Technical Designer

Description:

Our team is growing and we’ve created a new Technical Designer role to join the Gymreapers team! To be successful in this role, you will have solid experience creating conceptual design sketches which convey body, styling, fit intent, fabrics, trims, and colors. This role will help us determine and set all garment engineering standards for product development and final production, including arranging and leading cross fit sessions, manage risks, sample tracking & influence calendar/workflow.

It is fundamentally important that this person embodies a balance of hard and soft skills needed to scale the department for growth: oversee grade standards, fit cadence to ensure calendar dates are met. You should be capable of executing the design and development of products based on creative direction, product brief, and line plan. This role should inspire innovation within construction / fit and working closely with product development team to collectively make great apparel.

You will work closely with the CEO/Founder and Product Team to create consistent storytelling across the brand. This role will also collaborate cross-functionally with Graphic Design, Product Development, Sourcing, and Merchandising on a complete product strategy to meet financial targets. This role will also:

Collaborate with Design and Merchandising to understand the design concept/vision
and influence changes as needed to help ensure the product fit, function, price and
delivery goals can be successfully achieved in a bulk production scenario.
Establish and record all technical garment specifications to direct and enable our
co-mans to develop and produce high-quality, great-fitting garments.
Record fit session comments and ensures plan of action. Ensure product status is
clearly understood and aligned.
Evaluate product to predict and manage risk from design concept through final
production approval.
Utilize Illustrator and vendor virtual sampling capabilities as needed to expedite &
clearly communicate garment specifications and changes.
Track and manage all fit samples / packages.
Align and calibrate with new vendor technical partners.
Determine when a product fit and construction is commercially approvable and ready
for production.
Upholds and improves department specific technical standards, record keeping,
processes, procedures, and tools.
Create design sketches utilizing Adobe Software to convey technical sketches of body, styling, fit intent, fabric, trim, and color for athletic garments, accessories and equipment.
Expertise in understanding of fit, patterns, construction, measuring and evaluating samples, materials, workmanship, function, and production feasibility.
Guide and monitor fit process to ensure “intended fit” is met. Must collaborate with Design, Merchandising and Product Development teams.
Benchmark fit and quality standards against other key competitors to ensure best in class fit and construction. Works to improve fit and quality through review of customers comments, sales feedback, and understanding of competition.
Collaborate with the merchandising team to analyze return rate reports and enhance carry over product if necessary.
Uphold and improve department specific technical standards, record keeping,
processes, procedures, and tools.
Support and drive to evolve operations, methods, and efficiencies. Help to build an end-to-end process including key time and action checkpoints.
Be an integral partner with Merchandising, Sourcing, Design and Product Development teams to create a smooth transition between initial concepts and final products.
Must have a consumer-focused mindset with an understanding of needs and ability to translate into product design.
Provide unique insight into relevant market trends with a point of view on the commercial viability of styles with a consumer-focused mindset.
Work cross-functionally across all teams and departments and maintain a professional and positive attitude with both internal and external clients.
Performs other projects and duties as assigned
What You’ll Bring:
Minimum of 4yrs of relevant experience in technical design
Portfolio of previous work required
Leverages strong understanding of garment engineering, apparel factory operations & fit to achieve business goals.
Strong skill set and knowledge of apparel design, textile properties, sizing, grading, and construction techniques
Strong knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite with an awareness of the latest creative software programs, techniques, and applications. Experience with 3D software is a plus.
Strong knowledge of overseas manufacturing, production, and communication.
Functional knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and project management systems
Strong written and verbal communication both internally and externally
Must be results-focused and highly detail-oriented
Demonstrate a professional and positive attitude with internal and external clients with an openness to new ideas and differing opinions
Must have strong organizational skills in order to troubleshoot and manage multiple projects
Excellent time management skills and the ability to work under pressure and deliver projects under tight deadlines
Familiarity with product manufacturing processes including materials/fabrics; plastics; pigments
Comfortable working in a dynamic and collaborative environment with a great deal of constructive feedback and input