Technical Designer

EMERGING BLUE; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

EMERGING BLUE is seeking an experienced Technical Designer to drive garment fit, specifications, construction accuracy, grading, and production readiness from development through TOP approval. The role is highly technical and hands-on, partnering with overseas factories and cross-functional teams to ensure quality and workmanship standards.

The candidate will manage technical packages, apply grading rules across sizes, and mentor junior team members while maintaining accurate documentation and

Qualifications

• 3+ years in technical design, garment engineering, or pre-production.
• Advanced knowledge of garment fit, measurement methodology, tolerances, and production quality standards.
• Experience creating and interpreting measurement specs and technical packages.
• Experience communicating with overseas factories and managing technical follow-up across stages.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical fit review across development, PP, and TOP samples and issue actionable factory comments.
• Own garment specifications and measurement standards through product lifecycle.
• Maintain technical packages in Excel with specs, construction details, and tolerances.
• Apply standard grading rules and identify inconsistencies for corrections.
• Evaluate construction methods, seams, stretch/recovery, and ensure quality and production readiness.
• Communicate with overseas factories to resolve fit, measurements, and production issues; drive timely resolution.
• Analyze sample issues to determine root cause and provide practical technical solutions.
• Maintain fit history and technical decisions across multiple styles from sample to production.
• Review PP and TOP submissions for technical compliance and raise critical concerns.
• Maintain technical tracking reports and status visibility across active styles.

Skills

Technical design

Garment fit

Grading principles

Excel proficiency

Technical documentation

Factory communication

Attention to detail

Tools

Excel

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Technical Designer to play a key technical role within our Pre-Production Department, driving garment fit, specifications, construction accuracy, grading, and production readiness from development through TOP approval.

This position is highly technical and hands-on. The Technical Designer will partner closely with overseas factories and internal cross-functional teams to resolve fit and construction issues, maintain accurate technical documentation, and ensure product meets established quality, measurement, and workmanship standards.

Role and Responsibilities

• Lead technical fit review of development, pre-production (PP), and top-of-production (TOP) samples; measure garments against specifications, identify variances, and issue clear, actionable factory comments.
• Own garment specifications and measurement standards, including creation, maintenance, and revision of measurement specs throughout the product lifecycle.
• Build and maintain accurate technical packages in Excel, including specifications, construction details, measurement points, tolerances, and technical callouts.
• Apply and validate standard grading rules across size ranges; identify grading inconsistencies and recommend technically appropriate corrections.
• Evaluate garment construction, workmanship, sewing methods, seam applications, stretch/recovery, and component execution with particular attention to intimate apparel and loungewear.
• Communicate directly with overseas factories on fit, measurements, grading, construction, and production issues; drive timely resolution and follow-up.
• Analyze sample issues to determine root cause and provide practical technical solutions that support fit consistency, manufacturability, quality, and production efficiency.
• Manage fit history and technical decisions across multiple styles, ensuring comments and specifications remain accurate and consistent from sample stage through production.
• Review PP and TOP submissions for technical compliance and elevate critical measurement, construction, or workmanship concerns before production approval.
• Maintain technical tracking reports and status visibility across active styles, samples, approvals, and outstanding factory actions.
• Establish and reinforce technical standards, measurement methodology, and documentation best practices within the Pre-Production function.
• Support and mentor junior technical team members on measuring technique, fit evaluation, specifications, grading, construction analysis, and factory communication.
• Maintain PP and TOP samples and technical reference materials in an organized, accessible manner.

Qualifications And Skills

• 3+ years of technical design, garment engineering, product development, or pre-production experience; experience in intimate apparel, lingerie, bras, shapewear, sleepwear, or stretch garments strongly preferred.
• Advanced knowledge of garment fit, measurement methodology, garment construction, pattern relationships, tolerances, and production quality standards.
• Strong working knowledge of garment grading principles and the ability to review and troubleshoot grade rules across size ranges.
• Proven ability to create, maintain, and interpret detailed measurement specifications and technical packages.
• Advanced Excel skills and strong proficiency working with specification sheets, tracking tools, and technical documentation.
• Ability to diagnose fit and construction problems and translate findings into precise, production-ready factory comments.
• Experience communicating directly with overseas factories and managing technical follow-up across multiple development and production stages.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate technical information clearly and decisively.
• Highly detail-oriented, organized, and able to prioritize multiple styles and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong sense of urgency, ownership, and accountability for technical accuracy and on-time approvals.

Preferred Technical Background

• Hands-on experience fitting garments on live models or forms and evaluating balance, proportion, stretch, recovery, and comfort.
• Knowledge of intimate apparel construction techniques, elastic applications, stretch fabrics, support components, and related fit considerations.
• Experience working across development, PP, and TOP approval stages in a high-volume apparel environment.