Senior Technical Designer - Sweaters & Cut and Sew Knits

JCrew•New York, NY

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Technical Designer is a key partner to Design, Production, and Merchandising, driving the technical strategy and execution that bring product concepts to life through precise fit, construction, and manufacturing excellence. This role owns the technical development process end-to-end for a major product category, sets standards that elevate quality and consistency across the business, and mentors junior team members. We welcome candidates with diverse paths and experiences who bring deep technical expertise, sound judgment under ambiguity, and a track record of cross-functional leadership.

Requirements

7+ years of experience as a technical designer, including experience leading technical development for a major category independently
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, Excel, and Flex PLM (or equivalent PLM systems)
Expert-level understanding of yarn types, gauges, stitch formations, and knit construction, including advanced/novelty knit structures
Proven ability to manage a full seasonal calendar across multiple styles and categories in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
Advanced knowledge of garment construction, patternmaking, grading, draping, and technical sketching
Strong command of fabric properties and their impact on fit, drape, and performance, with the judgment to solve for trade-offs
Extensive experience independently leading fittings and owning the fit approval process from concept to bulk
Demonstrated experience mentoring or leading junior technical designers
Excellent organizational, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Technical Design, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
Extensive, hands-on experience with PLM systems, including workflow design or admin-level configuration
Deep familiarity with factory processes and machinery across domestic and international production, including experience evaluating new vendor capabilities
Knowledge of J.Crew brand standards and product expectations
Experience developing training materials or technical standards documentation for a team

Responsibilities

Own the technical strategy and development process for Women’s Knits/Sweaters, from concept through bulk production (TOP), setting the standard for fit, construction, and quality across the category.
Serve as the primary technical point of contact for Design, Merchandising, and Production leadership, translating design intent into technically sound, cost-effective, and manufacturable solutions.
Lead fit sessions on live models, diagnosing complex fit and construction issues and directing corrective action across the development calendar.
Architect and maintain technical packages and construction standards, ensuring precision and consistency across multiple categories and driving process improvements that reduce fit iterations and cycle time.
Oversee sample tracking, fittings, and approvals across a full seasonal calendar, proactively identifying risks to key milestones (bulk and photo approvals) and resolving bottlenecks before they impact the line.
Act as technical lead in factory partner relationships, delivering detailed written feedback, technical sketches, and visual references, and coaching vendors on capability building and problem resolution.
Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior technical designers, reviewing their work and helping build their skills in construction, grading, and fit evaluation.
Partner with Production and sourcing on new vendor onboarding, evaluating factory technical capability and machinery for knit construction.
Maintain and evolve technical records, sample history, and best-practice documentation to drive consistency and continuous improvement across the team.