Technical Designer, Furniture Soft Goods, Fabric, and Leather - Pottery Barn

Williams-Sonoma • San Francisco, CA

98d • $80,000 - $90,000

About The Position

As a Technical Designer: Furniture Soft Goods, Fabric, and Leather, you will support new product lines and product development processes for each season for specific departments that reflect mood, market trends and business needs. You assist product development meetings and participate as one of the communicators for agents, merchants, sourcing, and color teams. You will work with Senior Management to ensure all deadlines and key calendar dates are met. Not only are you part of the design process, but you will also support the Director and Head Design Manager to manage and collaborate with the rest of the team. This role requires being onsite in our office Monday through Thursday, and remote option on Friday.

Requirements

• Degree in Design or equivalent experience
• Must provide a portfolio or website of current and past experience
• Minimum 3 years soft goods design and fabric & leather development experience
• In depth knowledge of furniture cushion construction and technical design
• Knowledge of fabric and leather properties, weaving/knitting techniques, dyeing, and finishing processes
• Experience designing soft goods / upholstery; keeping materials and pricing in mind
• Experience in soft goods pattern making and upholstery fill and fabrication
• Experience in identifying and contributing trends and inspiration based on the given concept direction
• Must have an aspirational taste-level with passion for interiors, home furnishings, color, designer aesthetic, and industry trends
• Mass manufacturing experience in retail environment

Nice To Haves

• Domestic and overseas experience collaborating with factories, understanding price adjustment to reflect brand aesthetic
• Understanding and enthusiasm for the brand

Responsibilities

• Schedule and create agendas for the weekly Product Development meetings and Work Sessions
• Access business results and support changes that arise from weekly business meetings
• Assist and support seasonal product presentations to the team and senior management
• Design and develop cushion specifications for seasonal Indoor and Outdoor Furniture Developments
• Provide feedback, corrections, and approvals on cushion fit, finish, and comfort for seasonal indoor and outdoor furniture developments
• Assist in researching new fabric and leather trends, technologies, and developments in the market
• Support the development of new fabric and leather concepts and innovations
• Provide insights and training that aligns with team objectives
• Contribute effective processes and procedures to improve workflow and results
• Proactively support calendar to recognize milestones and key dates
• Develop strong business acumen to support each season; understand brand and financial goals, support business and seasonal strategy
• Recognize key fashion trends and analyze what competition is doing to bring new business opportunities or trends to the team
• Create and maintain technical documentation for all cushion patterns
• Coordinate and manage fabric and leather samples from suppliers
• Organize and maintain sample library for easy access by design and merchant teams
• Document test results and provide feedback to fabric and leather developers
• Utilize Product Lifecycle Management shared with cross-functional teams to review status of development process
• Has strong cross-functional partnership with Williams Sonoma Global Operations country partners, merchants, sourcing, engineering, and color team
• Support department business needs and ability to bring new ideas for specs and concept board
• Provide administrative support such as organizing meetings, preparing presentations, and maintaining records related to fabric and leather development

Benefits

• A generous discount on all WSI brands
• A 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities
• Paid vacations, holidays, and time off to volunteer
• Health benefits, dental and vision insurance, including same-sex domestic partner benefits
• Tax-free commuter benefits
• A wellness program that supports your physical, financial and emotional health
• In-person and online learning opportunities through WSI University
• Cross-brand and cross-function career opportunities
• Resources for self-development
• Advisor (Mentor) program
• Career development workshops, learning programs, and speaker series

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees