Senior Computational Designer, Innovation

Who We Are:

At Brooks, we believe movement is the key to feeling more alive. That’s why we’re driven to create gear and experiences that take people to the place that makes them feel more alive — whether it’s a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line.

Everyone who works at Brooks is propelled by a company culture that sparks excitement, fuels collaboration, inspires creativity, and ignites innovation.

Our brand values help bond us together and drive our success:

·       Runner First  

We act in the best interest of the runner

·       Word is Bond 

We do what we say we’ll do

·       Champion Heart  

We give our all in everything we do  

·       There is no “I” in Run

We stay generous with our humanity

·       Keep Moving

We find ways to move every day, because joy is kinetic!

We welcome everyone from every walk of life looking to inspire others through the power of movement — because we’re all moving towards something. Let’s run there.   

Your Job:

The Brooks Innovation group is a team of experts who develop and deliver high-performance running shoes through cutting-edge design, material science, and manufacturing. They work across all aspects of footwear creation to bring the best running experience to Brooks runners.

As a Senior Computational Designer, Innovation, you will create, innovate, elevate and influence the AESTHETIC READINESS of Brooks Running footwear future product from your strong point of view. With your extensive experience, you will lead the exploration of future design opportunities for Brooks Running footwear product as part of the Innovation Footwear Team.

As a Senior Computational Designer, Innovation, you will partner closely with the Innovation Footwear Designers, Innovation Development Team, Senior Mechanical Engineer(s), Product Line Management, and Run Research Lab (RRL) to drive the next wave of DIGITAL GENERATIVE CAPABILITIES. Your role will develop cutting-edge digital tools, streamline design workflows, and contribute to the creation of our most forward-thinking products and technologies that push the boundaries of performance footwear. With your computational skill set, you will innovate and challenge the boundaries for future shoe-making methods and ways of manufacturing. You will create future performance expressions based on new materials, new geometries,s and methods of make and merge these advancements with key insights coming from the research of our Run Research Lab (RRL). You will work directly with Senior Mechanical Engineer(s) to activate the execution of complex research and design prototyping for advanced manufacturing and work towards a virtual validation process that will drive the future of Brooks Running. You will work in close cooperation with the Color–Material & Trend Design Team to directly influence our FUTURE BEAUTY design language and pre-development projects through dimensional surfaces and textures created using 3D tools.

As a Senior Computational Designer, Innovation, you will implement best practices of 3D visual and technical tools utilizing strong design, product, and program knowledge that will lay the foundation for new brand innovation platforms. Our design team uses the power of 3D digital tools to make the best running footwear on the planet. You'll be at the forefront of shaping Brook’s Running future, using your expertise in computational design to drive innovation. You are key in leading the elevation of 3D and DIGITAL DESIGN tools to create clear, well-thought-out, data-influenced ideas and design solutions with these tools. Files will be shared universally across the Innovation footwear department and with our Asia partners to execute game-changing ideas and crafted surfaces. 

• DESIGN
• Own complex performance footwear surfacing, modeling, and prototype ideas by creating and presenting upper, midsole, and outsole ideation with 3D tools.
• Take time to explore the future of what 3D DESIGN can become and how even greater tools and design abilities can benefit the runner far in the future. Ideate, invite, congregate, and decide.
• Identify and prototype ideas using Computational Design and algorithmic methodologies.
• Apply identity principles to maximize perceived value to drive superior competitiveness.
• Stay current in the athletic footwear market, diverse category trends, material and technological innovations, and design and prototyping tool improvements across the global network and bring ideas to inform/execute our future innovations.
• Be the expert hub of DIGITAL DESIGN within the Brooks Running Innovation Group. Influence and educate across teams to explain why DIGITAL DESIGN is important and how your knowledge and abilities can create newness and inspire new ways of thinking.
• Implement and lead the future of what 3D DESIGN can become and how new technology, tools, and design abilities can benefit performance-run design far in the future.
• Discover and execute new methods to expand the possibilities of what products we create and how we can create them through using advanced 2D and 3D Digital Design tools.
• Organize and deliver product design presentations, both physical and digital work including exploratory process, using your evaluation, judgment, and interpretation to select the right action.
• Seek to be at the top of your game constantly. Learn what is cutting edge and involve yourself in where COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN technologies and tools are going. These will be key methods to influence others in your team.

• TEAM COLLABORATION
• Drive the design within an innovation product creation team to deliver industry-leading products and stories.
•  Work with your peers in Innovation and Inline Footwear Design to improve their projects with 3D visual tools and accept and engage when they reciprocate.
• Provide leadership to Innovation, Research, and Inline teams to uncover new ways that new geometries can be tested, validated, and applied in virtual design simulations while also meeting project and performance goals.
• Partner with our Run Research Lab (RRL) with 3D design support and aesthetic know-how.
• Actively influence the collaborative work with the Inline Design Team to move our products forward.
• Act as the Computational Design subject matter expert and leader in collaboration within design and other teams – facilitate conversations, lead by example, and show the “how.”
• Partner with the Product Line Management and Innovation Development teams on future shoe-making and manufacturing methods as it pertains to 3D modeling and creation of surface algorithms.
• Lead 3D design research to develop prototypes using CAD and 3D printed parts.
• Consult the VP, Design and Design Leadership on advanced concept digital design.
• Participate in sessions to gain customer insight projects of the Run-Sight Lab.
• Be a navigator of ideas, research, and trends to continuously complete your design knowledge.

• ACCOUNTABILITY
• Maintain calendar/timelines/deadlines that result in a timely completion of each project.
• As an expert in product design, share your design knowledge to partner with your product teams.
• Foster clear communication across all project stakeholders (core team, SMEs, partners, leadership) by facilitating key meetings throughout development.
• Master of prototyping - the ability to use handmade models and 3D CAD models to demonstrate proof of ideas.
• Answer critique with a curious mindset – propose alternative options after more design exploration.
• Anticipate questions or perceived risks - prepare analysis and reasoning.
• Balance your experience with your intuition to deliver unexpected results.
• Have a developed intuitive understanding of the design jet stream to keep informed on what’s trending and how this may influence our future design.
• Conduct visits to our factories and material suppliers to gain insights and maintain a high level of understanding of the footwear manufacturing process as it pertains to future 3D innovations and capabilities.
• Travel as necessary to Asia, Europe, trade shows, races, retailers, or other external events.

• 4-year college or university degree in industrial, 3D, computational design, footwear design, or equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be substituted for a degree.
• 7+ years of 3D experience including complex surfacing and organic geometry such as Rhino, Blender, Moto, Grasshopper, etc.
• Ability and knowledge of product simulation (Topology, Solidworks FEA, ProE FEA, etc.)
• Thorough knowledge of art and design with a clear understanding of visual design or any design-related environment
• Strong knowledge of the total footwear construction process including outsole/midsole drawing, pattern engineering, tooling design, material construction, and properties
• Demonstration of innovation and initiative – always looking at improving our products and processes while also displaying a willingness to dive into the details and support wherever necessary.
• Proven experience creating and leading the execution of vision and strategy.
• Have a deep understanding of footwear construction and materials.
• Have a deep understanding of biomechanics and the science of running performance.
• Must reach out and initiate conversations to advance the design of Brooks Running Footwear
• Ability to understand design concepts and think conceptually.
• Ability to understand design conceptually across product categories.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, ever-changing work environment.
• Ability to build and foster relationships in a team environment. This position requires employee to engage with many stakeholders, as well as manage various information and relationships.
• Ability and desire to push themselves, others, and the brand forward.
• Ability to influence and collaborate with key business partners.
• Keen attention to detail in planning, organization, and execution of tasks (self and through others), while still seeing the big picture and understanding how all of the pieces fit together and affect one another.
• Demonstration of innovation and initiative – always looking at improving our products and processes while also displaying a willingness to dive into the details and help out wherever necessary.
• Passionate participation in Brooks’ sports activities is a plus, overridden by the ability to understand and empathize with the runner in order to develop loyal, engaging relationships with our customers and the Brooks community.
• Mastery of Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop
• Proficiency with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Embraces and lives the Brooks values!
• Travel 15% (Domestically/Internationally)

Compensation: The pay range for this position, based out of the Brooks Seattle HQ, is $124,186 - $198,739 per year. Base pay offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.  

Other:

Brooks is proud to offer a robust benefits package to our employees and their families!  

Benefits- including 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, and transportation assistance.  

Paid Time Off- Brooks offers generous time off including three to five weeks of paid time off, eleven paid holidays, paid sick and parental leave.

Bonus- in addition to base pay, Brooks employees may also be offered an annual bonus based on company performance.   

Perks- including product discounts, employee recognition, fitness discounts, volunteer and donation benefits.

Location- You will spend 3 per week in our Seattle offices, as we believe our organization flourishes when connections, collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and celebrations happen in person.

At Brooks, we celebrate diversity & equity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and encourage people of all backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills to apply. Brooks is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, two-spirit identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, the presence of a physical, mental, or sensory disability, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), caste, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking, HIV or Hepatitis C infection, political ideology, use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability, or on any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, or any other non-merit based factors.