Senior Performance Footwear Designer, Field Sports

Aquent is thrilled to partner with a globally recognized leader in athletic footwear and apparel, an organization renowned for pushing the boundaries of innovation in sports performance. This company is dedicated to empowering athletes worldwide through groundbreaking product design and engineering, and we are seeking exceptional talent to join their mission. Join a team where your visionary design work will directly enhance athletic capabilities, set new industry standards, and make a tangible difference in performance globally.

Shape the Future of Athletic Performance

Are you ready to revolutionize how athletes perform? We are seeking a visionary and technically adept designer to join a dynamic team at the forefront of innovation. In this pivotal role, your creativity will directly impact the development of cutting-edge footwear for competitive field sports. This is an incredible opportunity to translate deep athlete insights and performance requirements into tangible, high-performance products, driving innovation from initial concept to final creation within a leading industry environment. You will be instrumental in designing products that empower athletes to achieve their peak, leaving a lasting mark on the world of sports.

Your Impact & Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of innovative footwear concepts for cleated and performance-driven athletic products.
• Translate complex athlete needs and performance requirements into compelling, user-centric design solutions.
• Produce detailed sketches, sophisticated renderings, and impactful design presentations using industry-standard tools like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Proactively explore and integrate advanced materials, construction methods, and technical design solutions that elevate product performance.
• Collaborate seamlessly with footwear development, product creation, manufacturing, and diverse cross-functional partners to bring designs to life.
• Independently manage a portfolio of design projects, adeptly adjusting priorities and responding to evolving business needs in a dynamic environment.
• Present design concepts with confidence, effectively incorporating feedback, and strategically advancing ideas toward successful prototyping and development phases.

What You'll Bring

To thrive in this role, you will possess a blend of creative vision, technical expertise, and collaborative spirit.

Required Skills & Experience

• Approximately 7+ years of hands-on footwear design experience, with a strong preference for athletic or performance footwear.
• Exceptional concept development skills, demonstrating the ability to transform creative ideas into technically feasible and market-ready product designs.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Proven experience in designing performance-driven products, coupled with a deep understanding of footwear materials, construction techniques, and functionality.
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex design assignments and deliverables within a fast-paced, evolving product development lifecycle.
• Strong communication, presentation, and cross-functional collaboration skills, essential for working with diverse teams.
• A compelling portfolio showcasing relevant footwear design work is required for consideration.
• A degree in footwear design, industrial design, or a related discipline is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Specialized experience designing cleated footwear for sports such as football, baseball, cricket, soccer, or other related field sports.
• Proficiency in 3D modeling or rendering software.
• Experience utilizing AI visualization tools, such as Vizcom, for concept exploration and rapid iteration.
• Prior experience working within a large, matrixed product creation organization.