Nike is issuing a call for metaverse enthusiasts, including hiring for a “director of metaverse engineering.” The open positions signal the shoe giant’s intentions for this nascent technology and industry, possibly setting up a metaverse talent war across top companies.
The four other positions related to the metaverse that Nike has either listed on its website or popular job site LinkedIn are:
- Principle innovation engineer for the metaverse
- Senior 3D game designer or metaverse engineer
- Expert innovation programmer for the blockchain
- Virtual material designer
According to the job posting on Nike’s website, the director for metaverse engineering will lead the development of end-to-end proof of concepts and production of metaverse software, among other responsibilities.
The director for metaverse engineering must have a bias for action, a desire to win as a team, the ability to build a culture of innovation, and the acumen to dive deep into new technologies. The other four positions have metaverse-related language in their job descriptions as well.
Although Nike is not the first company to hire specifically for metaverse positions, it is making one of the largest splashes on the job hiring market. This hiring wave occurs as a reported large majority of developers have no interest in the metaverse, blockchain technology, or non-fungible tokens.
The positions will function out of the Technology Innovation Office, according to some reports, and show that Nike is interested in gaining a foothold in this new technological realm, beating other companies to the proverbial punch.
However, those following Nike know the company is no stranger to making moves in the metaverse. In 2021, Nike acquired NFT and virtual-wear company RTFKT (pronounced “artifact”). The acquisition caused RTFKT’s leading collection CloneX to skyrocket in value, with many banking on Nike’s involvement to deliver value to CloneX holders.
The move to acquire RTFKT and hire people with direct experience in Web 3.0 technologies may also be a shot across the bow to competitor Adidas, which has also made moves in the non-fungible token landscape with Pixel Vault and the Bored Ape Yacht Club.