Footwear Developer, Women’s

External

Rothys · San Francisco

$98K–$118K/yrFull-timeOn-site4w ago

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About the role

Our Production team is always one step ahead. While many teams are responsible for responding to moments in the present, this one looks toward the future. From finessing the production of our silhouettes to developing new materials, our production gurus work hand-in-hand with our factory team, sustainability, merchandising and design partners to make sure the wheels of Rothy's keep turning on our quest for a more sustainable future. Rothy's is looking for a creative and analytical Footwear Developer to support the development of innovative, high-quality footwear that delights customers. This role is hands-on and highly collaborative, partnering closely with Product Design, Merchandising, Production, and our factory teams to bring footwear from concept through commercialization. The Footwear Developer plays a key role in executing development milestones, ensuring technical integrity, cost targets, and timelines are met.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with Product Design, Merchandising, and factory partners to develop footwear from concept through commercialization, supporting alignment to design intent, quality standards, cost targets, and timelines

Evaluate bottoms, components, upper patterns, knitting, materials, and constructions from fit, performance, durability, costing, and manufacturing feasibility perspectives

Provide technical input and identify potential risks early in the development process, proposing alternative solutions as needed

Support resolution of product development issues by partnering cross-functionally to deliver cost-effective and timely solutions

Analyze cost differences across prototypes and sample stages; review CBDs, yields, and material usage, and support cost negotiations to achieve margin goals

Partner with integrity and quality teams to support fit consistency, comfort, and performance from development through production

Evaluate materials and components for physical properties, performance, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness to ensure appropriate application

Participate as a key contributor in all sample reviews (prototype, development, fit, confirmation, TOP) to support quality and executional consistency

Help coordinate and contribute to cross-functional development meetings to review progress, align on decisions, and support on-time delivery

Maintain clear, proactive communication with factory and vendor partners throughout development and production

Identify opportunities to improve product integrity, development efficiency, and cost savings, contributing ideas and solutions to the broader team

You are:

Able to interpret design intent and product needs with growing independence and technical confidence

A self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment and is comfortable learning on the fly

Collaborative, solutions-oriented, and eager to partner across teams

Curious, adaptable, and open to feedback and new ways of working

A clear and effective communicator with internal and external partners

Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills and follow-through

Willing and able to travel domestically (1-3 times per year) and internationally (quarterly)

You have:

4-6 years of footwear product development and/or production experience

Bachelor's degree in Product Development, Engineering, Industrial Design, or another applicable technical field

Working knowledge of footwear construction, materials, components, costing, testing, and manufacturing processes

Experience reviewing and analyzing costing and testing data to support product improvements

Understanding of the footwear development and commercialization lifecycle

Experience working with Asia-based factories or vendors

Strong computer skills, including PLM and Google Sheets/Docs/Slides; Adobe Illustrator experience a plus

Footwear Developer, Women’s

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