Footwear product developer
Also known as: footwear product engineer, senior product developer footwear, footwear product designer & developer, footwear product designer and developer, footwear product technologist, product developer, footwear
About this occupation
Footwear product developers provide interface between design and production. They engineer the footwear prototypes previously created by designers. They select, design or re-design lasts and footwear components, make patterns for uppers, linings and bottom components, and produce technical drawings for a various range of tools (e.g. cutting dies, mould, etc.). They also produce and evaluate footwear prototypes, grade and produce sizing samples, perform required tests for samples and confirm the customer’s qualitative and pricing constraints.
Essential skills and knowledge
- create mood boards
- footwear creation process
- use communication techniques
- communicate commercial and technical issues in foreign languages
- apply development process to footwear design
- footwear materials
- prepare footwear samples
- footwear and leather goods marketing planning
- develop footwear collection
- make technical drawings of fashion pieces
- reduce environmental impact of footwear manufacturing
- use CAD for soles
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other (O*NET 17-3029.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
US median pay: US$78,350 a year (2025), 59,930 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.