Sr. Manager, Footwear Materials Innovation & Chemical Engineering
Under Armour Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
Retail Apparel and Fashion · 10,001+ employees
About the role
Lead the discovery and development of next-generation underfoot performance solutions by driving advanced polymer and foam innovation. Collaborate with footwear design and engineering teams while managing strategic external chemistry partnerships to commercialize new material technologies.
What they look for
Requirements
Requires 12+ years of experience in developing advanced polymers, foams, or performance materials with deep expertise in manufacturing methods. Candidates must possess strong leadership skills and the ability to travel extensively throughout Asia and globally.
Full description
Values & Innovation
At Under Armour, we are committed to empowering those who strive for more, and the company's values - Act Sustainably, Celebrate the Wins, Fight on Together, Love Athletes and Stand for Equality - serve as both a roadmap for our teams and the qualities expected of every teammate.
Our Values define and unite us, the beliefs that are the red thread that connects everyone at Under Armour. Our values are rallying cries, reminding us why we're here, and fueling everything we do.
Our pursuit of better begins with innovation and with our team's mission of being the best. With us, you get the freedom to go further - no matter your role. That means developing, delivering, and selling the state-of-the-art products and digital tools that make top performers even better.
If you are a current Under Armour teammate, apply to this position on the Internal Career Site Here.
Purpose of Role
Under Armour is seeking a highly accomplished Senior Manager Chemistry Subject Matter Expert to lead the creation, discovery and development of next-generation underfoot performance solutions that deliver meaningful benefits for athletes. This Asia-based role will drive advanced polymer and foam innovation, manage strategic external chemistry partnerships, and collaborate closely with Footwear Design teams to create differentiated footwear experiences.
Located within the heart of the global footwear supply chain, this role will serve as Under Armour's lead chemistry expert, enabling rapid innovation, supplier collaboration, testing, validation, and commercialization of advanced materials technologies.
Your Impact
Drive the development of innovative underfoot materials and cushioning technologies that enhance athlete performance, comfort, and product differentiation. Partner closely with Footwear Design, Product Creation, Development, and Engineering teams to translate athlete insights and performance needs into new material solutions and underfoot experiences. Leverage expertise in advanced polymers, foams, and manufacturing processes to evaluate emerging technologies, develop novel material applications, and support the commercialization of innovation concepts. Through collaboration with external suppliers and innovation partners, contribute to Under Armour's footwear innovation pipeline while helping to advance the team's technical capabilities and long-term product innovation goals.
This feels much more aligned to a Sr. Manager level because it emphasizes:
- Driving and delivering innovation
- Technical expertise and problem-solving
- Cross-functional partnership
- Supplier collaboration
- Contribution to strategy rather than ownership of enterprise strategy and roadmaps.
Qualifications
12+ years of experience developing advanced polymers, foams, or performance materials.
Deep expertise in foam methods of manufacturing and polymer structure-property relationships.
Demonstrated success in commercializing innovative material technologies.
Experience managing global suppliers and innovation partnerships.
Excellent communication, influencing, and leadership skills.
Ability to travel extensively throughout Asia and globally.
• Preferred
- Experience within footwear, sporting goods, aerospace, automotive, or advanced materials industries.
- Knowledge of EVA, TPU, PEBA, TPE, polyolefins, thermosets, and bio-based materials.
- Patent development and intellectual property experience.
Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity
At Under Armour, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, family or paternal status and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Under Armour seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people representing a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact our Human Resources team via candidateaccommodations@underarmour.com.
