KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Technical Engineering Leadership: Serve as a technical expert for basketball footwear product creation teams, evaluating designs for performance, manufacturability, quality, production efficiency, and cost optimization.
Tooling Development: Own the tooling creation process by translating basketball footwear design concepts into validated technical specifications and leading tooling prototyping through key development milestones.
Technical Documentation: Oversee the creation and validation of technical engineering information in partnership with Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 manufacturing partners and adidas operational teams.
Product Engineering Solutions: Develop and recommend technical solutions that balance basketball-specific performance requirements, adidas quality standards, target costs, material specifications, and manufacturing capabilities.
Manufacturing Innovation: Guide innovative manufacturing processes, evaluate technical feasibility, and support proof-of-concept development for new footwear constructions and tooling technologies.
Product Review and Validation: Lead technical project reviews with key stakeholders to ensure basketball footwear meets engineering requirements, functional performance expectations, quality standards, and cost objectives.
Basketball Performance Engineering: Apply technical expertise to footwear construction and tooling solutions that support stability, traction, cushioning, durability, and multidirectional movement.
Consumer-Centered Innovation: Integrate athlete and consumer insights into technical engineering decisions that strengthen product credibility, sustainability, and on-court performance.
Digital Engineering Collaboration: Partner with Design and Digital Creation teams to translate 2D and 3D concepts into technically feasible, production-ready basketball footwear solutions.
Cross-Functional Partnership: Collaborate with Product Development, Design, Marketing, Materials, Innovation, Product Testing, Costing, and manufacturing partners to resolve technical challenges and support basketball footwear creation objectives.
Technical Mentorship: Provide guidance to junior engineers and new employees on adidas technical standards, footwear engineering processes, tooling development, and technical package creation.
Process Optimization: Identify and implement improvements that eliminate non-value-added activities, accelerate development timelines, and strengthen engineering efficiency.
End-to-End Engineering Excellence: Evaluate technical processes across the basketball footwear development lifecycle and implement improvements that enhance product quality, consistency, and operational effectiveness.
Technical Standards and Systems: Challenge existing engineering tools, methodologies, and workflows while developing practical solutions that improve cross-functional decision-making.
Emerging Technologies: Maintain expertise in footwear engineering advancements, mold making, prototyping technologies, materials, manufacturing systems, and digital development capabilities.
Digital Innovation: Explore advanced digital engineering tools, including virtual reality and emerging visualization technologies, to improve technical collaboration and development decisions.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Sport Science, Mold Making, or a related technical discipline, or comparable education.
Minimum of 4 years of professional experience in mold making, shoe making, footwear manufacturing, product development, or technically focused design.
Advanced technical knowledge of footwear mold making, shoe construction, and manufacturing processes.
Experience applying 2D and 3D CAD technologies to technical engineering, product development, or tooling applications.
Strong understanding of footwear materials, compounds, manufacturing technologies, and production requirements.
Ability to evaluate technical designs for manufacturability, product performance, quality, and cost efficiency.
Experience collaborating with cross-functional product creation teams and manufacturing partners.
Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and technical communication skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft 365 and working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and/or Adobe Photoshop.
English language proficiency, including professional reading and written communication.
Ability to work effectively in a diverse, international, and fast-paced product development environment.
Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning, technical innovation, and process improvement.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE
Experience developing tooling or engineered footwear solutions for basketball, performance sports, or other technically demanding athletic categories.
Experience using Rhino for advanced 3D CAD modeling and footwear tooling development.
Knowledge of digital 2D engineering, advanced 3D modeling, and technical analytics.
Understanding of footwear biomechanics, anatomical considerations, and performance-driven product construction.
Familiarity with basketball footwear performance requirements, including traction, stability, cushioning, and multidirectional movement.
Experience supporting technical product development across global manufacturing partners and multi-tier supply chains.
Exposure to digital prototyping, virtual reality, and advanced product visualization technologies.
Experience mentoring junior technical professionals or supporting engineering knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Experience identifying sustainability opportunities through material selection, tooling innovation, and manufacturing optimization.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This position is based in Los Angeles, California, and follows the adidas hybrid work policy. Employees are expected to work in the office Monday through Thursday, with flexibility to work remotely on Fridays. In-office attendance may also be required on Fridays for collaborative activities, business needs, or in-person presentations.
The role operates in a dynamic, collaborative, and technically focused basketball footwear product creation environment. Responsibilities involve close interaction with engineering, design, development, and manufacturing teams, as well as global supply chain partners. Travel expectations will be determined by business and project requirements.
The position requires adaptability, strong technical judgment, and the ability to manage multiple development priorities within a fast-paced, globally connected organization. English is the working language across adidas teams.
REPORTING STRUCTURE
The Sr. Technical Engineer, Footwear Tooling (Basketball) operates within the Basketball Footwear product development organization and works in close partnership with footwear engineering and product creation leadership. The position serves as a senior technical contributor, providing engineering expertise and recommendations that influence basketball footwear development decisions.
The role maintains strong cross-functional relationships with Product Development, Design, Marketing, Materials Development, Innovation, Product Testing, Digital Creation, Concept Excellence, Costing, Liaison Offices, and Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 manufacturing partners.
The position provides technical guidance, mentorship, and knowledge sharing to junior team members and newly onboarded employees. Formal people management responsibilities are not specified.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The anticipated base salary range for this position is $129,250 - $144,343.
Actual salary will be determined based on various factors, including a candidate's experience, qualifications, skills, competencies, and proficiency for the role.
Employees are eligible to earn an annual bonus based on both company and individual performance.
adidas offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible full-time employees, designed to support health, financial well-being, work-life balance, and professional development. Benefits include:
Comprehensive medical coverage including HSA with employer funding or FSA options, dental, vision, and prescription plans.
Adoption, surrogate, and fertility support programs.
Short and long term disability coverage.
Basic life and AD and D insurance with supplemental employee paid options.
401(k) plan and Stock Purchase Plan with employer match or applicable adidas contributions.
Education assistance for eligible full time employees.
Paid parental and other eligible leave programs.
Flexible Time Off accrued at 0.4388 hours per day for employees with less than five years of service, increasing with tenure.
Twelve Company-Designated paid holidays, including a Floating Holiday, plus milestone Service Time Off for eligible employees.
Employee product discounts and access to wellness and Employee Assistance programs.
All benefits are subject to applicable eligibility requirements, company policies, plan terms, and formal plan documents.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
At adidas, we foster a workplace culture built on respect, collaboration, and opportunity where employees can grow, contribute, and perform at their best.
We value diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds because they strengthen our teams, drive innovation, and help us better serve athletes, consumers, and communities around the world.
adidas is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.
AT ADIDAS WE HAVE A WINNING CULTURE. BUT TO WIN, PHYSICAL POWER IS NOT ENOUGH. JUST LIKE ATHLETES OUR EMPLOYEES NEED MENTAL STRENGTH IN THEIR GAME. WE FOSTER THE ATHLETE’S MINDSET THROUGH A SET OF BEHAVIORS THAT WE WANT TO ENABLE AND DEVELOP IN OUR PEOPLE AND THAT ARE AT THE CORE OF OUR UNIQUE COMPANY CULTURE: THIS IS HOW WE WIN WHILE PLAYING FAIR.
COURAGE: Speak up when you see an opportunity; step up when you see a need..
OWNERSHIP: Pick up the ball. Be proactive, take responsibility and follow-through.
INNOVATION: Elevate to win. Be curious, test and learn new and better ways of doing things.
TEAMPLAY: Win together. Work collaboratively and cultivate a shared mindset.
INTEGRITY: Play by the rules. Hold yourself and others accountable to our company’s standards.
RESPECT: Value all players. Display empathy, be inclusive and show dignity to all.
At adidas, we strongly believe that embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into our culture and talent processes gives our employees a sense of belonging and our brand a real competitive advantage.
Culture Starts With People, It Starts With You –
By recruiting talent and developing our people to reflect the rich diversity of our consumers and communities, we foster a culture of inclusion that engages our employees and authentically connects our brand with our consumers.
Job Title
Sr. Technical Engineer, Tooling (adidas Basketball | Footwear)
TEAM
Product Development & Operations
Location
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country/Region
US
Contract Type
Full time
Number
551416
Date
Oct 28, 2026
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