Director, Prototyping Lab

Nike Innovation researches and develops the world's most innovative apparel and footwear product, seeking to disrupt the industry by always focusing on the athlete* and making them better. The Advanced Digital Creation Studio (ADCS) is an advanced product design and engineering studio. We seek to unleash what the human mind can't imagine by identifying and applying the world's most advanced product creation skills to bring in unimaginable ideas and develop them into the most innovative product. Our team has led ground-breaking products such as Flyprint and introduced industry-changing skills such as computational design, computational engineering and FEA.

Our Prototyping Lab builds digital proofs of concepts and next‑generation workflows that unlock new product possibilities and speed, partnering deeply across Innovation, product design and engineering and manufacturing. We partner and collaborate with apparel and footwear innovators to explore and help shape the foundations and future workflows that will define the next era of data driven product innovation. If you’re passionate about exploring what’s possible, pushing boundaries with emerging technology and new ways of working, and leading highly innovative teams—this role is for you. 

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH 

Our Director, Prototyping Lab will work inside Nike’s Advanced Digital Creation ecosystem, partnering with process teams, experience design, program partners, and cross‑functional innovators across Innovation, engineering, and product creation. You’ll collaborate with internal technology groups, external vendors, and innovation leaders to shape learning agendas, guide prototype‑driven concepts, and influence future‑ready solutions. Your work moves across disciplines, connecting strategy and execution to drive the evolution of Nike’s innovation workflows. You will report to the Senior Director, Digital Process Studio – Innovation.  

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR 

We seek a visionary, hands‑on leader who brings strategic thinking, an innovation mindset, technical fluency, and the ability to inspire teams to invent the future through the creation of rapid prototypes. You understand how to turn vague, open‑ended opportunities into actionable prototypes that drive learnings, shape ideas and inform future ways of working. You know how to collaborate with multidisciplinary athlete, product design, engineering and technology teams. You are equally comfortable in the weeds with engineers and designers as you are presenting to senior leadership. You know how to lead a diverse team of process and systems thinking computational and rapid prototyping innovators across multiple domains of expertise. You are a big‑picture systems thinker who can dive deep into complex details while guiding solutions that inform and integrate into the broader ecosystem 

What you bring:  

• Open to work in Beaverton, OR 

• 10+ years in computational design, rapid concept engineering, architecture, design technology, or advanced product‑creation solutions 

• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, industrial design, computer science or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training. 

• Demonstrated experience leading and developing multidisciplinary innovation teams. 

• Technical fluency across areas such as computational design, advanced visualization, AI/ML, additive workflows, robotics, or digital product creation pipelines. 

• Ability to turn ambiguous problems into clear prototypes, workflows, and technologies. 

• Outstanding communication, influencing and storytelling skills, able to simplify complex technical topics for a range of audiences. 

• Strong strategic thinking, systems thinking, and ability to drive alignment across diverse teams. 

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON 

You’ll lead the creation of rapid digital proofs of concept and new workflow models that shape the future of Nike’s product‑innovation ecosystem. You’ll guide teams, partner across functions, and turn emerging opportunities into actionable digital prototypes that drive learning and accelerate Innovation. This includes: 

Strategic Leadership 

• Partner to identify and prioritize high‑impact opportunities where new workflows or capabilities can accelerate and transform product innovation. 

• Partner to define and champion an Innovation POV that establishes the core capabilities needed for a multi‑year roadmap, ensuring that all recommended solutions and approaches align with Innovation’s long-term direction.  

Innovation & Prototyping 

• Lead the creation of rapid digital proofs of concept to drive learning, validate new workflows and solutio