Senior Technical Designer (Hybrid, Seattle)

Nordstrom•Seattle, WA

3d•$110,500 - $183,000•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Senior Technical Designer at Nordstrom, reporting to the Director of Design and Construction, you will manage the millwork and fixture design program. You will partner with internal stakeholders to turn requirements and priorities into thoughtful design solutions, champion the customer experience, build trust, manage vendor relationships and workstreams, mentor others, and help remove obstacles. The role calls for a resilient change agent who delivers results. You will manage the millwork and fixture design program from initial concept through rollout: gather customer, store-team, and business requirements; set the strategy and vision; determine whether to create new designs or improve existing ones; and balance aesthetics, function, and cost using data to recommend trade-offs and value engineering opportunities. You will translate creative ideas into technical specifications, shop drawings, and prototypes, and maintain documentation such as finishes, materials, and equipment catalogs and schedules. You will create processes, tracking systems, tools, and retrospectives that improve efficiency and enable scale. This includes facilitating stakeholder handoffs, tracking schedules and budgets, keeping cut sheets and databases current, setting standards from prototype approval through first-run quality assurance and ongoing durability, identifying issues early, and driving continuous improvement across vendors and the FF&E catalog. You will oversee vendor relationships and performance, onboard new casework and fixture manufacturers, direct fabricators, and hold partners to high standards for aesthetics, quality, schedule, and cost. In partnership with Procurement, Construction, Visual Merchandising, Facilities, and Strategic Sourcing, you will improve transparency, consistency, and accuracy; drive the RFP process and own its technical criteria and vendor recommendations; evaluate materials and manufacturing methods for supply-chain, sustainability, and commercial viability; support pricing and shipping strategies; and reduce costs while supplying cost data for capital expenditure requests and ensuring compliance with brand standards. The position is hybrid in Seattle and may require travel up to 30%. The stated annual pay range is $110,500 to $183,000. Performance-based incentives or bonuses may be available. Nordstrom lists medical, vision, dental, retirement, paid time away, life insurance, disability coverage, merchandise discounts, and EAP resources; eligibility may depend on location, job level, classification, and length of employment.

Requirements

At least 8 years of experience in casework or fixture design and manufacturing, design engineering, or related areas.
A four-year degree in industrial design, architecture, interior design, or a related field.
Willingness to travel up to 30%.
Proven experience managing a millwork or fixture program end to end, including vendor performance management and RFPs.
Advanced proficiency in 3D modeling and rendering software such as SketchUp, Rhino, Vectorworks, Revit, or comparable platforms.
Proficiency with AutoCAD, Bluebeam, Adobe Creative Suite, Smartsheet, and Microsoft Office, and fluency in reading technical design drawings.
A strong portfolio demonstrating deep retail fixture knowledge, including sourcing, installation, fabrication, materials and finish specification, and first-article review and approval.
Strong written, verbal, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
Ability to communicate with VP-level stakeholders and translate technical concepts for non-technical audiences.
Ability to build alignment through respectful two-way dialogue and knowledge sharing.
Ability to independently manage multiple priorities, navigate ambiguity, make decisions, and influence cross-functional partners at all levels.
Analytical thinking, problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and comfort working in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience across multiple areas of casework or fixture design and manufacturing or design engineering.

Responsibilities

Manage the millwork and fixture design program from initial concept through final rollout.
Gather customer, store-team, and business requirements and objectives; set program strategy and vision; determine whether to design new or improve existing fixtures; and balance aesthetics, function, and cost.
Use data to recommend design trade-offs and value engineering opportunities that support business goals.
Translate creative concepts into technical specifications, shop drawings, and prototypes.
Maintain design documentation, including finishes, materials, and equipment catalogs and schedules.
Create processes, tracking systems, tools, and retrospectives that improve efficiency and support scale.
Ensure smooth handoffs between internal stakeholders, track program schedules and budgets, and keep cut sheets and databases current.
Set standards from prototype approval through first-run quality assurance and ongoing durability, identify issues early, and help ensure high-quality work reaches stores.
Drive continuous improvement across vendors and the FF&E catalog.
Own vendor relationships and performance; provide oversight, onboard casework and fixture manufacturers, direct fabricators, and hold partners accountable for aesthetics, quality, schedule, and cost.
Partner with Procurement, Construction, Visual Merchandising, Facilities, and Strategic Sourcing to improve transparency, consistency, and accuracy.
Drive the RFP process with Strategic Sourcing partners, owning technical criteria and vendor recommendations.
Evaluate finishes, materials, and manufacturing methods for supply-chain, sustainability, and commercial viability.
Support pricing and shipping strategies, reduce costs, provide supply-cost data for capital expenditure requests, and ensure compliance with brand standards.
Mentor others, build trust, manage competing workstreams, and remove obstacles for cross-functional partners.