The Role + Purpose:
The Senior Technical Designer is a key partner to Design, Production, and Merchandising, driving the technical strategy and execution that bring product concepts to life through precise fit, construction, and manufacturing excellence. This role owns the technical development process end-to-end for a major product category, sets standards that elevate quality and consistency across the business, and mentors junior team members. We welcome candidates with diverse paths and experiences who bring deep technical expertise, sound judgment under ambiguity, and a track record of cross-functional leadership.
- Own the technical strategy and development process for Women’s Knits/Sweaters, from concept through bulk production (TOP), setting the standard for fit, construction, and quality across the category.
- Serve as the primary technical point of contact for Design, Merchandising, and Production leadership, translating design intent into technically sound, cost-effective, and manufacturable solutions.
- Lead fit sessions on live models, diagnosing complex fit and construction issues and directing corrective action across the development calendar.
- Architect and maintain technical packages and construction standards, ensuring precision and consistency across multiple categories and driving process improvements that reduce fit iterations and cycle time.
- Oversee sample tracking, fittings, and approvals across a full seasonal calendar, proactively identifying risks to key milestones (bulk and photo approvals) and resolving bottlenecks before they impact the line.
- Act as technical lead in factory partner relationships, delivering detailed written feedback, technical sketches, and visual references, and coaching vendors on capability building and problem resolution.
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior technical designers, reviewing their work and helping build their skills in construction, grading, and fit evaluation.
- Partner with Production and sourcing on new vendor onboarding, evaluating factory technical capability and machinery for knit construction.
- Maintain and evolve technical records, sample history, and best-practice documentation to drive consistency and continuous improvement across the team.
Qualifications:
Required:
- 7+ years of experience as a technical designer, including experience leading technical development for a major category independently
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Excel, and Flex PLM (or equivalent PLM systems)
- Expert-level understanding of yarn types, gauges, stitch formations, and knit construction, including advanced/novelty knit structures
- Proven ability to manage a full seasonal calendar across multiple styles and categories in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
- Advanced knowledge of garment construction, patternmaking, grading, draping, and technical sketching
- Strong command of fabric properties and their impact on fit, drape, and performance, with the judgment to solve for trade-offs
- Extensive experience independently leading fittings and owning the fit approval process from concept to bulk
- Demonstrated experience mentoring or leading junior technical designers
- Excellent organizational, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders
Preferred:
- Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Technical Design, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
- Extensive, hands-on experience with PLM systems, including workflow design or admin-level configuration
- Deep familiarity with factory processes and machinery across domestic and international production, including experience evaluating new vendor capabilities
- Knowledge of J.Crew brand standards and product expectations
- Experience developing training materials or technical standards documentation for a team
We welcome you to apply, even if you don't check all the boxes. Our passion is scouting life-long learners who are driven by curiosity, and who feel connected to our brands and share our desire to make an impact. We’re always seeking bright new talent who leverage their unique experiences to discover, grow and evolve with our teams.
Benefits + Perks
Health & Well-being - Eligible associates and family members receive medical, dental, prescription and vision insurance, family planning (fertility, adoption & surrogacy support), fitness discounts, medical travel and more.
Associate Discount - We love our products just as much as you do! That’s why we offer a great associate discount across all of our brands (J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, and Madewell).
Summer Fridays - In addition to our hybrid work model, we also close our office at 1:00 PM every Friday during the Summer months.
Community Impact - We support the communities where we live and work through our philanthropic efforts and the J.Crew Cares Program.
Winter Break - In addition to our PTO package, J.Crew Group offers a winter break at the end of December to eligible full-time associates at the Home Office to provide time to refresh and recharge.
Note: Availability of these benefits and perks may be subject to work location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements.
Salary Range: $86,400.00 - $111,700.00
At J.Crew Group (JCG) we aim to pay competitively for our company’s size and industry. The base salary offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region of work premises, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. The base salary is just one component of J.Crew Group’s competitive total rewards strategy that also includes the opportunity for bonus, competitive benefits and perks.
