Lead, Product Development Engineer Design, Air Manufacturing Innovation

September 3, 2026

At Air Manufacturing Innovation (Air MI), we deliver on Nike's most daring dream: giving every athlete the unparalleled sensation of walking on air. Since Nike introduced the Air sole in 1979, no technology has become more synonymous with Nike than Air. Our teams engineer, make, and perfect Nike's most advanced footwear components. Masters of teamwork, we challenge assumptions in order to get faster, drive efficiency and fine-tune technology to deliver quality performance plastic. At our state-of-the-art facilities located globally, Air MI is taking Air to places that we never thought possible.

WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH

As a Lead Product Development Engineer, the candidate will join the Design Engineering team at Air Manufacturing Innovation as an individual contributor and report to the Senior Manager, Global Design and Development. The role influences technical outcomes across the function without people management authority. The Lead collaborates with Tooling, Manufacturing Engineering, and Manufacturing Operations, Materials, Project Management, Supply Chain, and other partners, and provides technical coaching to Engineer I and Engineer II teammates.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for a Lead Product Development Engineer to join engineers commercializing and manufacturing Nike Air products. This individual contributor role works cross functionally on new products, processes, materials, and continuous improvement while helping less experienced engineers grow their technical skills.

The candidate needs deep expertise in project management, product development, tool design, materials, and machine safety, plus the ability to influence peers and partners without formal authority. The ideal candidate guides Engineer I and Engineer II teammates on methods and priorities, drives alignment on complex work, and communicates clearly to senior stakeholders. This role has no direct people leadership responsibilities: no performance management, staffing decisions, or team management

What You Bring:

Bachelor's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical Engineering or other manufacturing related degree, or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training
Minimum 6 years of related manufacturing experience within a high-volume manufacturing production environment
Proficiency using CAD for complex product and tooling design. CAD Automation experience is strongly preferred
Experience using PDM software configuration and in depth understanding of revision control. Teamcenter experience is preferable
Experience with programming languages for scripting and developing applications for NX Open API sets you apart
Rhino/Grasshopper experience is preferred
Validated project management skills and proven ability to influence cross-functional partners without formal authority
Great teamwork and communication skills; proven ability to coach Engineer I and Engineer II engineers on technical work
Experience with Six Sigma Tools, Lean Manufacturing methods, and industrial equipment safety is preferred
A demonstrated understanding of fabrication and tolerancing for machined and additive tooling
Ability to travel domestically and internationally on occasion

WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON

You will deliver complex part and tooling design while influencing how the team works, without managing people. You will coach Engineer I and Engineer II engineers, drive computational design practices, and partner across Air MI to align technical priorities on your programs and shared team initiatives.

Lead part and tooling design for new product development and continuous improvement programs
Drive computational design best practices and contribute to design and tooling operational excellence
Guide Engineer I and Engineer II engineers on CAD, PDM, tolerancing, and technical problem solving (coaching, not people management)
Collaborate with Tooling, Manufacturing Engineering, and Manufacturing Operations, Materials, Project Management, Supply Chain, and other partners to align tasks, projects, and technical decisions
Support development of new Air products and daily manufacturing operations
Solve problems using limited information and implement solutions while anticipating downstream impacts
Contribute to documenting and maintaining standard work instructions for the design team
Influence Air MI partners and leaders on project direction through technical expertise and relationship building, not formal authority
Use a collaborative approach to build alignment on tough technical and organizational topics (escalate people decisions to people managers)

We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.

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