Global 3D Footwear Engineer
Key Skills
Job Description
Bata is one of the world’s leading footwear manufacturers and retailers, with over 30,000 employees and more than 5,000 stores across 70+ countries. Founded in 1894 by Thomas Bata, the company has built a strong legacy of providing quality footwear at accessible prices while maintaining a people-centric and values-driven approach. With 130 years of innovation and responsible business practices, Bata combines global scale with a decentralized operating model that enables agility, local market responsiveness, and strong customer and community connections worldwide. Job Purpose: This role will support Bata’s digital product development transformation, with a strong focus on outsole engineering and technical integration. The 3D Footwear Engineer, reporting to our 3D Digital Product Lead, will be responsible for outsole construction, tooling preparation, and capable of reverse engineering existing bottom units, footwear components and lasts using STL files. Key Responsbilities: Develop and optimize 3D outsole designs for casual footwear categories; Prepare production-ready CAD files for tooling and mold manufacturing; Reverse engineer existing outsoles using STL files or point cloud scan data; Convert scan data into parametric CAD models suitable for industrialization; Ensure proper upper/outsole interface geometry in collaboration with 3D Designer; Define tolerances, draft angles, and manufacturability parameters; Collaborate with tooling suppliers and factories to validate technical feasibility; Support cost optimization through geometry simplification and tooling efficiency; Implement structured digital workflows for outsole library management. Qualifications & Skills: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related field; 6+ years of footwear engineering experience, preferably in outsole development; Advanced proficiency in CAD software (SolidWorks, Rhino, Siemens NX, Fusion 360, or equivalent); Proven experience of reverse engineering STL or POC scan data; Strong understanding of injection molding, compression molding, and rubber tooling; Experience working directly with outsole mold suppliers. Core Competencies: Strong analytical and structural problem-solving skills. Precision in technical documentation and geometry control. Manufacturing-driven mindset. Ability to bridge digital modelling and industrial production realities.
Core Responsibilities
Develop and optimize 3D outsole designs, prepare production-ready CAD files, and reverse engineer footwear components and lasts from STL files or scan data. Coordinate with designers, tooling suppliers, and factories to validate manufacturability, improve tooling efficiency, and manage digital outsole libraries.
Requirements
Requires a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related field, plus at least six years of footwear engineering experience, preferably in outsole development. Candidates should have advanced CAD skills, experience reverse engineering scan data, knowledge of molding and rubber tooling, and experience working with outsole mold suppliers.
About Bata Group
Industry: Retail Apparel and Fashion
Company size: 10,001+ employees
The Bata Group is one of the world's leading manufacturers and retailers of quality footwear. A global concern with more than 32,000 employees, 21 production facilities, over 5,300 stores in more than 70 countries across the globe, Bata has been providing the best shoes at the best prices, backed by unparalleled service, for 125+ years. Since its founding on September 21, 1894, by Thomas Bata, the company has consistently demonstrated its commitment to responsible and innovative business models in the belief that capital is not just money, buildings or technology, but, more importantly, people, knowledge and core values. This visionary approach has enabled the company to meet each new challenge with creativity and foresight, while earning the trust and confidence of customers, employees and the communities in which it does business. Today, Bata's pioneering decentralized production system, featuring semi-autonomous regional facilities guided by three regional business units, allows the company to quickly adapt to changes in the marketplace and seize potential growth opportunities. It also continues Bata's long tradition of being sensitive to cultural and national differences, and enables it to proudly function as a local company in every country it serves. Follow us on facebook.com/bata