Footwear Developer

Job Description

JustFab is looking for a Footwear Developer.

The Footwear Developer will manage the end-to-end development process, ensuring timely delivery, quality, and cost efficiency of fashion, lifestyle, and athletic footwear. This hands-on role requires close collaboration with design, merchandising, and production teams, along with direct communication with vendors and material suppliers. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and has a passion for bringing innovative, fashion forward footwear designs to life for modern, style-conscious consumers.

This position will report to the VP Production and Product Development.

Footwear Development

What you will be doing:

• Manage and support the development process from concept through commercialization.
• Coordinate with vendors to execute seasonal tech packs, ensuring product integrity and design intent.
• Ensure all seasonal development calendar deadlines are met from concept to final production handoff.
• Utilize internal systems such as Centric PLM, Smartsheet, and other tools to manage workflows.
  
  

Technical Footwear Expertise And Materialization

• Provide insight on materials, construction techniques, and vendor resources, ensuring product designs align with technical feasibility, cost targets, and performance requirements.
• Fluent understanding of and solid working knowledge of footwear lasts, upper patterns, and bottom tooling.
• Expertise in footwear materials, including textiles, synthetics, and components, with a focus on their impact on cost efficiency and performance.
• Review development and production prototypes for fit and ensuring alignment with technical specifications.
• Assist in providing technical solutions by analyzing designs for manufacturability, production, and material properties, addressing desired function, cosmetics, and market appeal.
• Troubleshoot technical challenges during the development phase to ensure manufacturability and scalability of designs.
  
  

Collaboration And Cross-Functional Coordination

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including design, merchandising, and production, to deliver innovative, trend-leading footwear from concept to commercialization.
• Support vendor coordination efforts for footwear development and material sourcing to ensure alignment with design vision and technical specifications.
• Work closely with merchandising and design teams to ensure alignment on product development strategies throughout the lifecycle.
• Regularly update and align leadership on project status, milestones, and strategic direction.
  
  

Footwear Prototyping, Fit Testing, And Quality Assurance

• Test and evaluate prototypes in collaboration with wear testing to optimize product performance, driving iterations on fit, performance, and aesthetics based on feedback from fit models.
• Work with Compliance and Quality teams to ensure proper testing is completed and standards are met.
  
  

Calendar, Costing, And Margins

• Maintain product development cadence within the GTM Calendar, ensuring all milestones and timelines are adhered to.
• Secure initial FOB cost quotes and manage follow-up price adjustments, ensuring products meet margin targets.
• Plan and execute project development according to seasonal critical dates, ensuring on-time delivery of sales samples and production confirmation.
• Monitor and validate seasonal footwear costs, ensuring alignment with quality and delivery expectations.
  
  

Data Management And Market Insights

• Maintain key costing and development data within the seasonal line sheet, ensuring alignment with cross-functional teams and seasonal goals.
• Accountable for maintaining the integrity of PLM data systems, ensuring BOMs and development requirements are accurate and up-to-date in the Centric PLM platform.
• Analyze women’s fashion industry trends and consumer insights to inform development strategies and maintain competitive positioning.
  
  

What You Can Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Development, Business, Engineering, or a related field with specialization in footwear.
• 5 years of footwear development experience, preferably in a fast-fashion or trend-driven environment.
• Proficient in PLM systems (preferably Centric) and Microsoft 365.
• Strong understanding of footwear construction, materials, and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities while contributing to process improvements as guided by senior team members.
• Strong organizational skills with a high level of attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to effectively convey ideas to diverse stakeholders.
• Experience communicating with Asia-based vendors and global cross-functional teams.
• Proactive, solutions-based mindset with the ability to think critically and creatively.
• Proven ability to streamline processes and improve footwear sample management systems.
• Self-motivated with a proactive approach to supporting team goals and leadership.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively across teams and with external partners.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• High standard for accuracy and accountability in footwear product tracking and documentation.
  
  

Nice To Haves

• Experience with heeled women’s footwear.
• Experience with children’s footwear.
• Experience working with global factories and agents in Asia, particularly in China and Vietnam.
• Knowledge of sustainability practices in footwear development.
• Familiarity with costing methods and price negotiation strategies.
• Enthusiasm for fashion trends and consumer behavior insights.
• Previous experience with Smartsheet.
  
  

Compensation & Total Rewards

At JustFab, we believe work and life should fit together! We continue to build a culture of flexibility, to empower you to do your best and put yourself first. Our Total Rewards program rewards employees for their hard work, supporting their health, well-being, families, and ultimately their life journey. Total Rewards at JustFab includes: 

  

• Hybrid Work Schedule*  - Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday onsite
• Discretionary Paid Time Off*  
• Summer Fridays*  
• Healthcare Plans  
• Employee Discounts  
• 401k  
• Annual Bonus Program  
• Equity Program*  
• And More  
  
  

  

• Varied for retail, fulfillment and fully remote roles.    
  
  

The annual base salary range for this position is from $68,640-98,000. The range provided includes the base salary that JustFab expects to pay for the role. Offered base salary will be dependent on factors including the scope and complexity of the role, candidate’s related work experience, subject matter expertise and work location. 

Security Alert: Protect yourself from scams

At JustFab, we're dedicated to recruiting top talent who share our drive for innovation. To safeguard candidates, JustFab emphasizes legitimate recruitment practices. Initial communication is primarily via official email addresses and LinkedIn; beware of deviations. Personal data and sensitive information will not be solicited during the application phase. Interviews are conducted via phone, in person, or through the approved platforms Teams or Zoom—never via messaging apps or other calling services. Offers are merit-based, communicated verbally, and followed up in writing. If personal information is requested to initiate the hiring process, rest assured it will be through secure and protected means.

About TechStyleOS

TechStyleOS is the globally integrated Operations and Services provider behind some of the fastest growing online fashion brands in history, including Fabletics, Savage X Fenty, JustFab, ShoeDazzle, and FabKids. With capabilities spanning technology, data science, supply chain management, fulfillment, customer service, and more, we help brands launch, scale and grow—across product categories and geographically. From predictive analytics to data-driven marketing and attribution, our unique approach is powered by our proprietary, end-to-end tech platform that enables the brands we serve to deliver a level of personalization, value, and satisfaction that are unrivaled in the fashion industry.

JustFab LLC, ShoeDazzle, LLC, Personal Retailing Inc. (d/b/a FabKids) is an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, compensate, develop, and promote regardless of race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable. At JustFab LLC, ShoeDazzle, LLC, Personal Retailing Inc. (d/b/a FabKids), we champion a vibrant workplace culture that thrives on diversity law and do not tolerate discrimination or harassment. We are one team from many backgrounds, innovating through diversity of individuals, who are driven by passion for creating an inclusive space for all. JustFab LLC, ShoeDazzle, LLC, Personal Retailing Inc. (d/b/a FabKids) will continue to champion a workplace culture that prizes diversity and inclusivity.

We encourage you to apply regardless of meeting all qualifications and/or requirements.