TECHNICAL DESIGN MANAGER

Title Nine Sports Inc • Emeryville, CA

19h • $120,000 - $140,000

About The Position

The Technical Design Manager leads product engineering for the Title Nine in-house brand, translating design intent into commercialized product that meets our fit, quality, performance and margin standards. This role owns the technical point of view for the brand — blocks, specifications, grading, construction and fit consistency — and is accountable for the fit integrity of both new and carryover styles. The role leads the Tech Design function, manages Tech Design, and serves as the technical voice in cross-functional decisions with Design, Merchandising, Materials and Sourcing.

Requirements

• Team player and cultivate a team environment.
• High proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and patternmaking / 3D patterning software (Gerber, Browzwear VStitcher or equivalent); technical aptitude and proficiency in Mac OS, Google Workspace and MS Office.
• Working proficiency in a PLM system, with the judgment to set and enforce data standards within it.
• Comfort working with data — able to build, read and act on return rate and quality reporting in Excel.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, strong attention to detail and ability to multitask.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with managers, customers, contractors, peers and vendors, including overseas manufacturing partners.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and results-driven environment; learn quickly, understand and follow instruction, and adapt to new problems and situations.
• Bachelor's degree in apparel design, technical design, pattern making, textile science or a related field; or equivalent related industry experience.
• 7+ years of technical design and/or product development experience in the apparel industry, including pattern making, grading, construction, materials, costing, manufacturing and quality.
• Experience interpreting creative and design intent, offering suggestions or solutions, and acting as the technical resource for the team.
• Experience in woven and knit apparel; performance, swim, and sweater experience a plus.
• Experience working within a PLM system in a development or technical design role.
• Experience managing a team.

Nice To Haves

• performance, swim, and sweater experience a plus.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the signature technical point of view for the Title Nine brand across apparel and swim; lead product engineering to execute design intention, fit, quality and ease of manufacturing.
• Build consistent and signature technical specifications including pattern, construction, make, measurement and grade; own and maintain Title Nine style blocks to ensure size and fit consistency within and across product categories.
• Execute complete design specification packages including flat sketches, technical sketches, construction details, measurement specifications, appropriate tolerances, garment grading, and placement of graphics or labeling.
• Develop 3D patterns to support initial product adoption with Design and Merchandising.
• Lead fit sessions, product discussions and quality discussions to deliver commercialized product on time; collaborate with Design and Merchandising to gain clear design direction and consensus on fit intent.
• Evaluate samples for fit, function, balance, movement, proportion and construction prior to weekly fittings.
• Ensure all styles meet Title Nine fit and quality standards, and communicate all fit comments to vendors in a timely manner, from 1st proto through PP approval.
• Own fit governance for carryover styles: confirm carryover fits are held season over season, approve any deliberate change to a carryover fit, block or specification before it is released to the vendor, and ensure every carryover fit change is documented with a clear rationale so no fit drifts without a decision behind it.
• Audit carryover styles at re-order and at vendor change for unintended fit or construction drift, and drive corrective action when found.
• Own the monthly return rate reporting process for the in-house brand: compile, analyze and distribute return rate and return reason reporting to Product Development, Merchandising and leadership.
• Identify fit-driven return trends by style, category, block and vendor, and translate them into specific specification, block or construction corrections.
• Own the response to customer call-outs related to fit: review customer feedback and service escalations, determine whether the issue is a specification, grading, construction, material or quality-control problem, and direct the corrective action.
• Close the loop by carrying return and customer fit findings back into blocks, specs, tolerances and future season briefs, and report on the impact of changes made.
• Set and maintain the Tech Design standards that live in the PLM system: tech pack structure, BOM accuracy, specification format, naming conventions and workflow milestones.
• Hold the team and vendor partners accountable to complete, accurate and current records across styles, BOMs, materials and samples.
• Support adoption and continuous improvement of PLM and 3D tools to reduce manual tracking and improve speed to market.
• Manage the sample development process from concept through final production approval, maintaining workflow tracking, tracking and maintaining all proto, PP and TOP samples, and following up with all teams involved to meet calendar deadlines and drive on-time deliveries.
• Communicate with in-house partners and overseas vendors regarding garment specifications, including issuing tech packs, measuring samples and size sets against approved specifications, commenting on garment fit and functionality, and resubmitting garments until final approval.
• Partner with the Sourcing and Product Development Director to achieve cost and margin objectives.
• Lead, develop and mentor the Tech Design team; build technical capability and succession within the function; foster team building, cross-functional partnership and a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Responsible for fulfilling manager responsibilities in accordance with Title Nine's policies and procedures, including interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; and addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• Paid time off, and a bunch of Holidays (including your bday!)
• Free and heavily discounted Title Nine products AND pro deals
• Retirement plan with employer match
• In-house gym with daily lunchtime fitness classes to get your workout in at work!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager