Lead Computational Engineer

The NXT Future Capabilities team invents and develops scalable, digitally-driven methods of make that enable product innovation, simplify manufacturing and reduce carbon through robust engineering and product integration.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

This is an opportunity to join Nike's Advanced Innovation team as a member of the AIC Future Capabilities team. We are seeking a Lead Computational Engineer who has strong expertise in building tools that advance and automate computational design and engineering processes for footwear manufacturing. An understanding of materials, footwear and/or apparel product engineering is a benefit.

This Lead Computational Engineer role will be comfortable quickly prototyping solutions with various procedural tools including Rhino/Grasshopper. They can speak with domain experts across design and engineering to translate their knowledge into solutions. You understand how to integrate advanced, data-driven, and computational design practices with engineering best practices.

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON

As a Lead Computational Engineer, you will be revolutionizing the intersection of technology, manufacturing and the R&D of physical products by delivering functional prototypes and proof of concepts. You will be exploring new concepts and ideas by delivering various solutions that will help to answer key questions. We seek experience with 3D tools, robotics and algorithms to develop solutions which bridge between digital and physical realms. You'll play a key role in the creation of next generation product design, engineering, and digital fabrication workflows that will help to craft the future of Nike's innovation strategies. We value creative problem solvers that deliver disruptive product concepts, rapid prototypes, and can demonstrate future concepts. Our development approach emphasizes data-informed decision-making in a collaborative environment with iterative refinement. This role will focus on identifying customer goals, defining problems, landscaping new tools with a clear outlook on how to implement them, their effective usage, and their ROI.

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

The Lead Computational Engineer works across the Advanced Innovation Collective (AIC) and product creation teams, product designers, engineers and external partners to research, develop, and deliver digital solutions to drive automation equipment and robotics. You'll have support in embracing the hands-on parts of your role (machine operation, coding, physical prototyping and verification) but approaching with a growth-mindset and a hunger to learn is essential. You will partner with Technical Program Managers, Process Engineers and Technicians as your project core-team members as well as Design, Software and Material experts where appropriate. Collaborating with these functions to stand up new capabilities in Innovation requires system-based thinking and interdisciplinary problem-solving.

WHAT YOU BRING

• A bachelor's or master's degree in Software Engineering, Architecture, Computational Design, Computational Geometry, Computer Science, Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training
• 7+ years of applied experience in computational engineering, computational design with advanced surfacing and geometry knowledge
• Experience working with and developing custom tools for design software like Rhino, Grasshopper, Houdini, nTopology, Illustrator
• Highly knowledgeable of 2D and 3D design software domains, including mesh topology, surfacing, and vector mathematics
• Experience as a technical lead within a multi-disciplinary team that includes vendors, integrators, and software engineers
• Demonstrated ability to develop simple and elegant solutions to complex engineering problems and design challenges using algorithmic thinking
• Hands-on experience with machine operation, physical prototyping and verification
• Experience with multiple programming languages (Python, C#, JavaScript, C/C++)
• Experience leading, developing, and delivering training and domain specific education
• Experience working with robotics and motion-planning tools such as RAPID/RobotStudio (preferred)
• Comfortable moving fast and working with incomplete information
• Software version control experience a plus
• Footwear experience is a plus
• Ability to dream, think, solve, and grow

We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.

Client-provided location(s): Beaverton, OR

Job ID: nike-21272_R-65515

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

Posted: 2025-07-27T11:40:07