THE ROLE:We are seeking a highly motivated and adaptable soft goods designer who is excited to solve problems that have never existed before - because the product category hasn't existed before.
You will own the design and development of the garments that integrate with the MO/GO, starting with a technical pant built to work with our wearable robotic device. This isn't a fashion brief. It's a functional systems design challenge: the garment is part of the product. You'll work hand-in-hand with our mechanical and human factors engineers to make sure fabric, fit, and device work as one.
Some of the specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Lead the design and technical development of the MO/GO integration pant from concept through production - pattern making, material selection, fit iteration, and factory handoff
- Define the functional requirements of the garment in close collaboration with our mechanical, firmware, and human factors teams - attachment points, range of motion, load paths, and sensor placement all live in your brief
- Select and qualify technical fabrics and materials for performance bottoms: stretch wovens, knits, softshells, and any novel material that earns its place on the body
- Build and iterate physical prototypes rapidly; run fit sessions with internal wearers and external test users and translate feedback into pattern and material updates
- Own the Bill of Materials, tech packs, and construction specs to a standard that factories can execute reliably at scale
- Establish and manage relationships with fabric mills, trims suppliers, and cut-and-sew factories; understand lead times, MOQs, and what it takes to actually get something made
- Contribute to the long-term Movewear soft goods platform - define the design language, material standards, and construction principles that future products will build on
- Collaborate with our Arc'teryx partners and bring that standard of craft and technical rigour to everything you make
- Wear prototypes on hikes, in the gym, and around the office - your body is a test rig
Basic Qualifications- 8+ years' experience in soft goods design and development, with a focus on technical bottoms
- 5+ years at an outdoor, performance, or technical apparel company - you know what makes a pant work in the field
- Expert-level knowledge of technical fabrics for lower body: stretch wovens, softshells, knits, and the trims and hardware that go with them
- Strong pattern making and garment construction fundamentals - you can read and mark up a pattern, not just a mood board
- Experience writing tech packs and managing factory relationships through production
- Ability to relocate to work at the Skip Bay Area office
- Sense of humour, tolerant of Aussie & Canadian spelling
Bonus Points- Experience designing garments that integrate with hardware, bracing, or orthotic devices
- Familiarity with human factors, ergonomics, or biomechanics as they apply to garment design
- Experience with medical or assistive device adjacent apparel (compression, prosthetics interface, exosuit softgoods)
- Experience in start-up or early-stage product environments
- Personal motivation to improve human movement
- Taylor Swift fan. Good taste in background music :)
This is a full time hybrid position working at the Skip office in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco.
