Senior Designer

5.11•Costa Mesa, CA

About The Position

Born in Yosemite, forged in Quantico and built for adventure. 5.11 is a purpose-driven lifestyle brand, rooted in performance, durability, and versatility. Since 1979, we’ve created gear and apparel for people who live life without limits, delivering gear and apparel that empower them to push boundaries every day. We are seeking a highly creative and technically driven Senior Apparel Designer to support the continued evolution of our apparel product line. This role will help develop innovative, purpose-built product solutions that serve professionals, outdoor enthusiasts, and consumers who prioritize performance, durability, and versatility.

Requirements

7–10 years of apparel design experience within outdoor, workwear, active, performance, or technical apparel industries.
Strong understanding of functional apparel construction, garment engineering, fit, and performance-driven design.
Experience working with technical fabrics, trims, and performance materials.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Illustrator.
Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills.
Collaborative mindset with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience designing women’s apparel is a strong plus.
Sewing, patternmaking, or technical construction knowledge is a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and development of innovative apparel concepts across multiple categories within the 5.11 product portfolio.
Translate consumer insights, market trends, and brand strategy into commercially viable and technically sound product solutions.
Create seasonal concepts, sketches, CADs, tech packs, and presentation materials that clearly communicate design intent.
Drive innovation across fabrics, trims, garment construction, and functional performance features.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Product Development and Technical Design to ensure fit, functionality, manufacturability, and construction integrity.
Partner with the Design Director and broader design team to evolve and maintain a cohesive product vision and brand aesthetic.
Participate in fittings, prototype reviews, and product evaluations to ensure design intent and end-user performance standards are achieved.
Research market trends, materials, and emerging technologies to inform future product opportunities and innovation.
Present design concepts, material direction, color recommendations, and seasonal storytelling during key milestone meetings.