Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

We’ll never launch a product unless we consider it perfect. Our product development teams create every shirt, every shoe and every piece of equipment for thousands of athletes and fashion lovers as if it was one of a kind. And it truly is, as they weave their passion into every single product. But translating designs, drawings and renderings into real products requires a lot of decision making.

As the Technical Manager FW Tooling, you are a key contributor in the footwear product development process by steering the footwear engineering and providing technical consultancy. You will work in strong partnership with footwear developers, technicians, digital experts, material experts as well as marketing, design, innovation, quality, sourcing and supply chain.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as a technical consultant to cross functional product creation teams by analyzing designs for manufacturability, production efficiencies, potential functional or quality issues and costing issues and offer alternative, economic and efficient solutions.
• Own the tooling creation process by driving the conversation of design information into a confirmed set of technical data and leading creation of tooling prototyping.
• Organize and supervise the creation of technical information in collaboration with Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 resources and if applicable adidas employees at the operational center.
• Offer technical solutions to the product team taking into consideration functional requirements of products, adidas quality standards, target costs and manufacturing constraints.
• Guide the innovative manufacturing process to ensure feasibility and proof of concept.
• Lead project review meetings with key stakeholders to ensure that each shoe is engineered and constructed to meet adidas quality standards, functional requirements and potential cost opportunities are identified.
• Put the consumer in the center of everything you do and inspire our product creation teams through technical solutions enhancing product sustainability, concept credibility and consumer experience.
• Increase the speed and efficiency of processes within the team by identifying and eliminating nonvalue adding steps.
• Continuously refresh your knowledge regarding latest technology trends in the field of footwear, engineering systems, prototyping possibilities, and footwear manufacturing.
• Consult (digital) creator team on design concepts into technical solutions and manufacturable products.
• Support and guide junior team members.
• Help to mentor new employees in technical product development by teaching them about adidas specific technical standards, processes and systems related to the tech package creation.
• Optional: Embrace state of the art digital tools and drive efficient decision making through the magics of virtual reality.

Key Relationships:

• Product Development
• Design
• Marketing
• Materials Team
• Innovation Team
• Product Testing
• Digital Creator Team
• Liaison Offices and supply partners (Tier 1/2/3)
• Concept Excellence
• Costing

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge in mold making and/or shoe making
• Progressive work experience 2D and 3D CAD application, Rhino preferred
• Knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and/or Adobe Photoshop; Microsoft 365
• English language proficiency required (reading and writing); German is an advantage
• Knowledge of current trends in footwear technology; design is an advantage
• Knowledge of technical analytics, digital 2D engineering and 3D modeling, anatomical knowledge is an advantage
• Enhanced knowledge in Materials, compounds Technologies and manufacturing process
• Well organized team player who feels comfortable communicating in an international and diverse environment and work in a fast-changing footwear world
• Continuous learning/growth mindset

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

• Degree as a mold maker, mold constructor, shoemaker, or technical/engineering degree (e.g. mechanical engineer) or Technical Product Designer, Technical Draftsman
• At least 2 years of work experience with focus on mold making, shoe making, manufacturing, product development or design with technical background

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at adidas means championing individual uniqueness and cultivating a culture of belonging in which everyone can create at their best.  We embrace diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives and seek to create a workforce that reflects our consumers and communities.

adidas offers robust and progressive medical, including HSA (Health Savings Account) with employer funding or FSA (Flexible Spending Account) options, dental, vision, prescription drug coverage, adoption, with surrogate and fertility support, short and long-term disability, and basic life and AD&D insurance, which can be supplemented with employee-paid coverage. Employees are able to enroll in adidas’ 401k plan and Stock Purchase Plan with employer match. Full-time employees are eligible for education assistance and generous Leave policies including 12 weeks of paid parental leave.

Employees are eligible to earn an annual bonus based on both company and personal performance. Employees accrue prorated flexible time off in the amount .4388 hours per day that increases with years of service,   eleven paid holidays throughout the calendar year and Service Time Off during milestone years.

The anticipated low and high end of the base pay range for this position is ($100,000-110,000). Actual salary will be based on various factors, such as a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills and competencies, and proficiency for the role. 

We officially returned to office in a hybrid work environment, working 3 days in office and 2 days remote.  The working location of this position is Los Angeles, CA

Though our teammates hail from all corners of the world, our working language is English