What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Footwear Designer position at Oboz Footwear?
Company Description Oboz Footwear is based in Bozeman, MT, where the nearby mountains serve as a real-world testing ground for its performance footwear. The team is made up of people who are passionate about the outdoors—hikers, runners, walkers, bikers, and anglers—who bring their trail experience directly into product design. This deep connection to the trail drives the creation of footwear that is durable, comfortable, and built for demanding conditions. Oboz follows a straightforward philosophy: design the kind of footwear the team is excited to wear. This focus on authenticity and performance shapes both the product line and the company culture.
Role Description The Senior Footwear Designer is a full-time, on-site role based in Bozeman, MT. This role leads the end-to-end design of performance footwear collections, from concept exploration to final design hand-off, ensuring products meet functional, aesthetic, and brand standards. Day-to-day responsibilities include developing seasonal concepts, building mood boards, sketching and refining designs, creating technical drawings, and collaborating with product development, engineering, and merchandising teams. The designer will work closely with materials and development partners to specify components, review prototypes, and iterate based on fit, performance, and field-testing feedback. Additional responsibilities include presenting design stories to stakeholders, staying current on market and trend insights, and mentoring junior designers to elevate the overall design function.
Qualifications
- Strong product creation skills, including Product Design and Industrial Design, with a proven ability to develop market-ready footwear concepts.
- Proficiency in Technical Drawing and Product Development, including clear communication of design intent to cross-functional and factory partners.
- Experience with visual concepting tools such as Mood Boards to translate brand and consumer insights into compelling design directions.
- Demonstrated background in performance or outdoor footwear, including understanding of fit, comfort, materials, and construction methods.
- Proficiency with relevant design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, 2D/3D CAD tools) and strong hand sketching skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and seasons simultaneously, meeting deadlines in a fast-paced, product-driven environment.
- Effective collaborative skills, with experience working in cross-functional teams and presenting design concepts to stakeholders.
- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
- Passion for outdoor activities and first-hand understanding of trail-focused performance needs is highly preferred.