Rugged Apparel Product Developer

Royal Leamington Spa; Royal Leamington Spa; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Ridgeline is seeking an experienced Apparel Product Developer to turn creative concepts into high-quality products ready for manufacture. You will manage the development across mid-layer and lifestyle collections, ensuring performance, fit, and cost targets while coordinating with global partners.

You will own the seasonal critical path, lead fit sessions and ensure compliance with market requirements. Experience with waterproof outerwear is welcome but not essential, and travel to manufacturing

Qualifications

• Three+ years in apparel or garment product development.
• Experience with soft-goods construction, pattern adjustment, grading and fabrics.
• Ability to create and maintain detailed tech packs, BOMs and measurement specs.
• Experience managing seasonal critical paths and international supplier deadlines.
• Proficiency in Illustrator/Photoshop for tech flats and advanced Excel for trackers/costings.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end seasonal product development critical path.
• Track prototypes, lab dips, approvals and production deadlines.
• Translate designs into production-ready tech packs.
• Create workbooks and BOMs with measurements and construction notes.
• Source and evaluate fabrics, trims and components for durability and performance.
• Assess materials for comfort, shrinkage, wash stability and colourfastness.
• Oversee garment quality and durability across ranges.
• Serve as main UK/overseas manufacturer contact.
• Review and negotiate garment costs to hit margin targets.
• Lead fit sessions and document samples.
• Resolve issues on patterns, balance, grading and movement.
• Approve samples for bulk production.
• Ensure products meet current and upcoming market legislation.
• Support small range of hard-goods accessories when required.

Skills

Apparel product development

Pattern adjustment

Grading

Fabric weights

Fibre blend characteristics

Manufacturing processes

Tech packs

Bills of Materials

Costing and margins

Communication

Supplier management

Travel readiness

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Excel

Job description

Ridgeline is seeking an experienced Apparel Product Developer to turn creative concepts into high-quality products ready for manufacture. You will manage the development across mid-layer and lifestyle collections, ensuring performance, fit, and cost targets while coordinating with global partners.

You will own the seasonal critical path, lead fit sessions and ensure compliance with market requirements. Experience with waterproof outerwear is welcome but not essential, and travel to manufacturing