PBS Technical Design Manager

Zumiez Inc•Lynnwood, WA

12d•$110,000 - $130,000•Onsite

About The Position

We’re looking for a Technical Design Manager who believes the best product comes from strong technical thinking—and that the most meaningful leadership happens through teaching. This role is rooted in deep patternmaking expertise, a rigorous understanding of fit and construction, and a genuine desire to help others see, understand, and solve problems more clearly. This position is for someone who leads by developing people. You enjoy breaking down complex fit challenges, explaining the why behind pattern decisions, and helping others sharpen their eye and instincts. You don’t just fix issues—you turn them into learning moments, building confidence and capability across the team. Balance, pitch, proportion, and construction aren’t just tools you use; they’re principles you actively teach. You’ll set the standard for how technical problems are approached and resolved, modeling clear thinking, curiosity, and accountability. Through hands‑on guidance, feedback, and shared problem‑solving, you’ll help elevate both individual skill sets and collective output—season over season. This role prioritizes learning as a driver of quality, consistency, and growth. You’ll partner closely with Design, Product Development and Production; using education and clarity to align teams and move product forward. Zumiez has ambitious goals for Technical Design, and we’re building a team where teaching, learning, and craft are inseparable. This is where you come in. The Technical Design Manager leads the technical design function for apparel, overseeing fit execution from development through bulk production while ensuring garments meet Zumiez’s standards for quality, construction, and performance. This role also sets the standard for how fittings are prepared, conducted, and resolved across the team—ensuring that fit issues are identified quickly and corrected at the pattern level with clear technical direction. This role drives opportunity to leverage data and technical insight to improve consistency, refine standards, balance workload, and enhance the overall customer experience. A core component of the position is leadership in patternmaking and CLO3D development. The Technical Design Manager drives best practices in both digital and physical pattern development, ensuring accurate fit, efficient workflows, and strong alignment between design intent and manufacturing product. Leading a team of technical designers, this position is responsible for advancing their expertise through strong mentorship, hands-on leadership, and a culture of continuous learning. Success in this role requires both deep technical knowledge and the ability to develop others—guiding the team in refining their craft while consistently elevating the quality and fit of our product.

Requirements

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams and global vendor partners.
Proven ability to mentor, coach, and develop technical design talent, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced product development environment.
Analytical and solution-oriented mindset, capable of diagnosing fit and construction challenges and guiding teams toward practical solutions.
Demonstrated proficiency in CLO3D, Adobe Illustrator, and Microsoft Office.
Strong expertise in fit evaluation on live models and dress forms, pattern development, grading, garment construction, and fabric behavior across multiple apparel categories.
Ability to develop, modify, and troubleshoot patterns using both flat pattern techniques and digital patternmaking tools.
Deep understanding of how pattern balance, construction, and material behavior impact garment fit and performance.
Minimum of 10 years of technical design experience, with deep expertise across multiple categories such as men’s and women’s knits, wovens, denim, sweaters, swim, outerwear, and technical jackets.
Minimum of 3 years proven experience managing and developing a team of technical designers, with direct oversight of multiple reports and a strong track record of developing talent and driving team performance within a mid-sized team environment.
Demonstrated expertise leading fit sessions and resolving complex fit and construction challenges in a production environment.
Strong background in patternmaking and garment construction, with the ability to translate design intent into manufacturable product, across all apparel product categories and gender.
Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Patternmaking, Fashion Design, Product Development, or a related field with coursework in textiles, patternmaking, and apparel construction.

Responsibilities

Technical Design Leadership: Lead the technical design function from development through bulk production, ensuring garments meet Zumiez standards for fit, construction, quality, and manufacturability.
Strategic Partnership: Serve as a member of the Product and Brand Services leadership team, collaborating with department leaders to support strategic initiatives and align technical design practices with broader business goals.
Team Leadership & Development: Manage, coach, and mentor technical designers, supporting onboarding, career development, and continuous skill advancement. Foster a culture of learning and craft excellence across the team. Participation in company events as requiredin a student or teacher role capacity.
Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner closely with Design, Product Development, Production,Compliance and Sourcing teams to ensure alignment on fit, construction, costing, timelines, and product quality throughout the development process.
Patternmaking & Digital Development: Drive best practices in digital patternmaking and CLO3D development. Guide the team in leveraging 3D tools to improve fit accuracy, streamline development timelines, and strengthen collaboration across product teams.
Fit Leadership: Establish and maintain best practices for fit sessions across categories, ensuring issues are diagnosed efficiently and corrected at the pattern level while preserving design intent.
Technical Problem Solving: Provide expert guidance on complex fit, pattern making, and construction challenges, supporting the team in developing practical, manufacturable solutions.
Process Improvement: Drive initiatives that improve development workflows, technical tools, and operational processes to increase efficiency, consistency, and product quality.
Technical Standards & Documentation: Oversee the creation and maintenance of technical standards, SOPs, and documentation to ensure consistent execution across teams and vendor partners.
Quality & Compliance Oversight: Evaluate garments throughout development to ensure adherence to fit standards, construction requirements, quality expectations, and regulatory compliance.