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Footwear Product Development Internship Jobs in Tennessee

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Footwear Product Development Internship information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Footwear Product Development Intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Footwear Product Development Intern, you need a foundation in design, materials knowledge, and an understanding of product lifecycle, typically supported by coursework in design, engineering, or fashion-related fields. Familiarity with CAD software, Adobe Creative Suite, and prototyping tools is often expected. Strong communication, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams are crucial soft skills. These abilities ensure you can contribute creatively and efficiently to the development process, turning concepts into market-ready footwear products.

What kinds of projects and responsibilities can I expect during a Footwear Product Development Internship?

As a Footwear Product Development Intern, you can expect to work closely with design, engineering, and manufacturing teams to assist in the creation and refinement of new shoe models. Your daily tasks may include supporting sample creation, participating in fit and wear testing, researching materials, preparing tech packs, and tracking project timelines. Interns often gain hands-on experience by attending team meetings, collaborating on cross-functional projects, and supporting the development process from concept to prototype. This role offers valuable opportunities to understand the full product lifecycle and build professional relationships within the industry.

What is a Footwear Product Development Internship?

A Footwear Product Development Internship is a temporary position designed to give students or recent graduates hands-on experience in the process of creating and developing new footwear products. Interns typically work alongside designers, engineers, and marketers to assist with tasks such as material selection, prototyping, testing, and market research. The goal is to provide practical exposure to the entire product lifecycle, from initial concept to final production. This experience helps interns build industry-specific skills and make valuable connections for future careers in footwear design or product management.

What is the difference between Footwear Product Development Internship vs Footwear Design Internship?

AspectFootwear Product Development InternshipFootwear Design Internship
Primary FocusProduct creation, material selection, manufacturing processesDesign concepts, sketches, visualizations
Skills RequiredProduct knowledge, technical skills, collaborationCreativity, drawing, Adobe skills
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, manufacturing facilitiesDesign studios, CAD labs
Common EmployersFootwear brands, manufacturersDesign houses, brands

While both internships are essential in footwear industry careers, a Footwear Product Development Internship focuses on turning design concepts into manufacturable products, involving technical and material expertise. In contrast, a Footwear Design Internship emphasizes creating visual concepts and sketches. Both roles often collaborate but serve different stages of the product lifecycle.

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What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Footwear Product Development Internship jobs? Cities in Tennessee with the most Footwear Product Development Internship job openings:
Footwear Product Developer I - Genesco Brands Group

Footwear Product Developer I - Genesco Brands Group

Genesco Inc

Nashville, TN

Other

Posted 2 days ago


Genesco rating

5.4

Company rating: 5.4 out of 10

Based on 32 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

74th of 102 rated fashion retailers


Job description

The Ideal Candidate The Footwear Product Developer is responsible for coordinating development process of seasonal men's, women's and kids footwear collections. This role collaborates closely with design, merchandising, technical teams, and global partners to ensure the delivery of innovative, brand-right, and market-relevant products that meet performance, quality, cost, and timeline expectations. How You Will Make an Impact Execute product development process of seasonal men's, women's, and kids footwear collections, from concept to commercialization.

Drive day-to-day sampling, prototyping, and mold development, ensuring alignment with design intent, fit standards, and performance requirements. Partner with Design and Material teams to select components, constructions, and engineering solutions that meet performance and cost targets. Create and maintain comprehensive tech packs, including 2D/3D specifications, bills of materials, cost breakdowns, and all supporting documentation.

Drive innovation in lasts, patterns, and materials, and construction methods in collaboration with technical teams and factory partners. Manage development timelines to ensure on-time commercialization and seasonal milestone adherence. Collaborate with sourcing and materials partners on testing and compound development to meet product and performance targets.

Partner with GBG Sourcing to manage pre-costing, seasonal cost analysis, and problem-solving on all projects to meet margin requirements. Experience and Skills You'll Need to Have Bachelor's degree in a related field of study. Minimum of 1-3 years footwear industry experience (women's and/or kids experience preferred) Proficient in Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, and industry-specific tools such as Product Line Management and Development software.

Working knowledge of footwear materials, footwear lasts, leathers, outsoles, and constructions. Strong analytical and structural thinking skills with a solid commercial mindset and problem-solving ability. Proven ability to build and maintain effective partnerships with global design, manufacturing, and sourcing teams.

Effective time management, highly organized, detail-oriented, and adaptable to fast-paced development cycles. Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally. Apply.


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About Genesco

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Genesco Inc., based in Nashville, TN, US, is a publicly owned specialty retail company operating in the footwear, apparel, and accessories industry. The company was initially founded in 1924 as Jarman Shoe Company before eventually transitioning to its current name in 1959. Currently, it operates numerous retail stores in the US and Puerto Rico, including popular brands like Journeys, Johnston & Murphy, and Lids Sports Group. Genesco's mission is to be the leading specialty retailer in the footwear, headwear, and sports apparel industries through providing high quality products and demonstrating excellent customer service. Some of the company's notable achievements include the successful ownership and growth of multiple well-known fashion brands and a significant retail footprint in North America.

Industry

Retail

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Nashville, TN, US

Year founded

1924

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