Assistant Product Developer

Smash + Tess • Richmond, BC

8d • Onsite

About The Position

Smash + Tess is a Vancouver-designed, North American made, and globally inspired clothing brand focused on creating "everywear" that is both chic and cozy. The company emphasizes sustainable practices, producing clothing on demand with a focus on quality and durability, using materials like a sustainable rayon from bamboo and cotton blend. Production occurs locally to ensure ethical working conditions. Smash + Tess has a strong community following, celebrated for its comfortable and stylish designs, and aims to simplify the decision of what to wear for its customers. The company culture is described as collaborative, creative, authentic, and highly effective, with an entrepreneurial spirit that encourages boldness, ownership, and a fast-paced environment that also values joy, friendship, and fun. They foster a culture where every team member's voice is heard and valued, encouraging creative problem-solving and celebrating collective impact.

Requirements

• 2+ years’ experience in garment product development
• A related undergraduate degree OR equivalent industry training, certification, or related business experience
• Located within driving distance of our headquarters in Richmond, BC, with access to reliable transportation
• Must be able to work at our office workspace, and regularly travel to our Distribution Centre
• Strong understanding of the product lifecycle process, from concept to consumer
• Extensive understanding of design intent, construction, production and fit
• Strong knowledge of raw materials, technical construction, and sourcing
• High proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc) and Adobe programs (Illustrator, Photoshop etc.)
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written, and a professional demeanour
• Flexibility, patience, and strong problem‐solving skills
• Strong organizational skills and ability to juggle multiple projects at once while maintaining exceptional attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and deliver results independently, as well as partner and collaborate cross-functionally

Responsibilities

• Assist the fit sessions with the Designer
• Work with the design team for seasonal product development
• Continuously develop, maintain and elevate fit standards
• Work closely with Designer from first proto fitting stage to establish the desired look and fit of the garment on the fit model
• Keep design concept in mind throughout the fitting process from the first proto through all stages of pre-production samples, to the final size sets and top of production samples
• Use Adobe Illustrator to show construction details and changes
• Develop initial spec packages and detailed sketches
• Issue the tech pack which includes all the technical specifications of the garment necessary for production: sketch, measurements, size grading, finishing details, yarn and fabric quality details, initial care instructions, pack method and labelling details
• Maintain a cohesive history of the style as well as a high standard of quality for production
• Measure fit samples, review samples prior to fittings to ensure the samples match the tech pack and was constructed as instructed
• Present solutions to Designer to resolve problems with yarn, fabric quality or poorly made samples
• Problem solve fit and fabric issues as they arise
• Additional duties as assigned

Benefits

• Pay transparency is an important topic for us. At this time we’re performing a full total compensation review across our organization. We're prioritizing establishing and communicating a fair and equitable salary structure and review process, so we can speak to all our compensation conversations thoughtfully, both internally and externally. If you are contacted about your application to this role, we commit to having an open and transparent conversation about pay in our first meeting with you.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree