Senior Technical Designer at The People Brand (Newport Beach, CA)
The People Brand· Newport Beach, CA· $110k–$120k·
Role details
Job description
Senior Technical Designer
Location: Newport Beach, CA (On-site)
The Senior Technical Designer is responsible for leading the technical development of women's dresses, sweaters, and ready-to-wear collections from concept through production. This role partners closely with Design, Product Development, Production, and overseas vendors to translate creative vision into commercially successful, production-ready garments while maintaining the company's standards for fit, quality, construction, and performance.
The ideal candidate is a women's ready-to-wear technical expert with extensive experience in fit, pattern evaluation, fabric behavior, and garment construction. This individual will lead fit sessions, drive technical execution throughout the development process, mentor junior team members, and ensure consistency across all styles and seasons.
Responsibilities
- Lead the technical development of women's dresses, sweaters, and ready-to-wear collections from prototype through production.
- Create and maintain comprehensive technical packages, including construction details, technical sketches, points of measure (POMs), grading, tolerances, and construction callouts.
- Manage the prototype development process, ensuring samples are delivered and reviewed according to development calendars.
- Measure, evaluate, and review prototype, fit, PP, and TOP samples for fit, construction, workmanship, and overall execution.
- Lead fit sessions on live models and problem-solve with Design to achieve the best-fitting product.
- Develop and communicate detailed fit comments and construction revisions to domestic and international vendors within established timelines.
- Partner closely with Design to preserve design intent while achieving optimal fit, comfort, and manufacturability.
- Collaborate with Product Development, Production, and Sourcing teams to resolve fit and quality issues throughout development and production.
- Maintain consistency in fit, grading, construction, and technical standards across all women's ready-to-wear categories.
- Analyze garment construction and recommend improvements to enhance quality, durability, functionality, and cost efficiency.
- Build strong working relationships with overseas factories, pattern engineers, and cross-functional teams through clear technical communication and collaboration.
- Maintain development trackers, technical documentation, and sample status updates with accuracy and attention to detail.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance product quality, development efficiency, and technical processes.
- Availability to join calls with international vendors during non-traditional office hours.
- Maintain a high level of productivity by consistently meeting project deadlines and expected fit comment volumes.
Qualifications
- 9+ years of technical design experience with a strong focus on women's dresses, sweaters, and ready-to-wear.
- Extensive knowledge of women's apparel fit, construction, patternmaking, and grading.
- Expert understanding of woven and knit fabrications, including sweater knits, stretch textiles, linings, and specialty construction techniques.
- Proven ability to lead fit sessions and make sound technical decisions that balance fit, aesthetics, functionality, and manufacturability.
- Strong knowledge of garment grading, measurement standards, and pattern engineering.
- Experience partnering directly with domestic and international factories and pattern makers.
- Excellent technical communication skills, including the ability to communicate fit corrections using technical sketches, fit photos, and pattern diagrams.
- Strong understanding of the complete apparel product development lifecycle from concept through production.
- Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Collaborative, solution-oriented mindset with strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop.
- Experience with StyleCAD or similar pattern software is a plus.
- Experience with both domestic and international production is preferred.
- Knowledge of construction methods across women's woven apparel, dresses, sweaters, and knitwear is highly desirable.
- Must be a team player.
Why work at The People Brand
- Culture & Values: The agency itself prides itself on being a culture-first organization, emphasizing trust, mutual respect, and true partnership. They seek to work with brands that share these values.
- Work Environment: Based in Carson, CA, with a mix of on-site and hybrid roles posted for their own team. Positions include full-time roles in locations like Carson, CA and Detroit, MI.
- Transparency: As an employer, they use AI tools to support hiring but also tout radical transparency (sharing salary and company names) as a core principle, suggesting a straightforward, honest internal culture.
- Team & Leadership: Founded and led by two experienced, purpose-driven HR leaders with a “do the right thing” mentality. You'd be learning from veterans who deeply understand the talent landscape.
- Impact: Work directly with top-tier lifestyle and CPG brands, placing talent that drives those industries forward. The agency's small, specialized nature means your work has a direct impact on client success.