3D Footwear Innovation, Designer II

Your Job: As a 3D Innovation Designer II on the Innovation & Elite Athlete Team, you will drive both art and science by creating what athletes need and want in their lives—a digital craftsperson who transforms visionary concepts into tangible reality. You'll work with a fearless team at the leading edge of footwear creation, developing advanced 3D models that span from early‑stage explorations to production‑ready geometry. Your work directly influences how our most ambitious innovations come to life and how elite athletes achieve their fullest potential. You will collaborate with Innovation Footwear Design, Computational Design, Run Research, Product Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering teams to create breakthrough footwear concepts that redefine performance. Your 3D fluency, aesthetic sensibility, and technical mastery will be essential in translating complex biomechanical insights and radical design ideas into a crafted reality for our high‑performance athletes. Responsibilities Pioneer advanced 3D design across concept, prototype, and production phases, pushing the limits of what's possible in footwear design. Master aesthetic and technical excellence, blending digital sculpting prowess with highly controlled 3D modeling capabilities to create forms that are both beautiful and performance‑driven. Scale your workflow dynamically—move fluidly from quick, iterative explorations to high‑fidelity, production‑ready geometry based on project needs and timelines. Generate production tooling geometry using Rhino 3D or other surface modeling environments, ensuring designs can be prototyped and tested with elite athletes. Create photorealistic renderings that communicate design concepts and performance expression with impact. Demonstrate 3D fluency across multiple paradigms, work confidently with NURBs, mesh, and other geometry typologies to solve complex design challenges. Parametric skills and methods are a bonus. Navigate 3D interoperability with expertise, moving seamlessly between formats and software platforms based on project requirements. Apply foundational knowledge of footwear construction: Understand methods of make, tooling processes, upper construction techniques, and how digital forms translate to physical products. Partner directly with Innovation Footwear Design and Computational Design team members to create breakthrough footwear concepts that advance performance. Interface regularly with Run Research, Product Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering to ensure designs are grounded in performance science and manufacturing reality. Present concepts and designs with clarity and conviction, inspiring cross‑functional teams to embrace bold ideas. Provide mentorship and guidance to Associate Designers and Designer1 team members, elevating the entire team's capabilities. Own your deadlines and deliver with excellence: Establish and manage timelines and autonomously ensure accurate completion of projects. Travel as needed (approximately 10%) to Asia, Europe, trade shows, races, factory sites, or other locations that advance the work. Explore algorithmic modeling approaches such as Grasshopper, Houdini, Blender Geometry Nodes, and other computational design tools. Experiment with animated forms to communicate advanced design expression and performance dynamics. Identify and champion new methods for evolving our 3D workflows, continuously improving our capabilities and knowledge base. Deepen your understanding of performance footwear construction, runner biomechanics, manufacturing processes, and design philosophy. Conduct factory and supplier visits to gain firsthand insights into manufacturing processes and build relationships that inform better design decisions. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, 3D Design, or related field (or equivalent experience) Proficient in creating algorithmic/computational modeling tools (Grasshopper, Houdini, Blender Geometry Nodes) 5+ years of professional experience in advanced 3D CAD modeling with complex surfacing and organic geometry Expert‑level proficiency in Rhino 3D and other surface modeling tools (Modo, Alias, etc.) Demonstrates a powerful blend of both aesthetic design sensibilities and technical modeling precision Strong visualization and rendering skills to create compelling, photo‑real representations of design concepts Excellent communication and presentation skills Strong collaboration skills and ability to build relationships across diverse stakeholder groups Deep empathy for athletes and their needs Compensation The pay range for this position, based out of the Brooks Seattle HQ, is $104,217–$156,324 per year. Base pay offered will vary depending on job‑related knowledge, skills, and experience. Benefits Medical, dental, vision, life, and AD&D insurance; disability insurance; HSA and employer contribution; FSA; family & fertility assistance; 401K Savings Plan and match; employee assistance program; transportation assistance. Paid Time Off Brooks offers generous time off, including three to five weeks of paid time off, eleven paid holidays, and paid sick and parental leave. Bonus In addition to base pay, Brooks employees may also be offered an annual bonus based on company performance. Perks Product discounts, employee recognition, fitness discounts, volunteer and donation benefits. Location You will spend 3 days per week in our Seattle offices, as we believe our organization flourishes when connections, collaboration, creativity, problem‑solving, and celebrations happen in person. EEO Statement At Brooks, we celebrate diversity & equity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and encourage people of all backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills to apply. Brooks is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, two‑spirit identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, the presence of a physical, mental, or sensory disability, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), caste, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking, HIV or Hepatitis C infection, political ideology, use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability, or on any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, or any other non‑merit based factors. #J-18808-Ljbffr