Women's Product Developer

QUETICO LIFESTYLE BRANDS LLC; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Prominent Surf Brand Women's Product Developer is responsible for managing the lifecycle of a product from the initial design hand-off through to production hand-off, bridging design, merchandising and production to ensure seasonal collections are delivered on time, meet quality standards, and achieve targeted profit margins.

This role coordinates with overseas and domestic vendors, drives the Time and Action calendar, updates PLM data, and collaborates on fabrications, trims, and cost

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Design, Textile Science, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years in product development, preferably in men’s performance or lifestyle apparel.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Design execution and development of assigned men’s categories from concept to market-ready products.
• Manage the Time and Action calendar ensuring milestones from prototype to samples are met on time.
• Maintain and update PLM system data including style data and sample comments.
• Coordinate lab dips, strike-offs, and tech packs with design teams and vendors.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Design, Merchandising, Planning, and Technical Design.

Skills

Communication and Collaboration

Organizational Skills

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Design, Textile Science, or related field

Job description

• Location 36 Technology Dr. Suite 100,Irvine, CA, 92618,United States


• Base Pay $80,000.00 - $95,000.00 / Year


• Job Category Design


• Relocation Expense Covered No


• Employee Type FT Exempt

Role Summary

The Prominent Surf Brand Women's Product Developer is responsible for managing the lifecycle of a product from the initial design hand-off through to production hand-off. This role acts as the primary bridge between the design, merchandising, and production teams, ensuring that seasonal collections are delivered on time, meet quality standards, and achieve targeted profit margins.

Key Responsibilities and Job Duties

1. Product Development & Lifecycle Management

• Design Execution: Manage the development process for assigned Men’s categories, transforming creative concepts into market-ready products.


• Calendar Management: Drive and manage the \"Time and Action\" calendar for all assigned categories to ensure every milestone; from prototype to salesman samples is met on time.


• PLM Management: Responsible for maintaining and updating the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system, including all style data, sample comments, and


• Sample Tracking: Manage the intake, organization, and tracking of all strike-offs, lab dips, and prototypes through Photo, SMS, Marketing and TOP samples.


• Trim Development: Development, sourcing and negotiations of all Womens Trims


• Daily Communication: Serve as the primary point of contact for daily communication with overseas and domestic vendors to track development progress.


• Sourcing Collaboration: Partner with the design and management to make decisions based on volume, fabrication, and factory technique.


• Factory Travel: Occasionally travel to overseas factories to audit development processes and strengthen vendor relationships.


• Margin Achievement: Work closely with the Director of Merchandising and Design to ensure products meet company margin and targeted GP goals.


• Costing Negotiations: Negotiate with factories to achieve target gross margin costs, suggesting alternative fabrications or construction methods when necessary to hit price points.

4. Quality Control & Aesthetics

• Tech Pack Auditing: Review and audit designer-generated tech packs to ensure all information is accurate and complete before being sent to vendors.


• Lab Dip & Strike-off Approval: Partner with the design team to review and provide comments on all material submits, including color (lab dips) and artwork (strike-offs).


• Aesthetic Integrity: Ensure that the final production-ready samples maintain the original design intent and brand aesthetic while being functional for the consumer.

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Internal Liaison: Act as the central link between Design, Merchandising, Planning, and Technical Design to ensure all communication is professional and timely.


• Fitting Participation: Attend all fittings to stay informed on fit standards and ensure that any changes are accurately reflected in the development documents.


• Sales Meetings: Partner with design during review meetings to ensure the product is presented accurately to management and sales teams.

Skills and Qualifications

• Education and Experience


• Bachelor’s degree in Apparel Design, Textile Science, or a related field preferred.


• Minimum 5 years of experience in product, preferably in men’s performance or lifestyle apparel.


• Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills


• Exceptional attention to detail with a proactive approach to solving complex production challenges.


• Ability to balance creative vision with technical feasibility and cost objectives.


• Communication and Collaboration


• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively across diverse teams and vendors.


• Demonstrated ability to articulate technical concepts to non-technical team members.


• Organizational Skills


• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.


• Skilled in tracking and documenting all aspects of the development process for future reference.


• Industry Knowledge


• Passion for women’s apparel, with a deep understanding of current market trends in performance and lifestyle categories.


• Familiarity with sustainable and innovative production practices is a plus.