Computational Designer II, Footwear Innovation

Job description

**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:** As a Brooks Computational Designer II, Innovation Footwear Designer, you will help shape the future of running footwear by translating athlete-driven performance needs into thoughtful geometry, form, and product ideas. You will contribute to innovation and elite athlete projects with high-quality design execution, creating solutions that elevate performance, inform the future footwear pipeline, and support the aesthetic readiness of Brooks Running inline footwear. In this role, you will work closely with Senior Designers and cross-functional partners to move early-stage concepts into tangible footwear designs. You will design with empathy for Brooks elite athletes and runners, applying the creative foundation of Crafted Beauty – Performance Expressions to connect Fit, Feel, and Ride with clear brand direction and appropriate aesthetic appeal for the target runner. You will be part of a multidisciplinary Innovation & Elite Athlete Team working at the leading edge of footwear creation. Through advanced computational processes, rapid digital exploration, and production-ready geometry, you will help bring ambitious ideas to life and translate complex biomechanical insights into crafted footwear concepts for high-performance athletes. Your work will require strong technological fluency, computational creativity, and technical know-how, along with the ability to build processes, workflows, and tools around advanced technologies. You will collaborate with Innovation Footwear Design, Run Research, Product Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering to explore new possibilities, refine prototypes, and help Brooks deliver the tools that athletes trust to reach their highest potential. ### Your Responsibilities: - **COMPUTATIONAL CREATIVITY**: - Leverage computational tools across a variety of product domains and goals, applying algorithmic logic to footwear domains. - Contribute novel design solutions to problems utilizing advanced and performance-driven geometries - Scale your workflow dynamically—move fluidly from quick, iterative explorations to high-fidelity, production-ready geometry based on project needs and timelines. - Generate production tooling geometry using Rhino 3D or other surface modeling environments, ensuring designs can be prototyped and tested with elite athletes. - Demonstrate strong conceptual thinking sensibilities by communicating computational solutions to other team members and project leadership. - **TECHNICAL SKILLS**: - Perform a variety of computational tasks leveraging Grasshopper, Houdini, Blender Geometry Nodes, TouchDesigner, and other computational tools - Demonstrate proficiency in programming using C# / Python / Vex / Java, or other programming languages. - Leverage temporal and spatial data to create performance-driven geometries. - Integrate emerging technologies into workflows, including generative AI for concepting, code generation, ideation, or other uses. - Demonstrate 3D fluency across multiple paradigms and work confidently with NURBs, mesh, and other geometry typologies to solve complex design challenges. Parametric skills and methods are essential. - Navigate 3D interoperability with expertise, moving seamlessly between formats and software platforms based on project requirements. - **COLLABORATION & INFLUENCE**: - Partner directly with Innovation Footwear Design, Engineering, and Run Research team members to create breakthrough footwear concepts that advance performance. - Interface regularly with Run Research, Product Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering to ensure designs are grounded in performance science and manufacturing reality. - Present concepts and designs with clarity and conviction, inspiring cross-functional teams to embrace bold ideas. - Disseminate computational knowledge across teams and advocate for technological innovation - **ACCOUNTABILITY & EXECUTION**: - Own your deadlines and deliver with excellence: Establish and manage timelines and autonomously ensure accurate completion of projects. - Travel as needed (approximately 10%) to Asia, Europe, trade shows, races, factory sites, or other locations that advance the work. - **EXPLORATION & CONTINUOUS GROWTH:** - Continue developing Advanced Computational Skills and adding to your digital toolkit and workflows. - Advance integration of Computational Tools at all scales across product categories. - Continue exploration of novel and bleeding-edge technologies, including generative AI, proceduralism, automation, and more. - Deepen your understanding of performance footwear construction, runner biomechanics, manufacturing processes, and design philosophy. - Conduct factory and supplier visits to gain firsthand insights into manufacturing processes and build relationships that inform better design decisions. ### Qualifications: - - Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Architecture, Product Design, 3D Design, or related field (or equivalent experience) or an equivalent combination of education and experience; Master's degree preferred. - 5+ years of professional experience in Computational Design and advanced geometry creation - High level of proficiency in utilizing algorithmic/computational modeling tools (Grasshopper, Houdini, Blender Geometry Nodes, TouchDesigner, etc.) - Experience with programming and scripting to expand the capabilities of native 3D software - Deep knowledge of computational geometry and underlying mathematics behind geometry creation - Proficiency in Rhino 3D and other directed modeling tools (Blender, Alias, Maya, etc.) - Demonstrates high-level systems thinking as well as deep technical understanding of computational methods - Excellent communication and presentation skills - Strong collaboration skills and ability to build relationships across diverse stakeholder groups - Deep empathy for athletes and their needs - Embraces and lives the Brooks values!