Senior Design Engineer

Patagonia; Ventura (CA); Hybrid; USD 118,800 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Retirement and leave of absence plans

Job summary

Patagonia is seeking a Senior Design Engineer for Advanced Concept Design in Ventura, CA. This hybrid role emphasizes innovative product development, partnering with cross-functional teams to create high-quality products in service to the planet.

The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience, advanced expertise in pattern making, and a strong grasp of design tools. Responsibilities include developing groundbreaking solutions, leveraging emerging technologies, and creating specifications for products.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience developing high-quality products.
• Advanced expertise in pattern making and product development.
• Strong knowledge of tools including Adobe Illustrator and SolidWorks.

Responsibilities

• Develop proprietary solutions and partner with Legal for formal patents.
• Explore emerging manufacturing technologies for product building.
• Create and document product specifications and processes.

Skills

Pattern making

Product development

3D design tools

Fabrication methods

Technical problem solving

Attention to detail

Education

Degree in Design, Pattern Making, Engineering

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

SolidWorks

Clo3D

Job description

Role

Senior Design Engineer – Advanced Concept Design

Scope: Individual Contributor (P4)

Experience: 8+ years

Location: Ventura, CA (Hybrid)

About the Role

At Patagonia, our purpose is clear: we’re in business to save our home planet. Products sit at the heart of that mission, and how we innovate is just as important as what we create. As performance expectations evolve and new challenges emerge, we are called to think radically, act boldly, and push beyond incremental improvement to imagine entirely new possibilities.

What You’ll Do

• Develop proprietary solutions with unique intellectual properties, partnering with Legal to formalize patents and construction methodology.
• Explore and apply emerging manufacturing technologies to inform new, more responsible ways of building products.
• Evaluate all Forge-developed products with a focus on quality, performance, durability, repairability, and end-of-life considerations.
• Build product construction specifications and document step-by-step constructions to help communicate with the Development, Inline Design, Quality, and Production teams for commercialization.
• Partner with Pattern and Fit team ensuring our concepts adhere to our fit and pattern standards.
• Conceptualize and create new product opportunities—both within existing categories and in entirely new spaces.
• Collaborate with Design, Fit, and Advanced Concepts teams to innovate around movement and performance, incorporating biomechanics into design solutions.
• Build and test working prototypes using a wide range of construction techniques, including sewing, lamination, RF welding, seam taping, laser cutting, and emerging methods.
• Partner with world-class athletes to co-create activity-specific concepts and validate performance in real-world conditions.

Who You Are

• Purpose-driven – motivated to build best-in-class products in service of the planet.
• Curious & innovative – constantly exploring new ideas, tools, and techniques.
• Collaborative – able to interpret design intent and bring forward thoughtful, alternative solutions.
• Technical problem solver – skilled at navigating complexity and driving innovation through construction and engineering.
• Experimenter – comfortable testing, failing, iterating, and learning quickly to push concepts forward.

Experience You Bring

• 8+ years of experience developing high-quality products across apparel, accessories, and/or equipment.
• Advanced expertise in pattern making, including building concepts from the ground up.
• Degree in Design, Pattern Making, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Exceptional attention to detail across product construction, execution, and documentation.
• Strong working knowledge of tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Optitex, Browzwear, Clo3D, or similar 3D platforms.
• Experience with 3D design/engineering tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Rhino) is a plus.
• Hands‑on experience with a range of fabrication methods, including sewing, adhesive lamination, RF welding, 3D printing, laser cutting, and seam taping.
• Deep understanding of material properties and their impact on product construction and performance.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver in a fast‑paced, iterative environment.
• Experience mentoring and developing designers and/or developers.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to look at a computer screen for extended periods of time.
• Ability to maintain a composed and professional demeanor within a flexible and (at times noisy) work environment.

Hiring Range

$118,800 - $135,000 USD Annual

Benefits

Patagonia offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, retirement and leave of absence plans. Benefit plans may vary slightly depending on the nature of your employment.

Workplace Location Overview

This position is Hybrid, with a standard schedule of Tuesday – Thursday on‑site and remote work on other days. Occasional additional office visits may be required for team events or critical meetings.

Employee Conduct

It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive, inclusive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co‑workers, customers and vendors.

Equal Employment Opportunity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.