Sr. Manager - Women's Print and Pattern Design (CAD)

Madewell; New York (NY); On-site; USD 121,000 - 155,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Well-being

Associate Discount

Summer Fridays

Diversity & Inclusion

Job summary

Madewell is seeking a Senior Manager of Print & Pattern Design to lead CAD development of print, stripes, plaids, graphics and colorways across women’s apparel and accessories. You’ll translate seasonal direction into production-ready artwork and partner with Design and Sourcing to ensure on-brand execution.

You will manage CAD designers, set workflows, and stay current on CAD tools, while shaping Madewell’s distinctive print identity across knit and woven products.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in CAD, print, or pattern design within apparel or textiles.
• 2+ years of experience leading, mentoring, or managing designers or CAD artists.
• Expert proficiency in CAD and textile design software (such as NedGraphics or Kaledo) and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator) for developing repeats, colorways, and production-ready artwork.

Responsibilities

• Lead the CAD illustration and development of print, stripe, plaid, and graphic artworks in colorway options for apparel and accessories each season.
• Translate seasonal concept, color, and print direction into accurate, production-ready CAD artwork and colorway options, staying hands-on from initial illustration through production approval.
• Partner to explore colorway and pattern variations, contributing a strong creative perspective to the continued development of Madewell’s print and pattern identity.

Skills

CAD & pattern design

Leadership experience

Adobe Creative Suite

Colorway accuracy

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Textile Design or related field

Tools

NedGraphics

Kaledo

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Job description

Our Story

At Madewell, we believe that great style starts with great design. Since 2006, we’ve been creating premium denim and foundational wardrobe pieces for men and women that balance quality, authenticity, and versatility. From iconic jeans perfected by denim experts to the essential tee, the most versatile shoe, and the timeless leather bag—if it’s Madewell, it’s made well.

Our dedication to Diversity, Equity, Belonging & Sustainability has been celebrated with industry recognition, reflecting our commitment to fostering an inclusive and sustainable workplace.

The Role + Purpose

The Senior Manager of Print & Pattern Design leads the CAD development of print, stripes, plaids, graphics, and colorway options across Madewell Women’s apparel and accessories. Part technical expert, part creative collaborator, this role translates seasonal concept, color, and print direction into precise, production-ready artwork that carries from initial development through finished product.

Reporting to the Senior Director of Concept, Color & Pattern, this person brings a strong creative eye and deep technical expertise, partnering closely with Design and Sourcing to ensure accurate, elevated, and on-brand execution across womenswear product.

This role will also be a key creative partner in helping define and evolve Madewell’s print and pattern identity, building a distinctive and recognizable brand language across pattern, color, scale, and technique.

• Partner with the Senior Director of Concept, Color & Pattern to help define and evolve Madewell’s print and pattern identity, bringing a strong point of view on pattern, color, scale, and technique that builds a distinctive and recognizable brand language.
• Lead the CAD illustration and development of print, stripe, plaid, and graphic artworks in colorway options for apparel and accessories each season.
• Translate seasonal concept, color, and print direction into accurate, production-ready CAD artwork and colorway options, staying hands-on from initial illustration through production approval.
• Partner with the Senior Director of Concept, Color & Pattern to explore colorway and pattern variations, contributing a strong creative perspective to the continued development of Madewell’s print and pattern identity.
• Manage the accuracy, consistency, and technical integrity of print, stripe, plaid, and graphic repeats across all colorway iterations, ensuring artwork is ready for handoff to technical design and mills.
• Collaborate with Design, Technical Design, and sourcing/mill partners to ensure prints, patterns, and colorways translate correctly from CAD to finished knit and woven product.
• Manage and mentor CAD designers, building team capabilities in print, stripe, plaid, and graphic artwork development and colorway execution.
• Oversee CAD workflow and seasonal priorities, establishing clear processes and standards that support both creative development and production timelines.
• Stay current on CAD software, colorway tools, and print and pattern techniques for knit and woven apparel, championing new tools and approaches that improve the speed and quality of artwork development.
• Maintain an organized archive of all prints resources to support seasonal development and inform future collections.

Qualifications

Required

• 8+ years of progressive experience in CAD, print, or pattern design within apparel or textiles, with a focus on stripe, plaid, and graphic artwork development for knit and/or woven apparel.
• 2+ years of experience leading, managing, or mentoring designers or CAD artists.
• Expert proficiency in CAD and textile design software (such as NedGraphics or Kaledo) and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator) for developing repeats, colorways, and production-ready artwork.
• Strong technical knowledge of stripe, plaid, and graphic construction and repeat development across both knit and woven fabrications.
• Exceptional attention to detail and colorway accuracy, with the presentation and communication skills to articulate artwork and colorway decisions to leadership and cross-functional partners.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, colorway iterations, and seasonal deadlines in a fast-paced environment with strong attention to detail.

Preferred

• Experience designing for women’s apparel, or within an established American lifestyle or denim-rooted brand.
• Familiarity with trend forecasting platforms such as WGSN or Fashion Snoops.
• Knowledge of knit and woven construction as it relates to stripe and plaid engineering, such as yarn-dye and jacquard development.
• Bachelor’s degree in Textile Design, Surface Design, Textile Technology, or a related field is a plus, but not required; equivalent professional experience is equally valued.

Benefits + Perks

• Health & Well-being - Eligible associates and family members receive medical, dental, prescription and vision insurance, family planning (fertility, adoption & surrogacy support), fitness discounts, medical travel and more.
• Associate Discount - We love our products just as much as you do! That’s why we offer a great associate discount across all of our brands (J.Crew, J.Crew Factory, and Madewell).
• Summer Fridays - In addition to our hybrid work model, we also close our office at 1:00 PM every Friday during the Summer months.
• Community Impact - We support the communities where we live and work through our philanthropic efforts and the J.Crew Cares Program.
• Winter Break - In addition to our PTO package, J.Crew Group offers a winter break at the end of December to eligible full-time associates at the Home Office to provide time to refresh and recharge.

Note: Availability of these benefits and perks may be subject to work location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements.

Salary Range: $120,800.00 - $155,400.00

At J.Crew Group (JCG) we aim to pay competitively for our company’s size and industry. The base salary offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region of work premises, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. The base salary is just one component of J.Crew Group’s competitive total rewards strategy that also includes the opportunity for bonus, competitive benefits and perks.

One of our core focuses here at JCG is creating a community and culture that builds belonging. We are deeply committed to our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, and we warmly welcome job applicants of all backgrounds.

JCG is proud to affirmatively provide equal opportunity to all associates and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin or citizenship, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, legally protected physical or mental disability, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other basis protected under applicable law.