Footwear Developer
$90k - $95k USD
TOMS is in business to improve lives. When you wear or work with TOMS, you help support children’s education, health and well-being, giving kids everywhere the gift of better tomorrows.
About the Role:
The Footwear Product Developer drives the successful execution of seasonal footwear collections from concept to production. Acting as the product bridge for sample request creation, this role oversees development milestones, manages cross-functional collaboration with Design, Merchandising, and Production teams, and ensures timely communication across the product lifecycle. Leveraging tools like Airtable for tracking and reporting, the developer ensures transparency, maintains product quality and comfort standards, and aligns with margin objectives.
The Impact You'll Make:
Organize, track and write sample request for seasonal development, maintaining accurate sample requests and Airtable records to ensure visibility, follow-up and accountability.
Collaborate with Design to translate creative 2D concepts into actionable product specification and 3D samples, ensuring design intent and comfort considerations are preserved.
Manage sample-making projects across seasonal rounds, coordinating reviews and approvals to achieve production-ready status. Support seasonal development trips to Asia as needed to engage directly with factories, review production processes, and evaluate quality and construction standards.
Partner with Merchandising to align product strategies with costing, margin objectives and product features for each style.
Provide timely and transparent reporting on development progress, issues, and milestones to management and cross-functional teams.
Participate in seasonal product reviews, documenting updates, changes and line modifications in the Airtable development tracker.
Support fit and wear testing across all sample sizes, including extremes to ensure functional, comfortable and final aesthetic.
Confirm final product standards and approvals before production, ensuring alignment with brand, quality, and comfort expectations
Support dual sourcing and alternative development strategies to optimize factory options, improve product quality, and drive cost efficiency.
Conduct individual retail outings to review competitor samples, evaluating construction, materials, quality, and comfort.
What You Bring:
3-5 years of experience with footwear constructions, materials and problem solving
Team oriented working in collaboration and cross functionally with other areas
Experience in Adobe Creative Suite, Excel and Product Line Management systems
Strong communication and analytical reporting skills
Strong Project management skills
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred
2-year design/product degrees from schools like Otis, FIDM, Fashion Institute preferred
What We Give:
This is a Direct Hire role with a target annual salary range of $90,000 - 95,000 depending on experience, plus an annual bonus based on the company's performance
Hybrid work environment - come into our Culver City, CA office 1-2 days a week to meet with your team (bring your pup too!)
A $600 stipend when you join to furnish your home office how you like, plus $100 annually to refresh your supplies and gear
Medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401K with company matching
A generous PTO policy plus 12 paid annual holidays and one floating holiday
4 free pairs of shoes per year (yes, free!)
Employee Discount on all of our products, plus discounts on partnering businesses
Wellness Program offering resources for your mental health, physical well-being, personal finance, nutrition, etc.
DEI educational opportunities, including company-wide days of learning
Opportunities to volunteer with Giving Partners and Community Organizations
Don't meet every single requirement? We still encourage you to apply! Studies show that women, non-binary applicants, and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. However, at TOMS, our diverse backgrounds, perspectives, identities, and talents help us thrive.
TOMS is a proud B Corporation and a member of the Fair Labor Association. We're committed to transparent and equitable compensation, benefits, and opportunities.
EEO Statement: TOMS is an equal opportunity employer, committed to intentional anti-racism in all areas of our organization and will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with the L.A. Fair Chance Initiative Ordinance.