Design & Development Assistant - Apparel

Love To Dream; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Mentoring from DPD Manager

Small team environment

Competitive salary

Superannuation

Job summary

Love to Dream is expanding its Sydney Design & Product Development team and seeks a Design & Development Assistant to support day-to-day design execution and sample room operations. You will collaborate with the D&PD team to bring concepts to life, focusing on artwork, CAD execution, colourway development, and PLM data accuracy.

This hands-on, entry-to-early-career role offers learning across tech packs, specifications, and sample approvals, while owning a defined set of execution and data

Qualifications

• Qualification in apparel, textile or fashion design with entry- to early-career experience.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and eagerness to learn CAD, tech packs, PLM.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, able to multitask without errors.
• Willing to learn end-to-end product development for a global brand.
• Experience with babywear/sleepwear is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Produce CAD flats and artwork for assigned styles.
• Develop colourways and mock-ups for range reviews.
• Manage PLM style records and BOM data.
• Oversee sample room from proto to approval.
• Maintain data accuracy and lead cross-functional meetings.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Learning mindset

Team collaboration

Education

Diploma/Degree in apparel fashion design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

PLM systems

CAD execution

Tech packs

Job description

• Build your career in Technical Apparel Design & Product Development
• Fast-growing, global, baby sleepwear brand
• Location Zetland/Sydney, hybrid work, great company culture

About Love to Dream

Love to Dream is a leading Australian baby sleep brand with a global presence, sold across Australia, the US, UK, EU, and Canada. Known for innovative design and uncompromising safety standards, we are growing our Sydney-based Design & Product Development team to support an expanding product range and increasing market demand.

Why we’re hiring

We’re expanding the Sydney Design & Product Development team and are recruiting a Design & Development Assistant to support day‑to‑day design execution and sample room operations. You will work closely with our experienced Design & Product Development Team, supporting our growth, whilst learning and building your career!

About the role:

The Design and Development Assistant supports the Sydney Design & Product Development (D&PD) team in bringing product concepts to life, with a focus on artwork, CAD execution, colourway development, and PLM data accuracy. Reporting to the D&PD Manager, you will take ownership of design execution and data management tasks that keep the seasonal range moving, from CAD flats and textile artwork through to sample room organisation and style records.

This is a hands-on, entry-to-early-career role for someone who wants to build a career in technical apparel design and product development. You will work closely with the D&PD Manager, learning how tech packs, specifications, and sample approvals come together, while owning a defined set of execution and data tasks yourself.

Key responsibilities

1. Design Execution & Artwork

• Produce CAD flat drawings in Adobe Illustrator for assigned styles
• Develop colourway options and mock-ups for range review
• Translate design direction into repeat textile artwork, including print placements, as required
• Specify print placement, scale, and colour separations; prepare factory‑ready art files to supplier specification
• Build visual range plans layouts, and creative assets for seasonal presentations
• Maintain and curate the digital asset library

2. PLM & Data Management

• Enter and maintain PLM style records and BOM data with accuracy
• Own SKU coding and governance across the range
• Maintain component and trim records

3. Sample Management

• Manage the sample room; organisation, logging, and tracking of all samples from proto through to approval
• Maintain the strike‑off and lab dip library

4. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Support the D&PD Manager on tech pack and CAD execution for assigned styles
• Attend weekly design and development meetings and contribute to product review discussions
• Keep all product data in the PLM system current, accurate, and complete
• Create and maintain Visual Range Plans that the whole business relies on to track seasonal progress.
• Follow the critical path - proactively prioritise, flag risks early, and ensure every seasonal milestone lands on time.

The Requirements:

To be successful, you will demonstrate:

• Qualification in apparel, textile or fashion design, with some experience (entry-early career) experience in product development
• You are confident in Adobe Illustrator and keen to build your skills in CAD, tech packs, and PLM systems.
• You are highly organised, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple tasks (sample logging, artwork files, SKU records) without letting anything slip.
• You are eager to learn the end-to-end product development process and want hands‑on exposure to how a global apparel brand takes a design from concept to bulk production.
• Experience with babywear, sleepwear, or safety-regulated apparel is a plus but not essential.
• Must be based in Sydney and able to travel to Zetland minimum 3 days per week

Our Mission & Values

At Love to Dream™, we believe today's little dreamers are the shapers of tomorrow. We want to celebrate the power of sleep with every product and brighten our world, one little dreamer at a time. Our core values inspire each of us every day:

• Dare to Dream
• Lead with Love
• Inspired by Families
• Made with Love

What We Offer

• An Australian brand with a global presence — products sold in AU, US, UK, EU, and Canada
• A hands‑on entry point into technical design and product development
• Direct mentoring from the Design & Product Development Manager
• A small, tight-knit team where your contribution is visible and valued
• Modern workflows with active use of AI and digital tools
• Competitive salary and superannuation

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.