Sr Designer, Athletic and Lifestyle Footwear (Men's & Ladies)

About Us

American Exchange Group is an industry leader in fashion accessory products and brand management. By facilitating distribution to major retailers internationally for their globally recognized brands, custom private label brands, and exclusive licensed brands-including footwear, tech wearables, watches, jewelry, handbags, fashion accessories, home, and beauty-American Exchange Group raises the bar by disrupting the status quo with value and quality, while staying at the forefront of trends.

Joining American Exchange Group means being part of a dynamic and diverse team where your contributions drive real impact-and where there's always room to grow. If you're looking to be part of a company that blends heritage with hustle, we're excited to meet you.

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Location: Onsite 5 days a week at our NYC HQ

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly creative and commercially driven Senior Footwear Designer to help shape the future of a newly acquired footwear brand across lifestyle, casual, and sneaker categories. This role requires a strong design point of view, deep understanding of materials and construction, and the ability to translate concepts into innovative, market-relevant products that align with the brand vision.

The ideal candidate combines strong creative instincts with technical expertise, thrives in a collaborative environment, and has experience managing projects from concept through production.

Key Responsibilities

• Design innovative lifestyle and sneaker footwear concepts aligned with brand direction and market trends
• Create detailed sketches, renderings, and technical drawings using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
• Develop seasonal concepts through trend research, consumer insights, and competitive analysis
• Partner closely with Product Development, Merchandising, and Sales teams throughout the design process
• Build and maintain detailed tech packs, specifications, and construction documents for factory execution
• Collaborate directly with overseas factories to communicate design intent, troubleshoot issues, and ensure product accuracy
• Review and correct footwear patterns, prototypes, and fit issues throughout development stages
• Source and develop materials, components, colors, and finishes appropriate for lifestyle and performance footwear
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting seasonal deadlines
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and creative direction within the design team
• Participate in fittings, line reviews, and cross-functional presentations

Qualifications

• 5-10+ years of footwear design experience within sneaker, lifestyle, or casual footwear categories
• Strong hand sketching ability and visual storytelling skills
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
• Strong understanding of footwear construction, materials, pattern engineering, and manufacturing processes
• Experience creating specs, tech packs, and detailed factory-ready documentation
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with overseas factories and development partners
• Excellent organizational and project management skills
• Strong Microsoft Excel proficiency
• Ability to work cross-functionally with Product Development, Merchandising, and Sales teams
• Strong leadership, communication, and presentation skills
• Passion for product innovation, sustainability, and modern lifestyle design

Preferred Experience

• Background in premium lifestyle or performance footwear
• Experience working with global factories and international development timelines
• Understanding of sustainable materials and construction methods
• Experience leading or mentoring junior designers

What We're Looking For

A designer who can balance creativity, commercial awareness, and technical execution - someone who understands sneaker culture and modern lifestyle design while helping evolve the future of comfort-driven footwear.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with company match
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Half Day Fridays with shortened hours during both Summer and Winter seasons
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Tax-free commuter benefits
• Exclusive employee merchandise discounts

Salary: The anticipated base salary is $100k-$130k annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, internal equity, and location.

This position description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with this position. While this description is intended to accurately reflect the position's activities and requirements, management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties as necessary. The compensation package is dependent on a number of factors, including, for example, experience, education, market data, and business needs.