Lead Chemical Engineer, Innovation

WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH
The candidate will report directly to the Korea Innovation Director of Chemical Engineering, located in Busan, Korea. This role will work alongside Innovation Project Leaders and individual contributors with expertise in various engineering disciplines, including Product, Tooling, Pattern, Mechanical, Electrical, Costing, Sustainability, Knit Engineering, Robotics, Process Optimization, and Product Development. Primarily, the candidate will collaborate with Nike and its manufacturing partner teams in Korea, while also having opportunities to work with teams across Asia and the USA.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
NIKE, Inc. is searching for a curious and passionate Lead Chemical Engineer, Innovation to join its team in Busan, South Korea. The ideal candidate possesses extensive experience and a thorough understanding of Footwear Development & Manufacturing processes. The candidate should also be adept at thinking outside the box to develop innovative solutions that streamline manufacturing and enhance performance and footwear fit. A self-starter, flexible thinker, and effective communicator, the candidate must be comfortable working cross-functionally and capable of influencing diverse personalities and perspectives. These skills are essential for collaborating across the Innovation team and various functions within Nike's matrixed organization. Proficiency in technical writing, an engineering mindset, data-driven decision-making, creativity, and the ability to challenge conventional methods are highly valued.

• Bachelor's degree or above in chemical engineering or chemistry (polymer or organic); a degree in textile or material engineering may be considered with the right work experience.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in footwear chemical engineering, manufacturing, or development.
• Experience with adhesive systems, rubbers, foams, injection plastics, especially formulation and processes related to consumer products.
• Knowledge of materials such as leather, synthetic leather, and textiles.
• Experience with sustainable materials and/or processes a strong plus.
• The ability to analyze data and the situation from a chemical engineering perspective; experience with analytical techniques (FTIR, DSC, TGA, DMA) a plus.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple engineering workstreams simultaneously.
• Excellent storytelling and English communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Local hire only

WHAT YOU'LL WORK ON

As a Lead Chemical Engineer, you will be responsible for:

• Appling advanced chemical and/or material concepts, theories, principles, and practices to provide technology advancements and solutions.
• Working effectively across the Nike matrix and with external partners to ultimately bring projects to manufacturing successfully.
• Leading and execute the development and transition of new chemical product, platforms, and capabilities.
• Leading the approval of new chemicals and ensure successful vendor onboarding in collaboration with inline CE (Chemical Engineering) team.
• Designing, planning, and executing engineering trials, and analyze results to determine necessary actions for achieving program targets, including performance & fit, cost, sustainability, and manufacturability.
• Collaborating with product development and functional engineering teams to commercialize product innovations.
• Collaborating with innovators and visual communicators to create comprehensive technical documentation.

Client-provided location(s): Busan, South Korea

Job ID: nike-21272_R-65846

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

Posted: 2025-07-23T11:41:44