Footwear Designer / Developer Level 1

Northstar is a global design and sourcing house for footwear and apparel brands, based in El Segundo, CA. We work with top brands and retailers to help them scale and reduce supply chain overhead. Northstar offers end-to-end design and production services, including design and development, sourcing, and quality assurance, all backed by a global team of experts.

About the role

This is a full-time hybrid position requiring 4 days in-office and 1 day remote per week. The Footwear Designer/Developer I helps manage all stages of the development process from initial concept to completion. This role works closely with Design, Development, Materials, Costing, Commercialization, and Production teams to ensure products are developed on time. The successful candidate will collaborate with design teams and in-house experts to develop footwear collections from concept to mass production, manage the product development process, and communicate regularly with technical teams, customers, and manufacturers.

Responsibilities

• Manage all stages of the footwear development process from concept to completion
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Design, Development, Materials, Costing, Commercialization, Production) to ensure timely product development
• Develop footwear collections from concept to mass production
• Communicate regularly with technical teams, customers, and manufacturers
• Resolve development issues and mentor junior team members

Requirements

• Minimum of 3-5 years of practical experience in footwear design/development
• Bachelor’s degree in Product Design, Industrial Design, or related field
• Experience working in the footwear industry
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Creative Suite
• Proficiency with MS Office, including Excel
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and results orientation
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a diverse team

Qualifications

• Excellent cross-functional communication and collaboration skills
• Strong research and development skills with the ability to identify emerging trends and technologies
• Product management skills, including budget and timeline management
• Expertise in footwear technology, materials, construction techniques, and manufacturing processes
• Experience taking products from concept to production
• Women’s Casuals, Boots, and Sandals product experience is a plus

Preferred Skills

• Project management skills
• High level of initiative and maturity

Pay

$75,000 – $95,000 per year

Schedule

Hybrid: 4 days in-office, 1 day remote per week