Expert Designer, Energy - HOKA Footwear

The Role

As the Expert Designer – Energy Footwear at HOKA, you will be a creative force, leading the design of innovative, future-facing performance and lifestyle footwear. You’ll drive collaborations, shape brand-defining stories, and elevate HOKA’s presence in the marketplace. Your entrepreneurial spirit and independent mindset will connect people, ideas, and processes, bringing clarity and momentum from concept to final product. You’ll be at the forefront of bold, disruptive design, amplifying creativity and unlocking new dimensions of innovation.

Your Impact

• Lead design of Energy category priority projects, including high-profile collaborations and brand-first stories
• Manage the transition from Energy to Inline, delivering strategic design paths from pinnacle incubation to commercial scale
• Contribute to design strategy, category constructs, and HOKA’s creative vision
• Create forward-thinking performance and lifestyle footwear that blends fashion, function, and HOKA’s design DNA
• Translate external partner input, brand priorities, and consumer insights into compelling concepts and product solutions
• Explore new materials, constructions, and aesthetics to bring meaningful newness to footwear
• Create inspiring, memorable design stories and develop accurate illustrations, 2D drawings, renderings, and tech packs
• Act as a role model and mentor for junior designers, guiding project execution and cross-functional collaboration
• Lead product franchise vision and manage execution across multiple designers
• Set style and color direction for projects and categories, contributing to seasonal inspiration and presenting key insights internally and externally
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to achieve bold goals and mentor the design team in consumer understanding
• Attend seasonal kickoffs, design travel, and assist in travel/inspiration planning

Who You Are

• Hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Interaction Design, or a related field
• Bring 8+ years of experience in footwear design
• Possess advanced understanding of footwear material, construction, and process (Tooling + Upper)
• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, PowerPoint, Miro or Lucid
• Exhibit strong leadership and communication skills, with a track record of building and mentoring creative environments
• Exhibit expertise in leading generative AI platforms (e.g., Midjourney, Vizcom, etc.)
• Showcase both creative excellence and technical innovation in digital design

What We'll Give You

• Competitive Pay and Bonuses
• Financial Planning and Wellbeing
• Time Away from Work
• Extras, Discounts and Perks
• Growth and Development
• Health and Wellness