Senior Manager, FW Engineering - Global Converse

Converse, Inc.; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 294,000; Full time

Job summary

Converse, Inc. is seeking a Senior Manager for Footwear Product Engineering to lead across categories and drive engineering standards.

You will connect creative vision with manufacturing capability, collaborating with Design, Development, Product Testing and global teams to deliver high‑quality, scalable products. The role requires deep footwear construction expertise, leadership, and the ability to translate technical issues into business decisions.

Qualifications

• 8+ years footwear engineering and manufacturing experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, product design, industrial design, footwear, or related field.
• Demonstrated people leadership and talent‑development capability, with strong analytical thinking.
• Experience working with global Product Creation Centers, factories, suppliers, and cross‑cultural teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead Footwear Product Engineering across assigned categories and franchises.
• Establish technical strategies enabling design and development to scale.
• Partner with Development from concept to commercialization to identify risks.
• Drive product quality, fit, manufacturability and commercialization readiness.
• Advance digital engineering, 3D, and emerging product creation technologies.
• Balance performance with cost, quality, sustainability, and manufacturing capability.

Skills

Footwear engineering

People leadership

Cross-cultural teamwork

Structured problem-solving

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field

Job description

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $139,700.00 in our lowest geographic market to $294,100.00 in our highest geographic market. Actual salary will vary based on a candidate's location, qualifications, skills and experience.

Information about benefits can be found here.

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

This Senior Manager guides the Footwear Product Engineering team across assigned categories and franchises, building engineering capability and technical standards. They work across Design, Development, Product Testing and other technical teams, while strengthening connections among Converse headquarters, Asia Product Creation teams, factories, suppliers, and manufacturing partners.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Converse is looking for a technical footwear Senior Manager who can turn ambitious creative concepts into beautiful, comfortable, high-quality, manufacturable product. This leader connects creative intent and consumer experience with footwear engineering, manufacturing science, product performance, and commercial realities. They bring deep expertise across footwear construction, pattern engineering, lasts, tooling, materials, compounds, and manufacturing, along with a strong understanding of fit, comfort, quality, performance, and product integrity. They are a proven people leader with strong analytical thinking and structured problem‑solving skills who can translate complex technical issues into clear product and business decisions. They collaborate and influence across creative, technical, commercial, and manufacturing functions and bring a curious, innovative, solution‑oriented approach to global product creation.

What you bring:

• 8+ years footwear engineering and manufacturing experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, product design, industrial design, footwear, or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training.
• Demonstrated people leadership and talent‑development capability, supported by strong analytical thinking and structured problem‑solving skills.
• Experience working with global Product Creation Centers, factories, suppliers, and cross‑cultural teams.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

You’ll lead Footwear Product Engineering across assigned categories and franchises, connecting product vision with the engineering required to bring it to life at scale. You’ll build technical capability, solve complex product challenges, strengthen global manufacturing partnerships, and advance the methods and technologies shaping Converse Product Creation.

• Lead and develop the Footwear Product Engineering team, setting clear expectations and strengthening technical standards, capability, and succession.
• Establish technical strategies that enable Design and Development to deliver product intent at scale across pattern engineering, lasts, fit, tooling, compounds, constructions, materials, manufacturing methods, and product performance.
• Partner with Development from early concept through commercialization to identify risks earlier and engineer effective solutions.
• Drive product quality, consistency, fit, comfort, manufacturability, and commercialization readiness while leading complex technical problem‑solving and root‑cause resolution.
• Advance digital engineering, 3D, and emerging product creation technologies, partnering with Product Testing and technical teams to translate testing and consumer insights into engineering improvements.
• Balance product performance and design intent with cost, quality, sustainability, and manufacturing capability while strengthening connectivity among Converse headquarters, Asia Product Creation teams, factories, and suppliers.
• Establish and evolve engineering standards, technical documentation, best practices, and product creation methods while representing Engineering in strategic cross‑functional initiatives.

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.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.