About Nike

Nike is the world's leading sports brand, empowering athletes and innovators through groundbreaking products and technology. With a mission to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world, Nike's Consumer Product and Innovation team forms the backbone of product creation—from ideation and design to development and merchandising. Headquartered in the US with a thriving tech hub in India, Nike invests heavily in digital transformation to stay ahead of consumer trends. As a global leader in retail tech, Nike combines athletic excellence with cutting-edge software engineering to redefine how products are created and delivered.

Role Overview

The Director, Software Engineering, ITC role in Nike's Karnataka, India hub is a strategic leadership position within the Consumer Product and Innovation team. This role focuses on leading high-performing engineering squads to build web experiences and core platform APIs powered by AI/ML for Nike's Product Creation function. Reporting to senior technology leadership, you'll collaborate across boundaries to modernize Nike's tech landscape with reusable, scalable solutions. This is an opportunity to shape Nike's technical future, fostering innovation in a product-centric model while driving rapid value delivery.

Key Impact Areas

Expect to influence multi-year roadmaps, integrate emerging technologies, and cultivate a global engineering culture that accelerates Nike's digital maturity.

Key Responsibilities

In this pivotal role, you'll spearhead engineering excellence across Nike's product innovation ecosystem:

• Lead, mentor, and manage multiple engineering squads to deliver software aligned with cross-functional roadmaps and industry trends.
• Build a culture of trust and innovation, exploring AI/ML, cloud-native tech, and new patterns to scale business value.
• Partner closely with Merchandising, Product Creation leaders, product managers, architects, and principal engineers to prioritize and execute technical decisions.
• Drive continuous transformational changes in technical standards, best practices, experimentation, and developer productivity.
• Empower high-performing teams by removing barriers, inspiring positive change in solution design, delivery, and processes.

Qualifications & Requirements

Nike seeks proven leaders with deep technical expertise and a passion for innovation:

• 15+ years' experience leading high-performing software engineering teams.
• 5+ years in leadership roles providing strategic direction to multiple squads.
• 5+ years with cloud-native platforms (AWS, Azure, or equivalents).
• Expertise in modern architectures (REST, microservices, domain-driven design), front-end tech (JavaScript, React/Vue, HTML5/CSS), and distributed systems (Node.js, Kubernetes, Lambda, DynamoDB).
• Strong Agile/DevOps experience, including CI/CD pipelines and monitoring tools like Splunk, SignalFx, New Relic.
• Excellent communication skills for technical and business audiences, strategic thinking, and a track record of inspiring teams.
• Preferred: AI/ML implementation or integration experience.

Fluency in strategic translation to measurable objectives and passion for emerging technologies are essential.

Benefits & Perks

Joining Nike means accessing world-class rewards tailored for top talent:

• Competitive base salary estimated at ₹65-95 lakhs annually, plus performance bonuses and equity.
• Comprehensive health insurance, wellness programs, and family benefits.
• Nike employee product discounts and exclusive athlete experiences.
• Flexible hybrid work models with state-of-the-art facilities in Karnataka.
• Professional development through leadership training and global conferences.

Career Growth

This Director role positions you for executive tech leadership at Nike. With exposure to global stakeholders, you'll build partnerships that propel your career. Nike invests in internal mobility, mentorship, and skill-building in AI, cloud, and digital innovation—preparing you for VP-level opportunities and beyond. Thrive in a culture that values inclusive leadership and technical mastery.

Why Join Us

At Nike India, you'll work on transformative projects impacting billions of consumers worldwide. Lead the charge in product innovation tech, leveraging AI/ML to pioneer how Nike designs and creates. Enjoy a collaborative, high-trust environment with peers who share your drive for excellence. Be part of a brand that doesn't just innovate products—it innovates the future of sport and technology.

Role FAQs

Q: What is the team structure?
A: You'll lead multiple squads of software engineers, architects, and specialists focused on product creation platforms.

Q: Is relocation support available?
A: Nike provides comprehensive support for high-level roles, including visa and settling-in assistance if needed.

Q: What tech stack will I work with?
A: Core focus on cloud-native (AWS/Azure), microservices, React/Vue front-ends, Kubernetes, AI/ML integrations, and DevOps tools.

Q: How does Nike support work-life balance?
A: Flexible hours, unlimited PTO, wellness stipends, and a culture emphasizing sustainable high performance.

Q: What makes this role unique at Nike?
A: Direct impact on Nike's product pipeline using cutting-edge AI/ML to outpace consumer demands globally.