Expert 3D Footwear Designer

Nike•Beaverton, OR

About The Position

We are looking for a master craftsperson and design technologist who sets the standard for 3D excellence while pioneering the integration of generative AI into design concept workflows. You will create your own design solutions, build custom tools, and guide the organization toward manufacturable innovation. You understand both the art of footwear design and the science of cost-effective production. You will define best practices for 3D design and GenAI integration, create design solutions for complex Product concepts, and partner with global teams to scale 3D and GenAI tools enterprise-wide. You will mentor the team, drive strategic vision, and ensure Nike's 3D and GenAI workflows remain at the cutting edge.

Requirements

BA/BFA degree in related field preferred. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training
8+ years of experience
Mastery of poly modeling across multiple tools with deep specialization in preferred 3D packages (Blender or Maya)
NURBS modeling in Rhino
Computational design in Grasshopper, Blender, or Houdini
Expert-level proficiency with generative AI workflows with proven ability to contribute to tool definition and scaling
Understanding of footwear costing and manufacturing constraints to help achieve affordability targets
Portfolio demonstrating ability to design, model, and execute high-quality 3D content

Nice To Haves

Ability to create and use custom Grasshopper scripts that can be shared with others on the team to speed up concept design models is preferred
Deep understanding of engineering and development requirements with ability to provide guidance as teams adopt new 3D tools

Responsibilities

Create your own design solutions and collaborate with your Sport team's footwear designers, Design Director, and senior leadership on new concepts, designing, presenting, and influencing direction during co-creation timelines
Partner with GenAI team, Global Tech, and CP&I as a key stakeholder to define, refine, and scale generative AI tools and digital workflows for global deployment
Drive adoption of both traditional 3D best practices and emerging AI capabilities, helping others understand when and how to leverage each approach effectively
Build custom tools and workflows in collaboration with pipeline teams, creating solutions that accelerate the entire organization's capabilities
Work on the highest complexity projects with new methods of make, partnering heavily with development and engineering to ensure feasibility while pushing creative boundaries
Guide design teams toward manufacturable solutions by understanding footwear creation processes and constraints (cost/scale/speed etc), and identifying how 3D/GenAI tools can deliver new solutions and capabilities
Serve as subject matter expert along with VM teams, pipeline teams, development partners, and Innovation DPC, sharing best practices and learning about future manufacturing methods
Mentor 3D Designer II and SR team members, maintaining a positive attitude and helping the team understand Nike's strategic vision and how their work contributes to it
Execute independently on inline projects, proactively help teammates when they're struggling, and work on high-profile projects including collaborations and quick-strike initiatives
Ensure all work meets the aligned output strategy and process to deliver and support asset management transition across digital pipelines
Ensure all work meets brand protection standards and is consumer-facing ready, understanding that your 3D models and renderings may be shared with Brand or become public