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Director of Technical Design will lead, elevate, and scale the technical design function for a dynamic, fast-growing brand environment. This role requires a unique balance of executive leadership, strategic systems optimization, and hands-on technical execution.
Reporting to product leadership, you will manage a team of 4-6 technical designers while maintaining direct category ownership and actively leading fit sessions. Due to the evolving nature of our business, you will act as both a team leader and a hands-on technical expert-evaluating current PLM software and tech tools, optimizing workflows, and forecasting departmental workload to scale infrastructure alongside brand growth.
What you'll do:Strategic Leadership & Team Management- Team Leadership & Mentorship: Lead, direct, and nurture a team of 4-6 technical designers; establish individual career growth paths, clear performance metrics, and accountability frameworks.
- Workload & Capacity Planning: Analyze departmental bandwidth and resource allocation relative to seasonal SKU counts, proactively planning headcount and freelance support to scale with business growth.
- Fit & Quality Governance: Establish and enforce global fit, grading, and construction standards across all product categories to maintain brand consistency and high quality.
Hands-On Category Ownership & Fitting- Direct Category Ownership: Maintain full end-to-end technical responsibility for designated core product categories-from initial design concept through commercialization and production.
- Lead Fit Sessions: Facilitate and lead live-model fit sessions for assigned categories, providing real-time pattern, construction, and balance corrections to maintain creative design intent while ensuring optimal fit.
- Technical Excellence: Partner closely with Design, Merchandising, and Production to solve complex construction and technical fitting challenges.
Systems, Tools & Digital Process Optimization- PLM & Tech Audit: Continuously evaluate current PLM systems, digital tracking tools, and technical workflows to ensure they meet the needs of the evolving brand or make recommendations for software upgrades.
- Process Innovation & AI/Tool Adoption: Research, pilot, and implement emerging technical design tools (such as 3D digital sampling, automated spec generation, or enhanced PLM modules) to drive operational efficiency and shorten development cycles.
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Create, update, and maintain comprehensive brand technical manuals, master spec blocks, construction guidelines, and digital libraries.
Vendor Engagement, Costing & Supply Chain Alignment- Factory Partnerships: Build strong relationships with international and domestic factory technical counterparts; conduct vendor capability assessments to ensure technical alignment.
- Cost & Commercialization Balance: Partner with Sourcing and Production to optimize garment construction for commercial viability, targeting production efficiency and yield without sacrificing design integrity or quality.
- Vendor Onboarding: Establish standardized onboarding protocols and technical execution packages for new factory partners.
Cross-Functional Integration & Continuous Improvement- Voice of Customer (Fit Analytics): Collaborate with Customer Service, Merchandising, and E-Commerce teams to analyze customer return rates, reviews, and fit feedback, integrating data insights directly into seasonal fitting adjustments.
- E2E Calendar Accountability: Oversee the technical development pipeline to ensure all milestone dates on the end-to-end (E2E) calendar are consistently met by the TD team.
What you'll have:Required- Experience: 12+ years of progressive technical design and patternmaking experience in the apparel industry, with at least 3-5 years in a direct team management or departmental leadership role.
- Hands-On Expertise: Proven track record of managing direct reports while simultaneously owning product categories and running live fittings.
- Systems Mastery: Deep knowledge of PLM systems (e.g., Centric, FlexPLM, Bamboo Rose), CAD patternmaking software (e.g., Gerber, Lectra), and 3D fashion design/fitting tools (e.g., Browzwear, Clo3D).
- Scalability & Process Improvement: Demonstrated experience mapping workflows, identifying process bottlenecks, and upgrading technical infrastructure in growing brand environments.
- Product Knowledge: Advanced expertise in patternmaking, grading, garment construction, textile performance, and factory execution across multiple apparel categories.
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Technical Design, Fashion Design, Patternmaking, or a related field.
Preferred- Experience transitioning or upgrading legacy PLM/software platforms.
- Background managing both domestic and overseas factory technical communications.
- Experience with circular fashion, sustainable materials, and low-impact garment construction techniques.
We aim to pay competitively for our size and industry. The base salary range for this position is
$150,000 - $160,000 USD, but we will consider location, skill level and experience to determine the final offer.
- Health benefits
- 401(K) Plan with company match
- Incentives Program
- Commuter Options/Benefits
- Generous employee discount
