Principal Designer, Inline Footwear Design

Brooks Running • Seattle, WA

88d • $142,253 - $227,605

About The Position

As a Principal Footwear Designer, you actively lead the most complex and high-impact projects across Brooks Running’s Spring, Fall, and Innovation design teams. You own the long-term design strategy (1–5 years) for next-generation performance running footwear, blending future-focused concepts with seasonal execution. Through bold thinking and craft leadership, you evolve our design foundation, developing principles by using our creative foundation, CRAFTED BEAUTY, to create new expressions of performance and their functional boundaries while maintaining alignment with brand identity and runner needs. You serve as a strategic partner across cross-functional teams, including Product Line Management, Innovation and Inline Development, Engineering, Color/Material & Trend Design, 3D CAD, and the Run Research Team. Drawing from biomechanical insights, performance data, and emerging material and manufacturing innovations, you translate research into compelling, buildable design solutions that redefine how runners experience speed, fit, and efficiency. You implement best practices, with digital visualization tools central to your workflow. You lead the adoption and elevation of advanced 2D/3D digital design tools, driving clarity, iteration, and storytelling across the team. Your files are execution-ready and universally shared with global teams, including Asia development partners, to ensure seamless alignment from concept to prototype. You also serve as a senior design voice, mentoring both junior and senior designers, guiding creative exploration, elevating design standards, and championing a culture of curiosity, collaboration, and experimentation. You help shape the creative process within the broader design organization and influence product strategy across the brand. You keep a close pulse on global design trends, competitive market shifts, and cultural signals that inform future running experiences. You lead early-stage storytelling and drive the visual expression of future concepts and pilot programs. Your ability to inspire through design, articulate ideas across audiences, and turn insight into action ensures Brooks continues to lead and remains the most loved brand by runners worldwide.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in industrial design, Footwear Design, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 10+ years of experience creating footwear and/or color, material, and textile programs across multiple product categories and seasons.
• Proficiency in 2D and 3D CAD tools, including complex surfacing and geometry using programs such as Rhino, Blender, Adobe Substance (2D/3D Suite), SolidWorks, Grasshopper, etc.
• Thorough knowledge of art and design, with a clear understanding of visual aesthetics across design disciplines.
• Proven experience in developing and leading the execution of design vision and strategy across multiple teams or seasons.
• Deep understanding of footwear construction, materials, and componentry.
• Strong understanding of biomechanics and the science of running performance.
• Proactive communicators take the initiative to engage cross-functional partners and advance design concepts.
• Strong conceptual thinking and ability to develop and articulate original design ideas.
• Ability to apply conceptual design thinking across multiple product categories and initiatives.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, constantly evolving work environment.
• Skilled at building and fostering relationships within a collaborative team environment, with the ability to manage diverse stakeholders and information streams.
• Demonstrates drive and ambition to push personal, team, and brand boundaries.
• Strong influencing and collaboration skills with key business and creative partners.
• Excellent attention to detail in planning, organization, and execution, while maintaining awareness of the broader strategic picture.
• Displays innovation and initiative, constantly seeking to improve products and processes while remaining hands-on and detail-oriented.
• Passion for running and/or sports is a plus, but a deep understanding of and empathy for runners is essential to creating meaningful and engaging product experiences.
• Mastery of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Proficiency in macOS (Apple operating system).
• 3D design experience.
• Embraces and lives the Brooks core values.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 15% (domestically and internationally).

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design of performance running footwear across Spring, Fall, and Innovation initiatives, from concept through prototype, including upper, tooling, and construction.
• Define and own the aesthetic expression and functional design language of cross-season and innovation projects, ensuring alignment with brand identity, athlete needs, and future consumer expectations.
• Drive design excellence through iterative exploration, applying identity principles that maximize perceived value and elevate competitiveness.
• Set the vision for advanced 2D and 3D design tools, pioneering new digital methods that unlock future possibilities in form, function, and manufacturing.
• Stay ahead of market trends, materials innovation, and digital prototyping techniques; integrate insights from global design networks to inform and shape breakthrough concepts.
• Deliver compelling design presentations, both physical and digital, clearly communicating intent, process, and storytelling to internal stakeholders.
• Mentor and provide support to junior and senior designers, fostering a culture of curiosity, experimentation, and high craft.
• Influence cross-functional decision-making by offering multiple design solutions and responding thoughtfully to critique throughout project milestones.
• Continuously sharpen craft and curiosity, pushing the limits of performance design and digital innovation.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Run Research Team (RRT), PLM, Materials, Engineering, and Development to turn athlete insights and biomechanical research into high-performance, buildable solutions.
• Partner directly with elite athletes and wear testers to validate performance intent and refine concepts through iterative feedback.
• Lead design direction across Spring, Fall, and Innovation creation teams, aligning creative vision with technical feasibility and storytelling.
• Engage and integrate biomechanical insights from the Run Research Team into functionally and aesthetically compelling designs.
• Actively influence collaboration and foster alignment between Inline, Innovation, 3D CAD, and Color/Material/Trend teams to elevate design across disciplines.
• Champion 3D CAD integration, partnering with digital teams to enhance design clarity, speed, and dimensional expression.
• Lead by example as a design thought partner, facilitating collaboration, mentoring peers, and modeling breakthrough thinking.
• Collaborate and co-create compelling material stories and visual direction with CMF partners to support future-facing design narratives.
• Partner with PLM and Development to explore advanced footwear-making methods and production-ready solutions.
• Guide early-stage prototyping and design research to drive concept evolution.
• Deliver detailed, executable tech packages in partnership with development to ensure manufacturability and performance.
• Participate in Run-Sight Lab sessions and other cross-season validation efforts to ground design in the runner’s voice and experience.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, consumer shifts, and cultural signals to inform future design strategy.
• Maintain calendars, timelines, and deadlines to ensure the timely completion of cross-season and innovation initiatives, from initial concept through prototype delivery.
• Act as a subject-matter expert in design, sharing advanced expertise to guide product teams and elevate execution.
• Demonstrate fluency in prototyping methods, including both hand-built and digital 3D models, to explore and validate design ideas.
• Approach feedback with a curious mindset; respond to critique by offering thoughtful alternatives backed by deeper exploration.
• Anticipate challenges and risks by preparing insights, rationale, and design strategy ahead of key milestones.
• Leverage your experience and creative intuition to deliver bold, unexpected design solutions that meet real runner needs.
• Stay attuned to design culture, trend shifts, and market movements to inform future-forward thinking and concept relevance.
• Maintain a deep understanding of manufacturing processes through ongoing engagement with factory partners and material vendors.
• Travel as needed to Asia, Europe, races, retail visits, trade shows, and summits to support collaboration, research, and execution.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance
• Disability insurance
• HSA and employer contribution
• FSA
• Family & fertility assistance
• 401K Savings Plan and match
• Employee assistance program
• Transportation assistance
• Generous time off, including three to five weeks of paid time off
• Eleven paid holidays
• Paid sick and parental leave
• Annual bonus based on company performance
• Product discounts
• Employee recognition
• Fitness discounts
• Volunteer and donation benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees