Manager, Technical Design

Gapinc; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Gap Inc. is seeking a senior technical designer with deep expertise in fabric and garment construction, pattern/blocks, and manufacturing processes.

You will lead fit optimization, mentor a small team, and collaborate with suppliers to expand vendor capabilities while ensuring high-quality tech packs and line development. The role requires experience across knits and wovens, and ideally experience in both men’s and women’s categories, with a passion for mentoring and guiding partners through the

Qualifications

• Significant technical design experience with fabric and garment construction, pattern/blocks and manufacturing processes.
• Establish and maintain an industry network and participate in industry association activities.
• Strong understanding of design, merchandising and product development priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of pattern blocks to ensure optimal and consistent fit.
• Mentor and manage a small team of associates.
• Provide guidance on vendor readiness and fit.
• Oversee tech packs and line creation processes.
• Ensure quality services meet business partner needs and align with policies.

Skills

Technical design

Pattern making

Garment construction

Vendor collaboration

Mentoring

Digital product software

Tools

Digital product software

Job description

About the Role

In this role, you will be accountable for maintaining and executing design aesthetics through consistent fit and construction, that aligns to our customers' needs. You will be a strong collaborator and influencer with cross functional partners and vendors and be able to translate design concepts into specifications for costing and first prototypes, by leveraging fit camps and maintaining overall customer fit consistency. You will be responsible for providing direction to global sourcing teams to expand vendor capabilities and troubleshoot fit issues, as needed.

What You'll Do

• Oversee the development of pattern blocks and to achieve optimal and consistent fit

• 8-10+ Years of Technical Design experience

• Experience working with both knits and wovens

• Ideally seeking a candidate with experience in both men's and women's categories

• Seeking someone with experience in—or a strong passion for—mentoring talent.

• Manage the development and maintenance of tech packs throughout the line creation process

• Provide guidance and recommendations on vendor readiness and fit empowerment

• Responsible for quality of services and advice in meeting business partner needs

• Responsible for end results of team and shares responsibility over resources, budget and adherence to policies

Who You Are

• Significant technical design experience with fabric and garment construction, pattern/blocks and manufacturing processes

• Establish and maintain an effective industry network, regularly benchmarking and actively participating in industry association working committees

• Demonstrate a sound understanding of design, merchandising, and product development priorities

• Abel to develop and apply simple, effective solutions to complex challenges

• Proven experience leading and managing a small team of associates

• Ideally looking for someone with experience in digital product software

• Prior experience working in an apparel retail company

• Ability to assess relatively complex situations and analyze data to make judgments and recommend solutions