Eric Boardman

About Eric Boardman

As an accomplished engineering leader, I am dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation and technology to create products that enhance our lives and the world around us. My extensive experience in research and development, combined with a passion for outdoor pursuits, has honed my ability to tackle complex problems and lead teams to success in the face of adversity.I am driven by curiosity and thrive on challenging myself with opportunities for growth and discovery. My passion for outdoor adventures and off-the-grid experiences stems from the satisfaction gained by overcoming demanding and uncertain situations. These experiences push me to be prepared, resourceful, and focused, and they serve as a source of strength, both personally and professionally.With over 20 years in engineering and innovation, and a decade in leadership roles, my career achievements span from early-stage R&D to global mass production. The diversity of experiences I’ve gained have refined my ability to understand and communicate complex concepts, guide structured problem-solving, and proliferate data-driven decision-making methodologies across organizations.In my role as the Engineering Director at Nike for Future Capabilities, I lead a technical and diverse team to unlock new footwear product innovations through the development of cutting-edge machinery and scalable manufacturing processes. I serve this team by defining the strategic direction, collaborating with external vendors, and partnering with senior leadership from product, materials, and supply chain. My mission each day is to build an environment that values the balance of creativity and scrappiness in our ambiguous environment with the phase-appropriate rigor required for our systems to reach their full potential at scale. With a proven track record of success in leadership roles, my key strengths lie in cultivating innovation, strategic thinking, and collaborative problem-solving. As I continue to advance in my career, I am committed to leveraging these skills to make a lasting impact by inspiring teams and creating groundbreaking solutions in the outdoor industry and beyond.

Experience

1. Director of Engineering

   Nike

   Jul 2022 — Present · Beaverton, OR, US

   Leading a team of machine, process and testing experts in creating the next generation of scalable, low-carbon footwear platforms. We combine athlete insights, material innovations, digital product creation tools, and expert footwear knowledge with a rigorous prototype/test flywheel-approach to solving complex problems in product and process.

Education

• Bucknell University

  BS, Mechanical Engineering