Altra: Senior Footwear Designer

At Altra, we are on a never-ending journey to seek out opportunities to unlock potential in ourselves and others and to create a more diverse and inclusive running community. When we’re all working together as the best versions of ourselves, we can feel empowered both individually and as a community. So, before we get to the job details, take a minute to learn a little more about us – our values and our culture. If you can see yourself working side-by-side with a team of people driven to discover more about ourselves and the world around us, Altra just may be the place for you. To learn more about our values and our culture, visit Altra Careers or Position: Sr. Concept Footwear Designer, Innovation What will you do? As a Senior Concept Footwear Designer at Altra, you won’t just design shoes — you’ll help define what’s next in performance running. You’ll work alongside a cross-functional team of developers, materials experts, color designers, product managers, engineers, and testing specialists to create what does not yet exist. This is a role for someone driven to remove boundaries, embrace risk, and push beyond what can currently be seen or done. You’ll collaborate closely with the Altra Innovation Design Team and tap into the deep expertise of the broader VF Design community. You’ll have access to Altra’s product and leadership teams, as well as a powerful global network of multidisciplinary design peers and leaders across the VF matrix. This role reports directly to the Director of Footwear Design. We’re looking for someone with a proven track record of independently creating compelling, industry-leading technical-performance footwear designs that stand out for both function and aesthetic innovation. You believe true performance innovation happens at the intersection of art and science, where biomechanics, materials, and engineering meet form, emotion, and visual storytelling. You thrive in ambiguity, make smart, calculated bets, and are energized by solving problems others haven’t solved yet. From early ideation and experimentation through prototyping and commercialization, you know how to shepherd breakthrough concepts into a real, athlete-ready product. You inspire confidence, influence across functions, and build strong, trust-based collaborative relationships. You bring a positive, resilient mindset aligned with Altra’s Challenger Spirit and Spirit of Discovery — someone who pushes through roadblocks and brings clarity where others see uncertainty. What do you need to succeed? We value diverse paths and perspectives. While formal education in a related field is appreciated, we are most interested in your 5–7 years of experience designing and developing cutting edge performance footwear (and associated products). To thrive in this role, you’ll bring: A self-driven, problem-solving mindset with strong personal accountability Deep curiosity and a passion for continuously elevating your footwear design craft Comfort mentoring and supporting emerging designers The ability to juggle multiple projects, shift priorities quickly, and excel in a fast-paced environment A genuine passion for technical performance footwear, running, biomechanics, and human performance — with an appreciation for how art and science come together in great product design Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally, sometimes for extended periods Flexibility to work extended hours when needed to meet key milestones You will also: Create brand-new concepts that expand what Altra can be, and translate them into footwear that aligns with seasonal vision and brand DNA Communicate clearly and proactively with Innovation Design, Product Development, and Product Management to ensure alignment and successful delivery Confidently pitch and sell product ideas, presenting design concepts at key milestones to internal and external leaders Bring hands-on cobbling and prototyping skills (a plus) Have experience with 3D design tools (a plus, not required) Demonstrate strong sketching, illustration, and rendering skills, and be able to create detailed 2D tech packs in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, etc.) Possess expert knowledge of performance footwear materials and manufacturing processes Be comfortable using presentation tools such as Keynote, PowerPoint, and Acrobat You don’t have to be a runner — but you do need to be excited by the sport and endlessly curious about how athletes move and perform. You bring deep knowledge of both technical and non-technical footwear constructions across men’s and women’s products, along with a strong understanding of the footwear design and development process. You obsess over performance details and are driven to make every product better — ensuring Altra’s legendary fit and performance continue to evolve. Beyond design, you’ll provide leadership within the team, sharing your expertise and raising the level of those around you. This role helps shape the future of Altra by collaborating closely with Asia manufacturing partners and athletes in the field. Come build what’s next with us — where art, science, and performance meet. What do we offer you? At Altra, we know you expect as much from us as we do from you. That is why we make a commitment to support and grow our people. We offer extensive development and growth opportunities for your current and future positions, a competitive compensation package, and a strong benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and 401(k). Our commitment extends beyond this and into your daily work life. We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive culture based on respect, connection, and authenticity. Our focus on DEI is at the foundation of who we are and what we do. To learn more about Altra’s benefits package, follow this MyVFBenefits.com and click “Looking to Join VF”. To learn more about Altra’s Diversity and Inclusion efforts, go to Now WE have a question for YOU. Are you in? Hiring Range: $96,768.00 USD - $120,960.00 USD annually Incentive Potential: This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility for this position will be provided during the recruiting and interview process. Benefits at VF Corporation: You can review a general overview of each benefit program offered, including this year's medical plan rates on and by clicking Looking to Join VF? Detailed information on your benefits will be provided during the hiring process. Please note, our hiring ranges are determined and built from market pay data. In determining the specific compensation for this position, we comply with all local, state, and federal laws. At VF, we value a diverse, inclusive workforce and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact us at View email address on click.appcast.io. VF will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals to the extent required by applicable law. Pursuant to all applicable local Fair Chance Ordinance requirements, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, VF will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. From inspiration to innovation to an evolution. Altra Running was founded on an innovative approach to running shoes. An approach that took us from the back room of a specialty running store to the front of the pack on roads and trails across the world. An approach that has kept us going for a decade and aims to keep you running for a lifetime. And an approach that ultimately inspired—and continues to inspire—every single Altra shoe. Naturally, Altra Co-Founders Brian Beckstead and Golden Harper met on the first day of cross-country practice their sophomore year at Orem High School in Utah. From there, it was off to the races, both literally and figuratively. When it comes to shoes, innovative thinking runs in the Harper family. So it was no surprise when Golden toasted a pair of shoes, heating them just enough to be able to remove the heel and form a Balanced Cushioning platform. What was surprising was the result: For the first time in his life, Golden was wearing a running shoe that he felt wasn’t obstructing the way he ran. Wide-lacing shoes inspired a FootShape™ design. A household toaster oven inspired Balanced Cushioning. FootShape™ and Balanced Cushioning inspired 1,000s of people to purchase brand new, unmodified shoes and take them to a shoe cobbler to hack them up and balance them out. That’s the foundation of Altra Running: innovative, disruptive thinking. We’re going to continue to innovate. Continue to inspire that break-free feeling of getting out there, far from expectation and constraint. We will continue to earn new perspectives by reaching new heights. We will continue to blaze trails and explore new roads. And continue to show up unapologetically ourselves as we encourage all who run to do the same. Join us. VF Diversity Vision Statement VF is committed to creating an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the differences among all of our associates, customers, suppliers and the communities in which we live and conduct business. The continued success and growth of VF is enhanced through initiatives that promote diversity throughout VF around the world.VF is an equal employment opportunity employer of minorities, females, protected veterans and the disabled. VF is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment, and treating our VF associates and VF applicants without discrimination on the basis of their race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, citizenship, disability, protected veteran status, HIV/AIDS status, or any other legally protected factor. VF is committed to meeting the diverse needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner that is consistent with the principles of independence, dignity, integration and equality of opportunity, and will do so by striving to identify, prevent and remove barriers to accessibility wherever possible as well as by meeting the accessibility requirements under the ADA, AODA, and other applicable state, local or provincial regulations. VF is committed to digital accessibility, and to conforming to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA and complying with the ADA and AODA Standards for Accessible Design, and other applicable regulations. If you need an accommodation or have any questions regarding this statement, please send your request to View email address on click.appcast.io.