Technical Designer - Apparel, Hats, and Accessories

Coolibar - Technical. Elegant. Sun Protection You Wear.®; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Coolibar is seeking a Technical Designer to own the fit and technical development of our products from concept through production, across Apparel, Accessories, and Hats. You will lead fit sessions using fit models, validate patterns and grading, and establish block libraries and grade rules to keep fit consistent.

You’ll own the technical package in Centric PLM, including specs, grading, construction details, and fit comments, and partner with Design, Product Development, and factory partners to

Qualifications

• Lead fit sessions using fit models and garments to evaluate proportion, construction, and performance against design intent.
• Establish and maintain block libraries and grade rule tables for consistency across categories.
• Manage specs, grading, construction details, and fit comments end-to-end in Centric PLM.

Responsibilities

• Lead fitting sessions for Apparel, Accessories, and Hats.
• Validate patterns, blocks, and grading.
• Own technical packages and ensure design intent is met across production.
• Collaborate with Design, Product Development, and factories to bring styles to life.
• Track development milestones and manage prototyping calendars.

Skills

Fit sessions leadership

Grading & pattern making

PLM proficiency

Adobe Illustrator

CLO 3D

Vendor collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Apparel Design or related field

Tools

Centric PLM

Adobe Illustrator

CLO

Job description

As an employee at Coolibar, you play a vital role in advancing our mission: to keep the world safe from sun damage, protecting those with sun-related medical conditions and helping prevent it for everyone else. You are part of a collaborative, cross-functional team dedicated to delivering the most innovative, user-centric UPF 50+ clothing and products, empowering people to live active, outdoor lives with confidence and safety in the sun.

Job Summary

Coolibar is seeking a Technical Designer to own the fit and technical development of our products from concept through production. This role is critical to ensuring every style across Apparel, Accessories, and Hats meets Coolibars fit standards and performance expectations, and delivers the quality our customers expect.

You’ll lead fit sessions using fit models and sample garments, validate patterns and grading through 2D (Illustrator) and 3D (Clo3D) tools, and establish block libraries and grade rule tables that keep fit consistent across categories. You’ll own the technical package end-to-end in Centric PLM, including specs, grading, construction details, and fit comments, and partner closely with Design, Product Development, and factory partners to bring every style to life.

• User First: Every design decision starts with a deep understanding of our user's needs, lifestyle, and relationship with the sun.
• Protection is Personal: We design for people with real medical needs alongside those who simply love the outdoors. Our product must work for both.
• Quality You Can Trust: UPF 50+ is our floor, not our finish line. Premium materials, rigorous testing, and design that holds up in real life define everything we make.
• Design with Intention: We believe great product requires taste, craft, and a genuine love of what we make. Every detail matters.
• Own It. We move fast, hold ourselves accountable to outcomes, and celebrate the people who raise their hand and take initiative.

Key Responsibilities

• Fit Ownership: Lead and conduct fit sessions using fit models and sample garments, measuring and evaluating proportion, construction, and performance against design intent for Apparel, Accessories, and Hats.
• Pattern & Grading Expertise: Validate patterns, blocks, and grading through development and production, establishing and maintaining block libraries and grade rule tables to keep fit consistent across categories.
• Technical Package Ownership: Own the fit cycle end-to-end in Centric PLM, creating and maintaining specs, grading, construction details, and fit comments for every style.
• Block Development: Build and maintain block patterns and fit standards by category, giving new styles a proven starting point and helping reduce development lead time.
• Customer-Centric Fit: Use returns data and customer feedback to identify recurring fit issues and drive corrections that improve fit over time.
• Quality & Wear Testing: Follow fit and quality checkpoints through development, production, and post-launch; lead wear tests and implement corrective action based on feedback.
• Vendor Direction: Provide clear, detailed technical direction to factory partners on fit and construction to ensure design intent is met.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Design, Product Development, and Sourcing to define and execute fit and functional intent for every style.
• Prototyping & Calendar Management: Track development milestones and manage the prototyping calendar to keep styles on schedule for key dates.
• Documentation: Maintain the tech pack library and fit documentation as an ongoing, accurate reference for the product and development teams.

What Success Looks Like

• Fit is right the first time more often, reducing rounds of sample correction.
• Returns tied to fit issues decline as customer feedback is built into block and pattern decisions.
• Block libraries and grade rule tables give every new style a proven, consistent starting point.
• Technical packages in Centric PLM are complete, accurate, and current at every stage.
• Vendors execute fit and construction consistently, with fewer quality issues at delivery.
• Design, Product Development, and Sourcing see you as the clear owner of fit across categories.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Apparel Design, Textile Science, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3-6+ years of experience in technical design, with hands-on expertise in fit, grading, pattern making, and construction.
• Proven ability to lead fit sessions independently, using fit models and forms to evaluate proportion, construction, and performance against design intent.
• Experience establishing and maintaining block libraries and grade rule tables across product categories.
• Strong knowledge of Centric PLM, or a comparable PLM system, to manage specs, grading, and technical packages end-to-end.
• Proficiency with Adobe Illustrator and 3D design software (CLO).
• Experience using returns data and customer feedback to inform fit and construction decisions.
• Experience providing technical direction to factory and vendor partners.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, comfortable partnering across Design, Product Development, and Sourcing.
• Ability to manage multiple styles and projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.