Materials Developer - HOKA Footwear

At Deckers Brands, Together, Every Step is a promise kept that every employee can bring their authentic self, is valued and supported, as a whole person, at work and beyond. Together, Every Step is how we continue to deliver exceptional business results, experience an amazing place to work, and have a positive impact on the communities and world around us. 

 

Job Title: Materials Developer - HOKA Footwear

Reports to: Sr. Manager, Materials Development - HOKA Footwear

Location: Portland, OR (Hybrid)

Typically 3 times per week in office, Tuesday – Thursday

 

The Role

As a Materials Developer for HOKA Footwear, you’ll play an important role in bringing innovative performance footwear to life. Working at the intersection of creativity, technical development, and product execution, you’ll support seasonal material developments that align with HOKA’s performance, aesthetic, sustainability, cost, and sourcing goals.

You’ll collaborate closely with Footwear Design, Material Design, Product Development, Engineering, Product Line Management, Testing, Sourcing, Procurement, and external suppliers throughout the product creation process. From researching emerging technologies and coordinating prototypes to interpreting test results and supporting commercialization, your work will help ensure materials deliver the quality, consistency, and performance our products demand.

This is an opportunity to build deep technical expertise while contributing to meaningful product innovation. You’ll learn from experienced partners, develop relationships with global suppliers, and grow your ownership of seasonal material development as you help HOKA pursue the Best Possible solutions for athletes and consumers.

 

We celebrate diversity--of your background, your experiences and your unique identity. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and equitable workplace where all of our employees can Come as They Are. We believe that when we bring our different perspectives to work, we are truly Better Together.

 

Your Impact

• Support in-season development of advanced materials for HOKA performance footwear, ensuring materials align with product goals, cross-functional needs, and seasonal timelines.
• Support technical material development throughout the product creation cycle, including prototyping, product briefing, design reviews, and key development sample gates.
• Partner with Material Design to advance seasonal strategies through concepting, research, development, and exploration of vendor technologies.
• Work Better Together with Footwear Design, Material Design, Development, Engineering, Product Line Management, and Testing to coordinate material selections, timelines, testing needs, and feedback.
• Research and communicate with international suppliers to identify emerging technologies, new material opportunities, and supplier capabilities and expertise.
• Coordinate with vendors to track samples and development progress, capture updates, resolve open issues, and help ensure alignment throughout product creation.
• Interpret, translate, and analyze material testing results to help ensure performance and durability standards are achieved.
• Gather and organize material options that support performance, aesthetics, sustainability, cost, and regional sourcing objectives, and prepare materials for key team reviews and milestones.
• Maintain accurate material data in product lifecycle management (PLM) systems to support CAD handoffs, early-stage prototypes, testing, and commercialization.
• Maintain and organize the material studio, helping teams efficiently access the information and physical materials needed to make informed product decisions.
• Partner with Sourcing and Procurement to document vendor updates, track issues, and escalate concerns when needed.
• Help advance new technologies, machinery, yarns, and sustainability initiatives outside of the seasonal development cycle, supporting their future integration into inline product.
• Build your technical knowledge of material types, testing standards, manufacturing methods, supplier capabilities, and footwear construction, gradually taking greater ownership within seasonal development cycles.

 

Who You Are

• You have a bachelor’s degree in Textile Science/Development, Textile Engineering, or a related field; a master’s degree is a plus.
• You bring 2+ years of relevant experience, which may include footwear product creation, material development, engineering, or science.
• You have a basic understanding of, or strong interest in, footwear materials and construction, including textiles, synthetics, and manufacturing methods.
• You’re eager to deepen your technical knowledge of material testing, sustainability, footwear development, and material performance.
• You’re curious about how design intent translates into materials that meet real-world footwear performance needs.
• You bring strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to reliably follow through on priorities and assigned work.
• You’re collaborative and comfortable working across disciplines, learning from experienced colleagues, and contributing to shared goals.
• You have familiarity with Excel, Adobe Illustrator, PowerPoint, or similar tools used to organize information and communicate ideas.
• You maintain awareness of emerging insights and trends within footwear or comparable industries and are excited to turn that curiosity into future material opportunities.
• You’re comfortable collaborating with international suppliers and cross-functional partners in a global product creation environment.
• You’re able to travel domestically and internationally up to 10% of the time.

 

What We'll Give You –

• Competitive Pay and Bonuses - We’ve created a variety of competitive compensation programs to foster career development, reward success and to show our employees just how much they’re valued.
• Financial Planning and wellbeing - No matter what financial goals our employees have set, we want to help them get there. Our plans provide powerful ways to protect income, pay for expenses and invest in the future.
• Time away from work - Sometimes we need time away to be with family, focus on our health or just simply recharge. Our plans support our employees’ needs to get out, get healthy and come back stronger than ever.
• Extras, discounts and perks - Being a valued member of the Deckers Brands team means more than just a paycheck. From generous discounts to community-based programs, we offer a variety of cool extras
• Growth and Development - Deckers Brands was built on the idea of pursuing passion. That’s why we offer extensive opportunities and support for personal and professional development.
• Health and Wellness - There’s nothing basic about our comprehensive health and wellness programs and offerings. While at work and at play, we aim to support a healthy lifestyle.

 

 

$72,600.00 - $98,000.00

 

The salary range posted reflects the estimated minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for this role in:

Portland, Oregon

 

Individual pay will be determined by location and additional factors, including job related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Equal Employment Opportunity
Diversity and inclusion are key to our success. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences and backgrounds who share a passion for our brands. We welcome qualified applicants regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, military or veteran status, mental or physical disability, medical condition and all the other beautiful parts of your identity.