PRINCIPAL FOOTWEAR ENGINEER

The Functional Engineering team leads Nike in product excellence, sustainability, and scaling innovation across the enterprise. Focused on engineered materials, foams, and rubbers—and driven by a deep commitment to sustainability—Nike Footwear inspires communities around the world.

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

As a member of the Footwear Engineering team, this person will collaborate with key partners across Innovation, Product Engineering, Design, Product Development, Material Development, Product & Mechanical Testing, Value Engineering, Partner PCC and PMO Teams, Global Sourcing and Planning, Operations Teams, and External Partners. They serve as a key point of contact internally and externally, ensuring communication during product development and commercialization is complete, clear, and accurate. They navigate the Nike matrix to ensure processes model and match Footwear Engineering divisional and functional standards and methodologies that drive product excellence. This role reports to the Functional Engineering Director.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We’re seeking a Principal Footwear Engineer to play an integral role in driving product excellence for Nike consumers. This individual brings advanced, diverse technical knowledge—especially in foams and rubber (underfoot)—to solve complex engineering challenges for highly technical performance products. They engage in innovative concepts and process initiatives, balancing engineering expertise, strategic leadership, and collaborative teamwork to transform concepts into reality. This person is a big-picture thinker who attends to critical details and demonstrates passion for engineering excellence, with strong foundations in footwear engineering, chemicals, materials, sustainability, and manufacturing processes. As part of the Engineering team, they build relationships, lead, and engage with teams across Nike Footwear Product Creation and external partners.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering/chemical engineering or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training
• Minimum 8 years’ relevant industry experience in chemical, manufacturing, industrial, or mechanical engineering.
• Subject matter expertise in Chemical Engineering with strong thermoplastic, foam, and rubber (underfoot) development experience.
• Strong knowledge of footwear engineering fundamentals, including lasts, pattern engineering, test methodologies, costing, and manufacturing.
• Proven experience driving innovation and leading product engineering initiatives from concept through commercialization.
• Demonstrated leadership with the ability to coach peers, influence cross-functional teams, and work effectively across cultures within a matrixed environment.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to simplify complex information; knowledge of materials and LCA preferred; ability to travel up to 15%.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

You will work on highly technical performance products with complex engineering challenges and initiatives. Your focus will be on driving product excellence that advances performance, quality, craftsmanship, sustainability, and efficiency in a collaborative environment. You’ll review samples, process data, and 3D files throughout development, commercialization, and manufacturing. You will coach and mentor Engineers, Developers, and Design partners for skill and career development in your field. You will support the technical training team by building content and teaching. You will establish and implement best practices and support costing initiatives across development. You’ll lead high-profile chemical-related initiatives, using a multi-solution approach and creative problem solving to deliver sustainable product excellence.

You’ll apply your expert-level knowledge to:

• Adopt and accelerate our innovation roadmap.
• Identify and lead product engineering problem-solving sessions and communications that arise throughout development, commercialization, and post-production.
• Drive valuable engineering perspective and provide technical training and consultation.
• Support engineering digital product creation strategy by applying tools such as FEA, 3D visualization, rapid prototyping technologies, advanced mechanical testing, and wear testing methods in partnership with cross-functional teams.

We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.