Freelance Senior Technical Designer

Set Active; Beverly Hills (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SET Active in Beverly Hills is seeking a Freelance Senior Technical Designer to lead the technical design process from concept to final production, ensuring design intent meets brand standards and production feasibility.

You will partner with Design, Product Development, and Production, lead fittings, manage vendors, and drive improvements in fit, fabric, and construction across categories.

This role blends strategic leadership with hands-on technical work in a fast-paced startup environment.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in technical design for activewear.
• Strong knowledge of fit, fabric, and garment construction.
• Proven ability to lead fittings and communicate feedback.
• Experience collaborating with overseas factories and vendors.

Responsibilities

• Execute the technical design process from concept through final fit approval.
• Lead all fittings with clear directions for consistency.
• Communicate approval deadlines and update fit decks.
• Serve as the technical point of contact for internal teams and vendors.
• Review samples for accuracy and adherence to specs.
• Identify issues early and propose practical solutions.
• Maintain and update tech packs, BOMs, and fabric charts.

Skills

Garment construction

Pattern making

Grading

Fabric performance

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

About SET Active

SET Active is a fast-paced, growing women's athleisure startup known for delivering elevated everyday essentials designed for movement, comfort, and lifestyle. We're a small but mighty team with big ambitions—and we're looking for a strategic, solutions-oriented, and collaborative production leader to take us to the next level.

Position Summary

The Freelance Senior Technical Designer plays a key leadership role in driving the execution of product vision from development through final production. This position oversees the technical design process ensuring design intent is translated into high-quality, production-ready garments that align with brand standards. The role partners cross-functionally with Design, Product Development, and Production to lead fittings, communicate with global vendors, resolve technical challenges, and uphold accuracy and consistency in product specifications. This role is both strategic and hands-on, requiring an elevated understanding of fit, fabric, and garment construction as well as the ability to identify process improvements within the product lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Design Leadership

• Execute the technical design process from concept through final fit approval, ensuring design integrity and production feasibility.
• Lead all fittings, providing clear direction and actionable feedback to ensure fit consistency across categories.
• Communicate approval deadlines for each style as the style is fit. Be aware of and communicate whether there is time for another fit prior to approval. Style approval deadline dates should be added to the fit deck.
• Serve as the technical point of contact for all internal teams and external vendors, ensuring that all specs, patterns, and comments are clearly communicated and executed.
• Review, measure, and evaluate all pre-production, photoshoot, and TOP samples for accuracy, construction, and adherence to approved specifications.
• Identify potential technical or construction issues early in the development cycle and propose practical solutions.

Product Development & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Design and Product Development to ensure design vision, functionality, and fit align with brand standards and cost targets.
• Collaborate with the Production team to track sample progress, communicate changes, and troubleshoot issues for pre- and post-fit approval.
• Ensure all bulk production reflects approved fits, materials, and specifications, conducting final QC spot checks where needed.
• Participate in lab dip, fabric, and trim approvals to ensure alignment with design intent and technical requirements.

Vendor & Sample Management

• Manage daily communication with overseas and domestic factories to clarify technical details, comment revisions, and construction expectations.
• Ensure that all required samples (PPS, TOP, marketing, and photoshoot) are received, reviewed, and organized for internal reviews and C-suite presentations.
• Track and document sample status, ensuring on-time delivery for marketing, e-commerce, and creative initiatives.
• Address and resolve out-of-spec samples and collaborate with creative teams to ensure products are accurately represented in campaigns.

Process, Documentation & Systems

• Maintain and update all technical documentation including tech packs, BOMs, fit comments, fabric charts, and labeling.
• Ensure accurate recordkeeping of all approved specs, fits, and sample notes in shared systems and databases.
• Support process improvement initiatives to optimize fit consistency, sample accuracy, and communication with vendors.
• Contribute to internal templates, fit libraries, and standard operating procedures to drive consistency and scalability across the team.

Core Competencies

• Technical Expertise: Deep knowledge of garment construction, pattern making, grading, and fabric performance across activewear and lifestyle apparel.
• Fit & Aesthetic Sensibility: Strong ability to interpret design intent and translate into consistent, high-quality fit across styles.
• Communication: Clear, professional communicator with the ability to articulate technical feedback across creative and operational partners.
• Attention to Detail: High level of accuracy in measuring, documenting, and tracking samples and specifications.
• Problem Solving: Proactive and resourceful in identifying challenges and offering viable solutions.
• Project Management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple timelines and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaboration: Effective partner across Design, Development, and Production; maintains a balanced perspective between creative and technical priorities.
• Leadership: Demonstrates initiative, accountability, and the ability to guide others toward technical and process excellence.