Designer I, Inline Footwear Design

Who We Are At Brooks, we believe movement is the key to feeling more alive. We create gear and experiences that take people to the place that makes them feel alive – whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line. Everyone who works at Brooks is propelled by a culture that sparks excitement, fuels collaboration, inspires creativity, and ignites innovation. Your Job As a Footwear Designer 1, Inline, you define the aesthetic readiness of Brooks Running inline footwear projects. You balance creative vision with commercial viability across seasonal collections, ensuring clear, consistent design intent and alignment with brand direction and performance requirements. Responsibilities Design Own the full design of designated performance footwear models, creating and presenting upper, midsole, and outsole sketches. Apply identity principles to maximize perceived value and support aesthetic competitiveness. Continuously develop 3D modeling skills and use 3D tools to visualize, iterate, and communicate design intent. Stay current with footwear trends, materials, and technologies to support innovation. Participate in pre‑season development and support design direction exploration. Organize and deliver product design presentations in physical and digital formats. Seek mentorship and apply feedback to strengthen design output. Respond to design critique with multiple solutions to support iteration and decision‑making. Team Collaboration Work with the Advanced Design team to ensure consistent information flow. Collaborate with the 3D CAD Design team to align design intent with technical execution. Integrate seasonal color, material, and trend concepts with the Color–Material & Trend Design team. Engage cross‑functional partners in Product Color & Trend, Materials, Product Development, Product Line Management, and Product Assessment. Coordinate with global development teams in Asia and overseas production sites. Participate in cross‑functional reviews to establish alignment across Inline, Advanced Design, 3D CAD, and Color/Material/Trend teams. Collaborate by sharing ideas, responding to feedback, and ensuring alignment throughout the design process. Work with PLM and Development teams to translate design intent into manufacturable solutions. Contribute to early‑stage development discussions to drive design direction and clarity. Accountability Maintain calendars, timelines, and deadlines to ensure timely completion of each project. Use strong design knowledge to partner effectively with product teams and support decision‑making. Stay informed on design trends and prototype techniques. Conduct visits to factories and material suppliers to gain manufacturing insights. Travel as necessary to Asia, Europe, trade shows, races, retailers, and other external events. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in industrial design, footwear design, or a related field (or equivalent experience). 3+ years of experience designing footwear or similar products, with color, material, and textile expertise. Proficiency in 2D and 3D CAD tools (Rhino, Blender, Adobe Substance, SolidWorks, Grasshopper, etc., preferred). Strong understanding of art and design principles and visual aesthetics. Experience supporting the development and execution of design vision within cross‑functional teams. Understanding of footwear design, construction, materials, and component integration. Ability to think conceptually across products and categories. Comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, evolving environment. Strong collaboration and influencing skills with key business and creative partners. Strong attention to detail in planning, organization, and execution. Demonstrated innovation and initiative, with a focus on improving products and processes. Passion for running and/or sports is a plus. Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and macOS. Embraces and lives Brooks core values. Willingness and ability to travel up to 10% domestically and internationally. Compensation The pay range for this position, based out of the Brooks Seattle HQ, is $80,175 – $120,315 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, 401(k) savings plan and match, employee assistance program, and transportation assistance. Paid time off: five weeks of paid time off, eleven paid holidays, and paid sick and parental leave. Annual bonus based on company performance. Product discounts, employee recognition, fitness discounts, volunteer and donation benefits. Location: 4 days per week in our Seattle offices. 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 a proud 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‑spirited 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 Brooks Running