Senior Material Designer - Footwear Careers at Lululemon - Portland, Oregon

Role Overview

Join Lululemon's world-class design team in Portland, Oregon as a Senior Material Designer - Footwear. This pivotal role shapes the creative and strategic direction of footwear materials for both performance and lifestyle products. Balancing hands-on material creation with strategic cross-functional partnerships, you'll translate cultural insights, aesthetics, and global trends into innovative, performance-driven solutions that align with Lululemon's brand vision.

As part of our innovative performance apparel company revolutionizing yoga, running, training, and athletic pursuits, you'll leverage technical fabrics and functional design to create transformational products. Our Footwear Creative Direction team drives excellence through deep guest understanding, science-backed feel solutions, and strong connections between design, innovation, and raw materials. If you're a footwear materials specialist energized to push boundaries, this Lululemon career opportunity in Portland is for you.

Key Responsibilities at Lululemon

In this dynamic role, you'll own the material strategy for Lululemon footwear. Here's what your day-to-day looks like:

• Drive material vision: Translate cultural, aesthetic, and global insights into functional, performance-driven material solutions aligned with brand strategy.
• Create seasonal stories: Design cohesive material narratives that elevate product experience, drawing from Lululemon's apparel material expertise.
• Collaborate cross-functionally: Partner with design, development, color, and 3D teams to commercialize concepts from ideation to production.
• Innovate relentlessly: Research, prototype, and experiment with new constructions, finishes, and applications for future-forward footwear.
• Stay ahead of trends: Monitor global material trends, performance insights, and technologies, sharing knowledge to inform seasonal strategies.
• Communicate effectively: Use visual storytelling, concepts, visualization tools, and detailed tech packs to support development timelines.
• Manage projects: Handle multiple priorities across overlapping seasons, ensuring deliverables meet GTM calendars.
• Build partnerships: Foster relationships with global suppliers and internal teams to enhance quality, performance, and execution.
• Mentor talent: Guide junior designers with feedback and knowledge sharing to build team excellence.

Bring your hands-on, solution-oriented mindset and curiosity about materials, technologies, and processes to drive momentum and shared outcomes.

Qualifications & Requirements

To succeed as a Senior Material Designer - Footwear at Lululemon, you need:

• 8+ years experience: Proven track record in footwear material or textile design.
• Education: BA, BFA, or BS in Design, Materials, or Textile Design (or equivalent).
• Expertise: Footwear materials and textile specialist with deep performance product knowledge.
• Technical skills: Proficiency in Adobe Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).
• Portfolio: Strong demonstration of material design process and unique point of view.
• Key traits: Energized innovator who embraces failure, excels in research synthesis, collaboration, and project management.

Must-haves include an entrepreneurial spirit, honest communication, and personal responsibility in every moment.

Salary & Benefits

Earn a competitive salary range of $120,000 - $160,000 USD annually (based on Portland market data), plus performance incentives. Lululemon offers exceptional perks:

• Comprehensive health, dental, vision coverage
• 401(k) with generous company match
• Unlimited PTO and wellness days
• 50% employee product discounts
• Tuition reimbursement and career development
• Hybrid work flexibility in Portland
• Parental leave and family benefits
• On-site gym access and wellness programs

Why Join Lululemon?

Lululemon isn't just a company—it's a movement. We're committed to positive change, creating equitable, inclusive environments where people grow, connect, and thrive. In Portland's vibrant design scene, you'll join a collaborative team pushing footwear innovation. Enjoy incredible community connections, continuous learning, and the freedom to unleash your potential. Our success stems from innovative products, people-first culture, and global impact. Apply for this Senior Material Designer role today and help build a healthier future.

With emphasis on stores, guests, and sustainability, Lululemon empowers you to move the industry forward through visual and technical excellence.

How to Apply

Ready to elevate Lululemon footwear? Submit your portfolio showcasing material design POV, resume, and cover letter highlighting your footwear expertise. Applications reviewed on a rolling basis—apply now for Portland careers at Lululemon! Join our design team and transform athletic experiences.