Associate Designer - Betsey Johnson Apparel

Steve Madden•New York, NY

5d•$60,000 - $70,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Steve Madden is seeking a highly organized, creative, and technically skilled Associate Designer / Design Tech to join the Betsey Johnson Ready-to-Wear team. This role bridges creative design and technical product development, supporting the Design team from concept to final production. The ideal candidate possesses a strong fashion sense, understands the Betsey Johnson brand DNA, and is proficient in garment construction, specifications, fit, tech packs, and factory communication. This individual will collaborate with the Senior Designer and design team to translate creative concepts into commercially viable products while upholding the playful, feminine, and rebellious spirit of Betsey Johnson. The position is based in NYC, with a hybrid work model of 4 days in the office and 1 day from home.

Requirements

3–5+ years of experience in women's apparel design, technical design, or a hybrid design/technical role.
Strong knowledge of women's garment construction, fit, patternmaking principles, specifications, and manufacturing.
Experience creating and maintaining detailed tech packs in Excel
Excellent technical sketching and CAD skills.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop;
Strong understanding of woven and knit apparel construction; experience with dresses and fashion-driven products is especially valuable.
Strong eye for proportion, silhouette, detail, color, print, and overall styling.
Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and follow-through.
Comfortable managing multiple priorities and working within a fast-moving development calendar.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, particularly when communicating technical information to factories and cross-functional partners.
Collaborative, proactive, solution-oriented, and excited to work within a highly creative brand environment.

Nice To Haves

Degree in Fashion Design or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Support the design and development of Betsey Johnson Ready-to-Wear
Create and update CADs, technical sketches, and detailed tech packs throughout the development process.
Translate creative design direction into technically accurate, production-ready garments.
Build and maintain tech packs, ensuring all specifications, construction details, trims, fabrications, embellishments, garment finishes, and artwork information is current and accurate.
Review development samples against approved CADs, specs, artwork, fabrics, and design intent.
Identify potential construction or execution issues early and recommend solutions that maintain the original creative vision.
Assist with seasonal CAD updates, colorways, line sheets, presentation boards, and showroom preparation.
Support print, pattern, embroidery, embellishment, wash, and novelty development as needed.
Track samples and development updates to help ensure deadlines and key milestones are met.
Maintain strong organization across multiple styles and deliveries in a fast-paced environment.
Help ensure that every product feels unmistakably Betsey—fun, feminine, irreverent, unexpected, and full of personality.