product and storytelling platforms.
• A positive attitude while working on projects with challenging briefs and through ambiguity to successful completion.
• Experience working across multiple timelines and levels of complexity, effectively prioritizing workload across short- and long-term projects while maintaining creative excellence and attention to detail.

Nice to have skills:

• Cobbling and prototyping skills are a plus
• 3D design program experience are a plus
• Strong sketching, illustration, and rendering skills
• AI exploration and rendering abilities a plus
• Solid knowledge of manufacturing processes and materials
• Must be able to generate a broad range of concepts and solutions for each project

Software/technical requirements:

• Proficient in Photoshop and Illustrator skills, Miro