Altra: Footwear Developer II

Altra Running • Denver, CO

5d • $86,400 - $108,000

About The Position

The Footwear Developer II plays a key role in bringing performance footwear from concept to production. This role drives product development, engineering, fit, margin adherence, and specifications from Final Design Review through Commercialization, managing the development process from seasonal kickoff through confirmation for production.

Working with cross-functional footwear teams, the developer applies footwear development standards, optimizes fit and comfort, provides technical solutions, meets cost targets, and ensures product quality. The role coordinates product creation milestones and technical packages, works with design, development, commercialization, materials, costing, engineering, manufacturing, quality, and other partners, and supports accurate product performance claims. The position requires seasonal domestic and international travel and flexible hours during peak periods as business needs and deadlines require.

Requirements

• At least 4 years of experience; formal education in a related field is described as beneficial, but experience and professional achievements are emphasized.
• Strong understanding of the footwear development process from brief handoff through production.
• Strong technical knowledge of footwear materials, pattern engineering, tooling processes, and mold construction.
• Experience with tooling development processes, including 2D and 3D CAD and CAM.
• Strong understanding of product categories, materials, and the overall product development cycle.
• Self-driven ability to independently manage products throughout the development cycle.
• Detail-oriented, with strong project management, organizational, collaboration, and time-management skills.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to contribute to and lead special and long-term projects as needed.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, product management and development systems, and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally on a seasonal basis and work flexible hours during peak periods as business needs and deadlines require.

Nice To Haves

• Formal education in a related field.

Responsibilities

• Manage product development from seasonal kickoff through production, ensuring product creation calendar milestones are met through coordination and follow-up.
• Initiate and lead cross-functional product team meetings to review progress, evaluate solutions, and support timely decisions that meet Buy Ready and margin goals.
• Collaborate with Design to create technical packages, including CADs, shell patterns, tooling artwork, and product details, for BOMs and specifications in FlexPLM.
• Publish complete tech packs to factories and VF Asia Development, and maintain product development records, files, and samples.
• Evaluate tooling by reading 2D blueprints, reviewing 3D CADs, and printing 3D components for physical review before approving sample mold openings.
• Collaborate with VF Asia Development and the Materials Developer to recommend materials and provide technical expertise on constructions that achieve design intent, maintain product integrity and quality, and meet or exceed gross margin targets.
• Drive fit execution through analysis, documentation, communication, and adherence to fit standards, in partnership with the US Commercialization Manager and VF Asia Development and Commercialization teams.
• Provide the Commercialization Manager and Senior Product Developer with product information needed to execute wear testing from early prototypes through final confirmed samples.
• Confirm final development samples on time and ensure they meet quality and accuracy standards; manage sample retention and storage with the Commercialization Manager.
• Partner with VF Asia Development and factory Costing, Development, Engineering, and Manufacturing teams to identify manufacturing efficiencies that can reduce product cost.
• Address quality issues and collaborate with the US product team, VF Asia Product Supply, Quality Assurance, Marketing, Planning, and Sales to support accurate and reliable product performance claims.
• Participate in VF Asia collaborative meetings with Development, Global Material Sourcing, and Global Product Costing.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential.
• VF Corporation offers benefit programs, including medical plans; details are provided during the hiring process.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed