Footwear Product Developer I - Johnston & Murphy

The Ideal Candidate

The Footwear Product Developer is responsible for coordinating the development process of seasonal men’s footwear collections. This role collaborates closely with design, merchandising, technical teams, and global partners to ensure the delivery of innovative, brand-right, and market-relevant products that meet performance, quality, cost, and timeline expectations.

How You Will Make An Impact

• Execute product development process of seasonal men’s footwear collections, from concept to commercialization.
• Drive day-to-day sampling, prototyping, and mold development, ensuring alignment with design intent, fit standards and performance requirements.
• Partner with Design and Material teams to select components, constructions, and engineering solutions that meet performance and cost targets.
• Create and maintain comprehensive tech packs, including 2D/3D specifications, bills of materials, cost breakdowns, and all supporting documentation.
• Utilize PDM/PLM/Smartsheet tools to ensure accurate tracking, and communication and approval of development updates across global teams.
• Drive innovation in lasts, patterns, and materials, and construction methods in collaboration with technical teams and factory partners.
• Ensure product manufacturability while upholding brand quality standards.
• Manage development timelines to ensure on-time commercialization and seasonal milestone adherence.
• Collaborate with sourcing and materials partners on testing and compound development to meet product and performance targets.
• Partner with J&M Costing to manage pre-costing, seasonal cost analysis, and problem solving on all projects to meet margin requirements.

Experience And Skills You'll Need To Have

• Bachelor’s degree in Footwear Engineering, Product Development, and or related field of study.
• Minimum of 1-3 years footwear industry experience (Men’s category preferred)
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and industry-specific tools such as Product Line Management and Development software.
• Working knowledge of footwear materials, footwear lasts, leathers, outsoles, and constructions.
• Strong analytical and structural thinking skills with a solid commercial mindset and problem-solving ability.
• Proven ability to build and maintain effective partnerships with global design, manufacturing, and sourcing teams.
• Effective time management, highly organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable to fast-paced development cycles.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally.