Expert Designer - HOKA Performance Footwear

HOKA is redefining product design through a visionary pursuit to create new experiences and style choices for consumers, guided by an exploration of what is possible and a push for bold, disruptive design that advances performance. This role brings deep design expertise and creative leadership to advanced footwear concepts across HOKA's performance categories, with a primary focus on racing, road, and trail running and additional work across training and hiking. As a senior individual contributor, the postholder takes on some of the most complex design opportunities, shaping distinctive, commercially relevant products that unite athlete needs, technical performance, innovation, and HOKA's unmistakable point of view.

• Create and advance performance footwear concepts across Racing, Road, Trail, Training, and Hiking, and develop distinctive product concepts, design languages, branding, and franchise expressions that strengthen HOKA's performance leadership.
• Translate athlete insights, consumer needs, cultural shifts, competitive intelligence, and emerging opportunities into compelling product experiences.
• Apply a Best Possible design mindset, balancing innovation, performance, usability, manufacturability, aesthetic expression, and commercial relevance.
• Maintain strong design intent across silhouette, proportion, details, construction, fit, ride, and the overall athlete experience.
• Partner with Colour, Material, Graphic, and Digital teams, and across Product, Innovation, Development, Engineering, and Merchandising, to create cohesive product stories and bring category visions to life.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and trusted creative resource for complex performance footwear challenges, sharing expertise and best practices that strengthen the team's creative and technical capabilities.
• Mentor designers through project-based guidance, design critique, and hands-on problem solving while contributing as an expert individual contributor without direct reports.
• Explore and apply advanced 2D, 3D, prototyping, and AI-enabled workflows to enhance design quality, exploration, and speed.
• Contribute to seasonal design standards, reviews, and creative alignment, and influence briefs, innovation opportunities, and seasonal priorities through a design-led, expert perspective.
• Protect and elevate design intent from concept through commercialisation, solving technical and aesthetic challenges along the way.
• Communicate compelling design narratives and recommendations at key reviews and leadership forums, and maintain a sharp understanding of athlete needs, emerging technologies, and the competitive landscape to inspire meaningful innovation and differentiation.

• Bachelor's or master's degree in industrial design, product design, or a related field.
• 8+ years of footwear design experience.
• Demonstrated expertise leading complex footwear design projects and influencing outcomes through exceptional craft, credibility, and collaboration.
• Strong experience taking footwear from concept through commercialisation, including hands-on resolution of technical and design challenges.
• Experience thriving in a global product creation environment and partnering across Design, Product, Development, Innovation, Engineering, Merchandising, and Brand teams.
• Expert-level creative capability in footwear design, concept development, product storytelling, and visual expression.
• Deep understanding of performance footwear needs across running, racing, trail, training, hiking, and outdoor use.
• Ability to turn athlete insight, consumer needs, and competitive intelligence into distinctive product solutions and clear recommendations.
• Advanced knowledge of biomechanics, footwear construction, proportion, midsole and outsole design, materials, fit, ride, and performance benefits.
• Advanced technical drawing, visual communication, prototyping, and presentation skills.
• Ability to influence through expertise, thoughtful feedback, collaboration, and consistently high standards of craft.
• Understanding of modern digital creative workflows and tools, including 2D, 3D, and AI-enabled exploration.
• Portfolio demonstrating creative excellence, performance problem solving, technical depth, and successful commercial footwear design.

• Footwear design experience ideally spanning racing, road, trail, training, hiking, or outdoor performance categories.

• Hybrid role based in Portland, OR, typically 3 times per week in office, Tuesday–Thursday.

• Competitive pay and bonuses, with a variety of competitive compensation programmes to foster career development, reward success, and show employees they are valued.
• Financial planning and wellbeing, with plans to help protect income, pay for expenses, and invest in the future.
• Time away from work, with plans supporting employees' needs to get out, get healthy, and come back stronger.
• Extras, discounts and perks, including generous discounts and community-based programmes.
• Growth and development, with extensive opportunities and support for personal and professional development.
• Health and wellness, with comprehensive health and wellness programmes and offerings that support a healthy lifestyle.

Deckers Brands states that Together, Every Step is a promise kept that every employee can bring their authentic self, is valued and supported as a whole person, at work and beyond. The company says Together, Every Step is how it continues to deliver exceptional business results, experience an amazing place to work, and have a positive impact on the communities and world around it. Deckers Brands celebrates diversity of background, experiences, and unique identity, and is committed to ensuring an inclusive and equitable workplace where all employees can Come as They Are.