Washington Shoe Company is hiring: Footwear Designer in Renton

About Washington Shoe Company

Founded in Seattle in 1891, Washington Shoe Company is a fourth-generation family-owned business with a long and proud heritage in the footwear industry. Known for iconic brands like Western Chief, Staheekum, and Chooka, we design and create quality, functional, and stylish footwear for the whole family.

Role Overview

Washington Shoe Company has an opening for a Footwear Designer with strong experience in sneakers, outdoor adventure footwear, and performance-driven design. This role is responsible for creating and developing innovative footwear for Western Chief, Chooka and Staheekum. The ideal candidate brings a keen eye for trend direction, a technical understanding of performance materials, and expertise in designing versatile footwear built for both everyday wear and outdoor environments.

This position requires trend research, CAD development, material and component selection, color design, last understanding, and hands-on participation in fittings. The designer will collaborate closely with co-designers, Production, Sales, and Marketing to maintain and evolve the brand identity.

Please note, to keep our small but mighty team collaborating efficiently, this role is based in person at our Renton HQ.

Key Responsibilities

• Research seasonal sneaker, outdoor, and adventure-footwear trends, including materials, technologies, and color stories; present findings through inspirational trend boards for Sales and Marketing.
• Utilize product selling data and line plans to design 2–3 collections per year, including inline, catalog, and special make-up programs.
• Create detailed spec tech packs, CADs, and design documentation for sample development.
• Communicate with overseas factories and agents using clear visual and physical references to ensure design accuracy and execution.
• Partner with sourcing and costing to ensure materials, constructions, and components meet cost and margin targets.
• Engineer and modify designs based on factory capabilities, performance requirements, and cost considerations while preserving brand integrity and design intent.
• Participate in wear-testing, fittings, and QC reviews to validate comfort, performance, and durability.
• Manage multiple projects from concept and proto development through commercialization and production handoff.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally for meetings, tradeshows, development reviews, and factory visits.

Qualifications and Bonus Points

• Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Industrial Design, Footwear Design, Product Design, or related field.
• 3+ years of footwear design experience, with strong preference for sneaker, outdoor, or performance footwear categories.
• Deep knowledge and passion for footwear construction, materials, and industrial/product design.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and relevant 3D/CAD programs (e.g., Illustrator, Photoshop; 3D a plus).
• Utilize AI-driven trend forecasting, material inspiration, and rapid concept generation to enhance design development.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present concepts clearly.
• Creative, strategic thinker with the ability to balance innovation with commercial viability.
• Problem-solving mindset, collaborative approach, and proactive “can-do” attitude.

What We Offer

• Competitive benefits package; medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance
• 401k plus company match
• Employee purchase credit
• Paid volunteer hours
• Opportunities for professional development and growth
• A collaborative and supportive team environment with a flat organizational structure
• Open work environment with a casual dress code

Compensation dependent on experience $70,000 - $90,000 annually