Director, Soft Goods Product Development

Frida•Miami, FL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Frida is seeking a Director, Soft Goods Product Development to join its Product Development team in Miami, Florida. Reporting to the SVP, RD&E, this leader owns technical product development from concept through commercialization, builds scalable Soft Goods capabilities and processes, and strengthens business continuity across the product portfolio. The role combines deep cut-and-sew and soft goods engineering expertise with strategic leadership, hands-on execution, and cross-functional collaboration in a dynamic, fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. The Director leads technical development and execution for Soft Goods products, translating Industrial Design intent into manufacturable products while balancing consumer experience, performance, quality, regulatory compliance, and cost. The position partners with internal and external design and prototyping teams and with Sourcing, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and Project Management to deliver launches on time and within financial targets. It leads technical decisions on materials, suppliers, design for manufacturability, validation, manufacturing readiness, and production start. The role also defines and scales the operating model, technical capabilities, and development processes for Soft Goods across apparel, utilitarian products, and knits. It identifies capability gaps, works with senior leadership on organizational structure and hiring plans, develops supplier capabilities, and standardizes engineering tools and commercialization practices. The Director leads supplier transitions, second-source qualifications, and product sustainment initiatives to strengthen supply resilience, reduce risk, support international expansion, and achieve cost savings while maintaining quality and consumer experience.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; Mechanical Engineering preferred.
8–10+ years of product engineering leadership and global product development experience across multiple categories, including at least 5 years in cut-and-sew or soft goods (such as apparel, consumables/nonwovens, utilitarian products, or medical devices).
Experience with companies recognized for innovative design and product development, including building engineering capabilities, teams, processes, and operating models.
Demonstrated ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and drive alignment without direct authority.
CAD proficiency.
Experience developing Class I and Class II medical devices.
Strong negotiation skills and ability to deliver premium quality within gross margin parameters.
Ability to identify and apply emerging trends and technologies to improve existing products and inspire new ones.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with changing requirements and priorities, balancing speed to market, cost, quality, and consumer experience.
Consumer-obsessed mindset with a strong understanding of consumer needs.
Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills.
Excellent project management and organizational skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Proactive, action-oriented approach and ability to operate autonomously and collaboratively as part of a team.

Nice To Haves

Specialized education in soft goods manufacturing, construction, or a related field.
CLO 3D or SolidWorks experience.
Soft Goods Tech Pack experience.
Illustrator or a similar tool experience.

Responsibilities

Own technical development and execution of Soft Goods products from concept through commercialization and manufacturing launch.
Translate Industrial Design intent into manufacturable products while balancing consumer experience, performance, quality, regulatory compliance, and cost.
Partner with internal and external Industrial Design and prototyping partners, Sourcing, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and Project Management to deliver launches on time and within financial targets.
Lead technical decisions on materials, supplier selection, design for manufacturability (DFM), validation, manufacturing readiness, and production start.
Collaborate with Brand and Industrial Design to evaluate concepts and category expansion opportunities against consumer needs and supplier capabilities.
Define and scale the operating model, technical capabilities, and development processes for Soft Goods across apparel, utilitarian products, and knits.
Identify capability gaps and partner with senior leadership on organizational structure, hiring plans, technical competencies, and external partnerships.
Develop supplier capabilities and engagement practices in partnership with cross-functional teams.
Standardize engineering tools, technical documentation, design reviews, Tech Packs, manufacturing readiness, and commercialization practices.
Improve development efficiency, cycle time, product quality, and manufacturability through scalable processes.
Lead supplier transitions, second-source qualifications, and product sustainment initiatives to improve supply chain resilience.
Assess alternate suppliers and drive design or material changes required to support alternate manufacturing sources.
Drive cost savings, international expansion support, and supply risk reduction while maintaining product quality and consumer experience.
Support additional projects and responsibilities as business needs and priorities evolve.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental plan options.
Employer-paid life insurance.
Supplemental insurance options, including Accident Insurance, Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability, and Cancer Coverage.
FSA and HSA.
401(k) matching up to 4% with immediate vesting.
Generous paid time off, including elective PTO days, federal holidays, sick/wellness days, floating holidays, and a birthday day off.
Pregnancy and parental leave.
Weekly wellness programming in-office.
Dog-friendly office.
Learning and development opportunities for professional and personal growth.
Company-wide events and outings, including team-building events and an annual family carnival.
Annual Day of Service and volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
Exclusive employee product discounts.