Footwear Designer - Inline (Altra)

VF Corporation•Denver, CO

About The Position

At Altra, we are on a never-ending journey to seek out opportunities to unlock potential in ourselves and others and to create a more diverse and inclusive running community. When we’re all working together as the best versions of ourselves, we can feel empowered both individually and as a community. So, before we get to the job details, take a minute to learn a little more about us—our values and our culture. If you can see yourself working side-by-side with a team of people driven to discover more about ourselves and the world around us, Altra just may be the place for you. To learn more about our values and our culture, visit Altra Careers or www.altrarunning.com. What will you do? A day in the life of an Inline Footwear Designer at Altra looks a little like this. As part of the Footwear Design team, you will create innovative, athlete-informed performance footwear that brings Altra’s design language and product vision to life. Working closely with Product Management, Development, Color/Material/Graphics, and Innovation, you will help shape seasonal inline products from concept through commercialization. This role balances performance problem-solving, commercial viability, aesthetics, and authentic storytelling—building products that serve runners while pushing the Altra brand forward. This role reports to the Design Director, Footwear. Let’s break down that day-in-the-life a bit more: Own the design execution of inline footwear projects from initial concept through tech pack completion, including upper, midsole, outsole, and overall visual storytelling. Translate product briefs into compelling design solutions that align with Altra’s brand DNA, athlete needs, and category opportunities. Create and present 2D sketches, 3D digital models, and presentation materials to communicate design intent clearly and effectively. Partner closely with Product Management, Development, and Color/Materials teams to bring aligned product solutions to life. Integrate seasonal material, color, and trend direction into footwear concepts while maintaining performance-first integrity. Refine product through prototyping, testing, and fit reviews, responding to feedback with thoughtful iteration. Maintain strong communication with development partners and factory teams to ensure design fidelity through commercialization. Stay connected to the running consumer, marketplace, and competitive landscape to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement. Participate in athlete testing, product reviews, and market research to deepen understanding of performance needs. Help evolve Altra’s design language by contributing new ideas, fresh perspectives, and future-thinking design solutions. Travel 10% (Domestically/Internationally)

Requirements

3-5 years of experience in footwear design, preferably in performance, athletic, or outdoor categories or 4-year college or university degree in industrial, graphics, apparel or footwear design, equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted for degree.
Strong understanding of footwear construction, materials, manufacturing processes, and product creation timelines.
Exceptional 2D sketching and visual communication skills with the ability to clearly express ideas and concepts.
Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; experience with 3D tools such as Rhino, Blender, etc is strongly preferred but not a deal breaker.
Ability to think conceptually and solve design problems through the lens of athlete performance and brand authenticity.
Strong collaboration skills and ability to work cross-functionally in a team-based product creation environment.
Ability to manage multiple projects and timelines while maintaining a high standard of design quality and attention to detail.
Strong presentation skills with confidence in sharing ideas, receiving critique, and iterating quickly.
Possess a desire to learn & be curious - be a design and process sponge.

Nice To Haves

Experience in performance running footwear or deep familiarity with run culture and biomechanics.
Experience working directly with overseas factories and development teams.
Physical prototyping skills and hands-on model making experience.
Passion for running, movement, and understanding the needs of the athlete.
Understanding of AI design process and workflows is a plus.
experience with 3D tools such as Rhino, Blender, etc is strongly preferred but not a deal breaker.

Responsibilities

Own the design execution of inline footwear projects from initial concept through tech pack completion, including upper, midsole, outsole, and overall visual storytelling.
Translate product briefs into compelling design solutions that align with Altra’s brand DNA, athlete needs, and category opportunities.
Create and present 2D sketches, 3D digital models, and presentation materials to communicate design intent clearly and effectively.
Partner closely with Product Management, Development, and Color/Materials teams to bring aligned product solutions to life.
Integrate seasonal material, color, and trend direction into footwear concepts while maintaining performance-first integrity.
Refine product through prototyping, testing, and fit reviews, responding to feedback with thoughtful iteration.
Maintain strong communication with development partners and factory teams to ensure design fidelity through commercialization.
Stay connected to the running consumer, marketplace, and competitive landscape to identify opportunities for innovation and improvement.
Participate in athlete testing, product reviews, and market research to deepen understanding of performance needs.
Help evolve Altra’s design language by contributing new ideas, fresh perspectives, and future-thinking design solutions.