Senior Technical Designer - Petite Tops & Dresses Fit Leader

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

401(k) with company match

Flexible PTO

Catered lunch on Fridays

Employee discount

YC‑backed startup team

Job summary

Short Story is seeking a Senior Technical Designer for Tops & Dresses to lead fit excellence from concept to production. You will own the technical fit process and partner with Design, Merchandising, Product Development, and global vendors to deliver best‑in‑class garments for petite clients.

The role centers on driving accurate Tech Packs, fit comment rich guidance, and production readiness, within a fast‑paced startup environment that values data‑driven feedback and rapid iteration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years in Women's Tops and Dresses technical design with category specialization.
• 5+ years patternmaking experience.
• Strong Petite Fit and grading understanding.

Responsibilities

• Manage end‑to‑end fit process from first fit through bulk production.
• Oversee block patterns and spec library for consistent fit.
• Develop and maintain Tech Packs with detailed fit comments for vendors.
• Lead weekly fit sessions for product categories.
• Analyze best and worst sellers to drive fit improvements.
• Manage time & actions to meet delivery deadlines.
• Support Technical Design Tools and drive fit initiatives.
• Vendor management and monthly fit metrics tracking.
• Collaborate across design, merchandising, and product development.

Skills

Petite fit expertise

Attention to detail

Analytical thinking

Communication

Time management

Startup mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Tools

2D pattern software

Adobe Illustrator

Google Sheets

Pattern grading

Job description

Short Story is seeking a Senior Technical Designer for Tops & Dresses to lead fit excellence from concept to production. You will own the technical fit process and partner with Design, Merchandising, Product Development, and global vendors to deliver best‑in‑class garments for petite clients.

The role centers on driving accurate Tech Packs, fit comment rich guidance, and production readiness, within a fast‑paced startup environment that values data‑driven feedback and rapid iteration.