Senior Designer, 2D Technical Lead

Kendra Scott; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Kendra Scott is seeking a 2D Technical Design Lead in Austin, Texas. This full-time role involves leading the development of 2D design mockups and technical specifications, ensuring production viability and quality. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree in Jewelry design or equivalent experience, along with over 5 years in relevant fields. Responsibilities include overseeing design accuracy, mentoring team members, and fostering collaboration across design and product development teams.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience in jewelry design or product development.
• Advanced proficiency with design software and tools.
• Knowledge of jewelry construction and mechanisms.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of 2D mockups for new styles.
• Oversee updates and refinements of existing styles.
• Create and maintain Visual Assortment Sheets.

Skills

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Microsoft Excel

Jewelry design

Technical design

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Jewelry design or equivalent

Job description

We are a fashion-lifestyle brand of big dreams, colorful confidence, and inspired design. Founded on Family, Fashion and Philanthropy, we believe that our employees and customers are the heart and soul of our brand, and that giving back is the truest form of success. Fashion meets innovation in the design of our two state-of-the-art facilities based in the heart of Austin, Texas, and overflows into the design of our growing retail environment across the country.

Position Overview

The 2D Technical Design Lead / Senior Designer I is a member of the Design Team. The 2D Technical Design Lead is an exempt, full-time position that reports to the 2D/Technical Design Manager. The 2D Technical Design Lead’s primary duty is creation of high-quality 2D design mockups and technical specification documentation, maintaining visual assortment documentation, and clearly communicating Design Intent to cross functional partners. This position combines strong creative execution with technical expertise, while also driving process consistency, mentoring team members, and ensuring design accuracy from concept through production. The Lead acts as a key partner across Design and Product Development, ensuring both aesthetic integrity and production feasibility while meeting cost and timeline targets.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of 2D mockups for new and existing styles, ensuring alignment with brand standards, cost targets and seasonal direction.
• Oversee updates, recolors, and refinements of existing styles for cross-functional use.
• Own creation and accuracy of Visual Assortment Sheets, ensuring clarity and consistency across collections.
• Translate design direction into clear, production-ready visuals, making final recommendations to balance design intent, cost, and manufacturability.
• Capture direction for materials and color mixes to apply to styles to achieve design intent and price point goals for overall collection.
• Provide structured guidance, feedback, and quality standards to junior team members, elevating overall team execution.
• Lead creation and review of technical specification documents, serving as the final decision-maker on accuracy, completeness, and production readiness prior to vendor handoff.
• Interpret and communicate construction, materials, and functionality to cross-functional partners and manufacturers.
• Evaluate designs for production viability, wearability, and functionality, making final recommendations to ensure scalable and cost-effective execution.
• Partner with Product Development and vendors to troubleshoot construction challenges, owning resolution of technical issues to maintain timelines and product integrity.
• Own consistency and quality control standards across all technical documentation, driving reduction of errors and rework.
• Accountable for on-time delivery, technical accuracy, and production readiness across all assigned workstreams.
• Own and evolve scalable workflows and systems related to 2D design, spec creation, and BOM handoff processes.
• Identify and implement scalable process improvements that increase efficiency, accuracy, and cross-functional alignment.
• Maintain and evolve team-wide documentation standards, templates, and best practices, ensuring consistency across all collections.
• Prioritize work across multiple projects and timelines, balancing business needs, team capacity, and production deadlines.
• Serve as a key liaison between Design, Product Development, and external vendors, acting as a primary point of accountability for technical design clarity and execution.
• Lead spec review meetings, driving alignment and making final recommendations on technical feasibility, cost, and readiness.
• Communicate design intent, updates, and risks proactively, influencing cross-functional decision-making throughout the product lifecycle.
• Partner with leadership during seasonal kickoff and concepting, providing early technical input to shape assortment strategy and ensure feasible design direction.
• Maintain a high level of communication and collaboration with supervisor and members of the design team to ensure continual progress toward timely, accurate and cohesive assortment completion.
• Mentor and develop Technical Design Assistants, driving skill growth, accountability, and overall team performance.
• Contribute to concepting, sketching, and inspiration during seasonal development cycles.
• Foster a collaborative, positive, and solutions-oriented team environment, modeling leadership behaviors and reinforcing team standards.
• Work independently to solve complex problems and make decisions, balancing competing priorities and business needs.
• Must be organized, able to act independently, as well as take direction, and able to switch rapidly between different projects in a fast-paced environment.

Our Ideal Candidate Will Have

• Bachelor’s Degree in Jewelry design or Product development field or equivalent job experience.
• 5+ years experience in jewelry design, technical design, or product development for a high growth company.
• Advanced proficiency with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Microsoft Excel.
• Knowledge of costume and fine jewelry construction – stone settings as well as working mechanisms including clasps and hinges.
• Excellent listening and communication skills.
• A proven ability to execute with consistent high quality on-time delivery.
• Advanced problem-solving skills with an eye for technical detail.
• Experience creating and reviewing technical specifications and BOMs with a high level of precision.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent ability to communicate 3D concepts clearly through 2D visuals and documentation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects, influence cross-functional partners, and mentor others.
• Highly organized, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• The ability to be a team player and contribute to a positive working environment.

What Sets This Role Apart

• Ownership of both creative execution and technical accuracy.
• Leadership in process, quality, and team development.
• Direct impact on product integrity from concept to production.
• Opportunity to shape tools, workflows, and standards for the ...

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company.