Senior Material Innovator

Who We Are: 

Since 1906, New Balance has empowered people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. We innovate fearlessly, guided by our core values and driven by the belief that conventions were meant to be challenged. We foster a culture in which every associate feels welcomed and respected, where leaders and creatives are inspired to shape the world of tomorrow by taking bold action today.

JOB MISSION:
The Senior Material Innovator will help lead material innovation into the future, creating groundbreaking solutions that enhance athlete performance. You will champion material excellence by fostering innovation and applying deep technical expertise to solve athlete needs. Your role will support New Balance’s material innovation strategy through the development of advanced prototypes and scalable solutions rooted in performance and craftsmanship. By exploring emerging technologies and collaborating closely with design, development, and research teams, you will engineer next-generation materials that are relevant, high-performing, and crafted to elevate how athletes feel, move, and perform.

MAJOR ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Materials: Actively design and develop advanced material concepts and solutions that push innovation forward.

• Leadership: Encourage and foster a culture of innovation and technical excellence by mentoring, challenging norms and exploring new ideas.

• Tell Stories: Throughout the creation process communicate the “why” and produce a narrative that engages the team, the brand, and the consumer.

• Consumer Obsessed: Truly strive to understand the New Balance consumer and their holistic lifestyle, translating insights into purposeful material innovations that elevate experience and performance.

• Be a Maker:  Take risks, solve problems and utilize any and all tools necessary from sketch to 3D, and rapid prototyping to create fast, test and learn. 

• Be a True Innovator: An idea is only as strong as its execution. Be a catalyst for creation by translating material concepts into prototypes, driving innovation through textile engineering, manufacturing processes, and a relentless attention to detail.

• Brand Alignment & Strategy:  Support the long-term brand strategies, align with business goals and growth plans, and ensure that all designs are consistent with the brand’s values while strategically pushing us above and beyond. 

 

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Textile Design, Textile Engineering, or Materials Science, or related field. At least 10-12 years of experience in technical material design, material development, or material innovation, with a strong portfolio of successful products and prototype and a proven track record of successful products and prototypes.

• Some experience and interest in a leadership role, managing design projects and project teams.

• A strong portfolio showcasing a range of successful material innovations, demonstrating creativity, technical skills, and market success. 

• Proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop) and 3D and AI tools is a plus. 

• Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects and simultaneously and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. 

•  Strong presentation skills to showcase designs and collections to internal teams, executives, buyers, and media. Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively convey design concepts and strategies to various stakeholders. 

 

Boston, MA Headquarters - (NB) Only Pay Range: $117,400.00 - $152,000.00 - $186,600.00 Annual (actual base pay varying based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, time in role, internal equity, geographic location, and more.)

Regular Associate Benefits 

Our products are only as good as the people we hire, so we make sure to hire the best and treat them accordingly. New Balance offers a comprehensive traditional benefits package including three options for medical insurance as well as dental, vision, life insurance and 401K. We also proudly offer a slate of more nontraditional perks – opportunities like online learning and development courses, tuition reimbursement, $100 monthly student loan support and various mentorship programs – that encourage our associates to grow personally as they develop professionally. You’ll also enjoy a yearly $1,000 lifestyle reimbursement, 4 weeks of vacations, 12 holidays and generous parental leave, because