Job Details

24 Seven is partnering with a top global sportswear client to help them find a Materials Designer for this hybrid position in Portland, OR. This is a 5 month contract with potential to extend working 4 days a week onsite. While on contract, you'd be eligible for benefits including medical, dental, vision, sick hours and more.

Ideal Candidate: will have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and brings 2–4 years of hands-on experience in footwear design, with strong proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and familiarity with the full Adobe Suite. Prior experience designing shoes for sporting brands is highly preferred.

The work centers on creating innovative, visually compelling materials and thoughtfully styling or curating existing ones for diverse footwear projects. It combines artistic creativity with technical expertise to develop materials that elevate both the look and performance of footwear.

Responsibilities:

• Partner with project teams to align on functional requirements and intended product use.
• Develop consumer-relevant material solutions that enhance design direction, drawing from trends, material science, and both market and athlete insights.
• Share material palettes, visual concepts, and mood boards with stakeholders and leadership at key project milestones.
• Use design tools and software to develop and iterate on material ideas.
• Produce physical prototypes and hand samples to explore and validate concepts.
• Work cross-functionally with various teams to ensure materials are seamlessly integrated into the complete design vision.
• Factor in aesthetics, performance, and production methods during the material selection process.
• Keep up to date with innovations in sustainable and eco-conscious materials.
• Incorporate environmentally friendly material options and propose alternatives that support sustainability objectives.
• Build detailed CADs and technical packs to clearly convey design intent to factories and suppliers for prototyping.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum of 2-4 years directly relevant work experience
• Skilled in Adobe Illustrator at a minimum with advanced knowledge of Adobe Suite a plus.
• Experience with shoe design for sporting companies is a big plus.

*Designers will have access to a makerspace equipped with tools such as sewing machines, heat presses, and screen printing equipment to create small-scale samples. While not used daily, these resources will support project-based work—allowing designers to explore aesthetics, test ideas, and bring concepts to life through hands-on experimentation.