Engineer, Tooling & Molds

Role & Responsibilities:

The Mold Engineer , as part of the Underfoot Platforms Mold Team , is responsible for executing mold engineering activities in support of VF’s global footwear brands across development, commercialization, and production phases . The role focuses on mold development, engineering execution , and the management of supplier and vendor partnerships to ensure optimal performance, manufacturability, quality, cost, and delivery outcomes across brand product portfolios.

Serving as a key engineering interface for assigned brands , the role drives cross-functional collaboration with Brand Development, Sourcing, Quality, and Materials teams to translate innovative concepts into scalable, production-ready bottom units and molds. Regular, effective communication with Senior Manager and Director-level stakeholders is required. The position is expected to act as a technical thought partner, contributing innovative and practical engineering solutions to the organization.

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Key Result Areas:

• Lead mold design and development from concept through production release across VF footwear brands, applying a “design for quality” approach.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure footwear designs are functional, manufacturable, cost-effective, and aligned with brand and aesthetic requirements.
• Collaborate with tooling vendors and manufacturing partners to meet quality, cost, lead-time, and sustainability targets.
• Provide technical expertise on mold engineering and manufacturing processes (e.g., injection, compression), aligned with material selections developed in collaboration with Polymer, Compounds, Underfoot Platforms, Materials Innovation, and Brand teams.
• Execute mold trials, testing, and validation in close partnership with factories, Quality teams, and innovation partners.
• Support sustainability objectives by implementing low-impact tooling methods and aligning mold engineering activities with VF Responsible Materials policies.
• Travel to manufacturing partners in Asia and other regions to support mold development, troubleshooting, and production readiness.

Competency Requirements

Behavioral Competencies

• High emotional intelligence when working in cross-functional and cross-cultural environments.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills within multi-brand, global organizations.
• Proven ability to operate effectively as both an individual contributor and a collaborative team member.
• Results-oriented, data-driven engineering mindset.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and meet aggressive timelines under pressure.
• Capability to influence effectively within local and regional environments.

Functional Competencies

• Strong negotiation and inf