Associate Technical Designer

LHH; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 37,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) plan

Sick time at OR state rate

Job summary

LHH is partnering with a Portland, OR apparel client to recruit an Associate Technical Designer for a 3+ month contract. The role supports the technical design team from design handoff through production approval, ensuring on-time delivery, fit accuracy, and quality construction.

Hybrid in Portland, with 4–5 days in the office weekly. Ideal candidates have 1+ year in apparel technical design, strong Illustrator skills, knowledge of patternmaking/grading, and familiarity with PLM systems.

Qualifications

• 1+ year of experience in apparel technical design.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator.
• Understanding of patternmaking and grading.
• Excellent organizational skills and deadline focus.
• Experience working with development and production timelines.
• PLM systems knowledge a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in design, fashion merchandising or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establish style fit intent and construction techniques with technical design staff.
• Develop base-size and graded garment specifications and manage details.
• Create and share initial tech packs with vendors, including illustrations.
• Measure and prep garments for fittings and assist with live fittings.
• Develop fit comments and corrections for vendors.
• Communicate with vendors about fit samples and required changes.
• Maintain style tracking and calendar-driven production deadlines.
• Support multiple categories across development and preproduction.

Skills

1+ year experience in technical design

Adobe Illustrator

Patternmaking

Grading

PLM systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in design or apparel-related field

Tools

PLM systems

Job description

We are partnering with our Portland, OR apparel and retail client to recruit an Associate Technical Designer to join their team on a contract basis for 3+ months. In this role, you will partner closely with the technical design team to support seasonal style development for assigned categories, taking styles from design handoff through production approval while helping ensure on-time delivery. You will support fit, construction, garment specifications, tech packs, vendor communication and style tracking throughout the development and preproduction process. To be a fit, you should bring strong exposure to the apparel technical design process, exceptional organization and the ability to effectively manage details and deadlines across multiple styles. You will help ensure garments are developed in appropriate fabrics, measurements accurately reflect design intent, and construction details meet established quality standards.

To be a fit, you should bring 1+ year of relevant experience in technical design, proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, and time-management and organizational skills. Knowledge of patternmaking and grading is highly preferred, while experience with PLM systems is a plus. A bachelor’s degree in in a relevant field, design, apparel design or similar, is highly preferred! This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys the technical side of apparel development and is equally comfortable collaborating with internal partners, participating in fittings and communicating directly with vendors. This is a hybrid role in Portland, OR but will lean onsite, with the schedule set to be in the office 4-5 days per week. Compensation for this role ranges from $27 to $31 an hour bases on relevant experience, and as an LHH contractor, you will be a W2 employee eligible for medical, dental, vision benefits, 401(K), accruing sick time at the OR state rate, and other unique

You will:

• Partner closely with technical design staff in a support capacity to establish style fit intent and determine construction techniques that support optimal quality and function
• Develop base-size and graded garment specifications; Assist in managing garment details to ensure quality and adherence to divisional fit and construction standards
• Create and communicate initial tech packs for each style to vendors, including technical illustrations
• Measure and prepare garments for fittings and assist with fittings on live models
• Develop and communicate fit comments and corrections to vendors
• Communicate with vendors regularly regarding fit samples, comments and necessary corrections
• Maintain style tracking information throughout the development and preproduction processManage work against calendars and production approval deadlines to support on-time delivery
• Provide support across multiple categories

Your experience should include:

• 1+ year(s) of experience in technical design within the apparel space
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator
• Understanding of patternmaking and grading principles
• Excellent organizational skills with close attention to detail
• Experience working against development and production deadlines
• Knowledge of PLM systems is a plus
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, including design, fashion merchandising or similar, preferred

Sound like you?

This is an opportunity to put your technical design experience to work while supporting seasonal product development from initial design handoff through production approval. If you are highly organized, detail-oriented and comfortable balancing hands-on garment work with vendor communication and deadline management, this could be a strong fit. Candidates based in or commutable to the Portland, OR area and aligned with most of the above qualifications are encouraged to apply!

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

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The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

The California Fair Chance Act

Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers