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What will you do?
A day in the life of a Senior Innovation 3D Modeler & CAD Engineer (Footwear) at VF looks a little like this.
This role sits within our Innovation, Advanced Concepts, and Future Product teams, supporting digital creation work primarily for performance footwear. You’ll partner closely with Industrial Design, Engineering, Materials, Biomechanics, Manufacturing, and Prototyping teams. At its core, this position leads the digital modeling and CAD engineering behind next generation footwear concepts and advanced prototypes. This role reports to the Sr. Manager, 3D CAD & Additive Manufacturing generation footwear concepts and advanced prototypes.
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Let’s break down that day-in-the-life a bit more.
Lead the digital creation of complex, future forward footwear concepts—from blue sky exploration to advanced prototypes.
Translate early ideas, sketches, or engineering inputs into clear, compelling 3D geometry and manufacturable solutions.
Create detailed, high precision 3D models for cushioning systems, uppers, structural components, lattices, and integrated assemblies.
Develop advanced surfaces, parametric forms, and additive first geometries using industry first geometries using industry leading modeling tools.
Build models used for design reviews, biomechanical studies, early manufacturing feasibility, and executive storytelling.
Deliver CAD engineered for midsole/outsole tooling, molding, plate systems, and complex material combinations.
Partner with prototyping teams to evaluate printed, machined, or experimental builds and refine models based on testing.
Guide digital modeling workflows, set team standards, mentor designers and junior modelers through best-in-class CAD practices.
Collaborate across innovation functions—design, engineering, materials, biomechanics, and manufacturing—to ensure digital models support strategic concept needs.
Communicate model intent, constraints, and opportunities with clarity to a wide range of technical and nontechnical partners.
What do you need to succeed?
We all have unique skills that we bring to work and celebrate every day. For this role, the foundation skills below are essential. While formal education in a related field is valuable, we are most interested in your 6–10+ years of advanced 3D modeling and CAD engineering experience and your achievements in complex product creation.
Strong background in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design, Product Design, or related field.
Expert level proficiency level proficiency in advanced CAD tools such as Rhino, SolidWorks, Creo, Alias, Blender, or similar.
Exceptional surfacing skills and experience creating organic forms, sculptural geometry, and highly detailed assemblies
Deep understanding of footwear relevant manufacturing relevant manufacturing methods, including foam and injection molding, knit engineering, lamination, additive manufacturing, and composites.
Ability to translate ambiguous direction into clear digital geometry and production aware solutions.
Strong prototyping awareness, with the ability to prepare models optimized for printing, CNC, and experimental builds.
Comfort collaborating with engineering, materials, biomechanics, and manufacturing teams throughout the innovation process.
Excellent communication and storytelling skills to convey model intent across diverse audiences.
There are also a few skills that are not required but preferred.
Experience leading innovation projects or cross functional exploration teams.
Familiarity with parametric or computational tools like Grasshopper, nTopology, or Fusion 360.
Understanding of biomechanical performance needs (cushioning, force distribution, flexibility profiles).
Ability to bridge long term vision with short term prototype execution and iteration.
Now WE have a question for YOU.
Are you in?
Hiring Range:
$95,040.00 USD - $118,800.00 USD annually
Incentive Potential: This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility for this position will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.
