Lead Designer Kids Footwear Materials Designer

Location: Beaverton, OR (Hybrid: 4 days on-site / 1 day remote)Job Type: Full-Time, 40 hours/week, W2 Contract (1-Year Duration)Compensation Range: $38.00 - $42.66 / hour (maximum)Cella is seeking a Lead Footwear Materials Designer to join a global sportswear brand's creative design team. This opportunity is focused exclusively on shaping the next generation of kids' footwear, blending emotive storytelling, fresh material concepts, and perceived value to engage fearless young athletes.

Responsibilities:Drive Material Strategy: Lead end-to-end material design across kids' and core footwear product lines, crafting seasonal material palettes, narratives, and innovative applications for both brand-new silhouettes and iconic heritage models.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner daily with color designers, product designers, graphic designers, product managers, and material developers to align on seasonal direction and product excellence.

Vendor & Supply Chain Engagement: Work directly with external vendors, navigate material libraries, source innovative textiles and finishes, and balance design vision with footwear costing and price negotiation.

Concept Validation & Prototyping: Build accurate 2D technical drawings, upload CADs into Aurora, and develop hands-on physical mockups, 3D digital renderings, and cobbling/prototyping samples to validate concepts.

Narrative Storytelling: Deliver high-visibility seasonal presentations that champion sustainable material innovations, market trends, and compelling storytelling tailored to consumer purchasing behaviors.

Qualifications:Experience & Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Art, or a related field (or 2 additional years of experience in lieu of a degree), paired with 5+ years of dedicated experience designing and developing innovative footwear or related performance products.

Technical Software Skills: Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, with hands-on experience utilizing Aurora (uploading CADs), Miro, and presentation tools such as Keynote and PowerPoint.

Material & Costing Knowledge: Solid foundation in footwear manufacturing processes, material supply chains, sustainable design practices, footwear costing, and direct vendor coordination.

Prototyping & Craftsmanship: Demonstrated skill in creating technical drawings/tech packs, building physical mockup samples, and working with 3D design programs or hands-on prototyping.

Portfolio Requirement: A comprehensive design portfolio showcasing end-to-end footwear material design, trend forecasting, and narrative-driven projects is required for submission.

Preferred Experience: Prior design experience with major athletic footwear brands or kids' specific product categories is strongly preferred.

JOBID: 25 Opportunity Employer: Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, National Origin, Age, Genetic Information, Disability, Protected Veteran Status, or any other legally protected group status. At Cella, a randstad digital company, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please contact offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's education, work experience, work location, specific job duties, certifications, etc. In addition, Cella by randstad digital offers a comprehensive benefits package, including: medical, prescription, dental, vision, AD&D, and life insurance offerings, short-term disability, and a 401K plan (all benefits are based on eligibility). This posting is open for thirty (30) days.