Footwear Materials Designer in Beaverton, Oregon - #72337 | VanderHouwen

Description

Job Id: 72337

Footwear Materials Designer
Our client is seeking a Footwear Materials Designer to support material creation and execution for high-visibility performance footwear projects. The ideal candidate brings a strong point of view around material innovation, performance, and storytelling, with the ability to translate creative direction into thoughtful material solutions that balance aesthetics, manufacturing feasibility, cost, and product function.

This role is a hybrid model in Beaverton, Oregon.

Footwear Materials Designer Responsibilities

• Develop material concepts and design direction for seasonal footwear projects, ensuring alignment with creative briefs, product goals, and performance needs.
• Create, refresh, and refine material applications across a range of footwear models, price points, and product classifications.
• Make confident material decisions based on performance, construction, manufacturing feasibility, cost structure, and overall design intent.
• Partner closely with design, development, manufacturing, and external teams to bring material concepts from ideation through execution.
• Explore textiles, decorative materials, synthetics, polyurethanes, TPUs, and other performance-focused materials to support innovation and product differentiation.
• Translate trend research, consumer insights, and inspiration into nuanced material stories that feel fresh, purposeful, and ownable.
• Communicate material concepts, design rationale, and project decisions clearly to internal partners, external collaborators, and manufacturing teams.
• Support complex and collaborative projects that may involve athlete-informed design, performance needs, innovation work, or multiple consumer dimensions.
• Leverage manufacturing processes to elevate material ideas while ensuring designs can be produced effectively and within project constraints.
• Prepare and present clear project storytelling, including design process, material choices, collaboration points, and final impact.

Footwear Materials Designer Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in footwear materials design, product materials, or a related materials-focused design discipline.
• Bachelor’s degree in Design, Materials, Product Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong knowledge of footwear materials, including textiles, synthetics, decorative materials, polyurethanes, TPUs, and performance-driven material applications.
• Experience making material decisions based on performance, aesthetics, manufacturing feasibility, cost, and product structure.
• Proficiency with design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite; experience with 3D or advanced digital design tools is a plus.
• Strong creative process from concept and ideation through presentation, refinement, and manufacturing handoff.
• Ability to build clear, compelling portfolio presentations that show project beginnings, outcomes, collaboration, and personal impact.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, manufacturing partners, external collaborators, or performance-focused stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of how materials translate into production, including what manufactures well and how design choices impact execution.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment while receiving feedback, seeking information, and communicating proactively.
• Strong awareness of trends, creative culture, and consumer relevance, with the ability to translate inspiration into refined design solutions.
• Prior experience in performance footwear, athletic product, automotive materials, consumer electronics materials, or performance apparel textiles is preferred.

Compensation: Up to $50/hr. (DOE)

VanderHouwen Contractors Enjoy Exceptional Benefit Perks!
As an eligible contract employee with VanderHouwen, you’ll have access to a full suite of benefits designed with your well-being in mind. Our comprehensive package includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, and a matching 401(k) to help secure your future.

Meet VanderHouwen
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VanderHouwen is an award-winning, Women & Diversity-Owned, WBENC certified professional staffing firm. Founded in 1987, VanderHouwen places experienced professionals across the nation! Our recruitment teams specialize in either Technology and IT, Engineering, Human Resources, or Accounting and Finance career markets. Partner with us to land your next exciting career!

VanderHouwen is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify. VanderHouwen does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, or federal civil rights laws.

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