Who We Are:
Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.
JOB MISSION:
As a Performance Sport Footwear Designer II with a focus on Golf, you will play a key role in shaping the future of New Balance performance footwear. You’ll design the next generation of golf shoes and performance cleats, blending innovation, functionality, and style to elevate athletes’ performance on and off the course. Working within a highly collaborative, cross-functional team, you’ll create forward-thinking designs driven by athlete insights, performance data, and a deep understanding of the game. While golf will be your primary focus, this role also offers opportunities to contribute to other performance sport categories across New Balance’s global portfolio.
Lead the creation of fresh, performance-driven design language for golf and other sport categories. Push the boundaries of innovation through new materials, construction techniques, and sustainable approaches that enhance athletic performance and elevate design aesthetics. You’ll also reimagine heritage and trend-relevant lifestyle models as high-performance golf footwear, blending iconic New Balance DNA with modern golf-specific innovation to deliver products that perform on the course and resonate off it.
Develop a deep understanding of the golf athlete — from swing dynamics and stability needs to comfort and traction — to design products that perform under pressure. Translate insights into footwear that delivers confidence, control, and all-day comfort across conditions.
Partner closely with design peers, developers, engineers, and product management to drive concepts from initial sketch through final production. Your creative vision will help influence category direction and inspire the broader performance design team.
Stay ahead of the curve in both sport and lifestyle trends — with a particular eye on golf’s evolving aesthetic and crossover culture. Balance technical performance with a modern, authentic design language that connects with today’s athletes and consumers.
Adopt a mindset of continuous exploration. Prototype, test, and refine ideas through athlete feedback and performance validation. Challenge convention to create products that redefine expectations for golf footwear.
5+ years of experience in footwear design, with strong preference for performance categories; experience in golf or cleated footwear design is highly valued.
A strong portfolio showcasing innovation, storytelling, and functional design solutions that merge performance and style.
Deep understanding of athlete needs, sport-specific performance requirements, and consumer behavior — especially within the golf space.
Strong Sole/Tooling design development experience.
Excellent conceptual and visualization skills — ability to bring ideas to life through sketches, 3D modeling, renderings, and physical prototypes.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Gravity Sketch, Vizcom, or similar digital design tools.
Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to inspire and align cross-functional partners.
Passion for innovation, experimentation, and continuous learning in footwear design.
Solid knowledge of technical footwear construction, materials, and manufacturing processes.
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally for athlete feedback sessions, testing, and factory visits.
Hybrid work model: In-office Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Regular Associate Benefits
Our products are only as good as the people we hire, so we make sure to hire the best and treat them accordingly. New Balance offers a comprehensive traditional benefits package including three options for medical insurance as well as dental, vision, life insurance and 401K. We also proudly offer a slate of more nontraditional perks – opportunities like online learning and development courses, tuition reimbursement, $100 monthly student loan support and various mentorship programs – that encourage our associates to grow personally as they develop professionally. You’ll also enjoy a yearly $1,000 lifestyle reimbursement, 4 weeks of vacations, 12 holidays and generous parental leave, because work-life balance is more than just a buzzword – it’s part of our culture.
Temporary associates are provided three options for medical insurance as well as dental and vision insurance and an associate discount.
Part time associates are provided 401k, short term disability, a yearly $300 lifestyle reimbursement and an associate discount.
Flexible Work Schedule
For decades we have fostered a unique culture founded on our values with a particular focus on in-person teamwork and collaboration. Our North American hybrid model encourages rich in-person experiences, showcasing our commitment to teamwork and connection, while maintaining flexibility for associates. New Balance Associates currently work in office three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). Our offices are fully open, and amenities are available across our North American office locations. To continue our focus on hybrid work we have introduced “Work from Anywhere” (WFA) for four weeks per calendar year. This model will help us enhance our culture while continuing to maintain elements of flexibility.
Equal Opportunity Employer
New Balance provides equal opportunities for all current and prospective associates to ensure that employment, training, compensation, transfer, promotion and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment are provided without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, handicap, genetic information and/or status as an Armed Forces service medal veteran, recently separated veteran, qualified disabled veteran or other protected veteran, or any other protected status.