Sr. Technical Designer-Apparel

Steve Madden•New York, NY

1d•$100,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

Steve Madden is seeking a Senior Technical Designer to join their Wholesale Apparel team. This role is crucial in bringing fashion-forward products from concept to production. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in technical design with a keen eye for fit, proportion, construction, and quality. This position reports to the Technical Design Director and involves owning the technical design process from initial development through pre-production approval. The role requires close collaboration with Design and overseas manufacturing teams to ensure the final product aligns with the creative vision and is optimized for production. This is an on-site position based in the NYC office, offering an opportunity to work in a fast-paced, collaborative fashion environment where technical expertise will have a visible impact.

Requirements

10+ years of Technical Design experience, preferably within the Better/Contemporary market or fashion-forward apparel.
Deep expertise in garment construction, fit, pattern-making, and tailoring.
A highly developed eye for fit, styling, proportion, and overall product execution.
Strong ability to translate a Designer’s creative vision into technically sound, production-ready product.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly with both internal teams and overseas partners.
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills and the ability to build trusted relationships across Design, Production, Merchandising, and manufacturing.
Exceptional organization and time-management skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and deadlines.
A proactive, self-motivated approach with strong problem-solving skills and meticulous attention to detail.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven fashion environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Illustrator.

Responsibilities

Manage the technical design lifecycle from initial development through pre-production approval, ensuring product meets fit, quality, construction, and design expectations.
Partner with Designers to understand creative vision and fit intent, translating concepts into detailed technical specification packages and production-ready product.
Conduct fit sessions on live models, evaluating balance, proportion, construction, and overall fit, and provide clear, actionable fit comments.
Analyze samples for specifications, pattern, construction, and workmanship, identifying opportunities for improvement.
Collaborate with overseas factories and manufacturing partners, communicating fit and construction corrections.
Proactively identify and resolve technical, production, quality, and costing challenges.
Manage multiple styles, projects, and deadlines simultaneously while maintaining accuracy.
Develop productive relationships with Design, Production, Merchandising, overseas factories, and other cross-functional partners.
Serve as a key point of contact for technical design correspondence with overseas manufacturing partners.
Bring a proactive, solutions-oriented mindset to the team and contribute to special projects and initiatives.