Senior Material Designer, Global Tennis Footwear

NIKE, Inc. does more than outfit the world’s best athletes. It’s a place where passionate individuals come together to create the future of sport.

Who You’ll Work With

You will collaborate with Nike’s Footwear Industrial Design, Color Design, Graphic Design, Digital Design, Marketing, and Development teams to bring seasonal creative direction to life through innovative footwear materials. You’ll join an expression team that includes one color designer, two product designers, and an Expression Design Director. This role reports directly to the Expression Design Director.

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking an exceptional Senior Footwear Materials Designer who combines industry experience, problem-solving skills, and creativity to shape the future of Tennis Footwear at Nike.

To be considered, you must submit a creative design portfolio. Please provide website links or attach PDF files when you apply.

• Bachelor’s degree in fashion, textiles, or industrial design or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years’ experience in material design, textile design, fashion design, product design, industrial design, accessory or footwear design, preferably in product creation or in an agency.
• Ability to translate consumer insights and performance data into compelling narratives and product execution.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills tailored for diverse audiences.
• Ability to simplify technical details into clear, inspiring narratives that foster collaboration.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build trust and transparency across teams.

What You’ll Work On

You’ll work on a wide range of Nike Tennis products—from top athletic moments to core franchises. Your role spans concepting and ideation through finalizing tech packs, collaborating with manufacturing partners, and occasionally engaging directly with athletes.

• Own the material craft: Concept, sample, and specify uppers and tooling using cutting-edge processes, including engineered knits, films, laminates, textiles, coatings, synthetics, and leather, while curating and elevating carryover materials.
• Collaborate across the offense: Partner with Footwear Design, Color, Product Development, PLM, Engineering, Sustainability, and factory and LO teams to align performance, cost targets, and calendar gates.
• Translate ideas to tech packs: Deliver BOMs, finishes, callouts, test methods, and construction details; drive readiness at each creation milestone and troubleshoot manufacturability with vendors.
• Bring athlete and consumer voice into the work: Synthesize athlete feedback, wear-test and lab data into material decisions, and at times meet directly with athletes and Sports Marketing to validate feel, fit, and durability.
• Tackle complex problem solving: Navigate sample builds, root-cause issues such as abrasion, flex, peel, and delamination, and corrective actions; anticipate risks and build mitigation plans.
• Drive clear and effective communication across cross-functional teams, ensuring alignment on material strategies and timelines.
• Translate complex material concepts into concise, actionable information for stakeholders at all levels.
• Champion clarity in documentation, presentations, and reporting to support informed decision-making.

What You Can Expect

NIKE offers a generous total rewards package, casual work environment, diverse and inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional development. NIKE, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.