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Cotopaxi · 1 month ago

Senior Technical Designer - Wovens

Salt Lake City, UT

Full-time

Hybrid

Mid, Senior Level

$85K/yr - $95K/yr

5+ years exp

Cotopaxi is a B Corporation that makes adventure travel gear to empower people to see the world and make it better. They are seeking a Senior Technical Designer who will own the technical development and fit process from concept through production, ensuring that products meet design intent and performance expectations.

Consumer GoodsE-CommerceOutdoorsProduct DesignRetail

Culture & Values

Responsibilities

Own the technical development and fit approval process from concept through production

Collaborate closely with Design, Merchandising, Product Development, and factory partners to ensure all specifications and prototypes meet aesthetic intent, quality standards, and financial goals

Lead fit sessions, manage fit model scheduling, and clearly document and communicate pattern corrections and fit adjustments to suppliers

Create and maintain accurate measurement charts, blocks, and tech packs - ensuring complete, consistent, and production-ready documentation

Conduct competitive fit analyses and partner with design to continuously improve fit standards and grading consistency across categories

Evaluate prototypes for accuracy of fit, construction, function, and overall quality, ensuring timely commercialization in alignment with the seasonal product calendar

Provide construction and production recommendations to improve product performance, manufacturability, and cost efficiency

Partner with Product Development to support margin goals, offering creative solutions that achieve target costs without compromising design intent

Participate in material and trim selection to confirm suitability for design, function, and cost requirements

Identify and document special construction methods, building and maintaining a comprehensive construction manual for design and factory use

Manage prototype tracking, sample comments, and approvals to ensure all milestones meet 'buy ready' deadlines

Partner with Product Development and Sourcing to understand factory capabilities and participate in vendor evaluations and selections

Review customer and return feedback related to fit and workmanship; partner with cross-functional teams to identify improvements for future seasons

Support system implementations, upgrades, and process improvements to enhance technical design efficiency and accuracy

Foster a culture of collaboration, respect, and shared problem-solving across design, materials, quality, development, sourcing, and global supply chain partners

Qualification

Technical design experienceApparel construction methodsProficient in PLM systemsAdobe IllustratorGoogle SuiteMicrosoft OfficeCommunication skillsOrganizational skillsCollaboration skills

Required

Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design, Soft Goods Development, Apparel Design, Textiles, or a related field

5+ years of hands-on experience in product development and technical design, with a proven ability to take products from concept to commercialization

Deep knowledge of apparel construction methods and manufacturing techniques, including laser cutting, bonding, welding, and traditional sewing operations

Strong understanding of materials, patternmaking, and fit

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly present ideas to cross-functional teams, factory partners, and non-product audiences, including non-English speakers

Highly organized, adaptable, and capable of managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment while adhering to seasonal product calendars and deadlines

Proficient in Google Suite, Microsoft Office, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop; experience with PLM systems required (Centric PLM preferred)

Open-minded and collaborative, with the ability to receive, synthesize, and act on feedback from internal partners, manufacturing teams, consumers, and field testers

This role follows a hybrid schedule, with 2-3 days per week in Cotopaxi HQ and 2-3 days remote, depending on business needs