Director of Technical Design

Director Of Technical DesignThe Director of Technical Design will lead, elevate, and scale the technical design function for a dynamic, fast-growing brand environment. This role requires a unique balance of executive leadership, strategic systems optimization, and hands-on technical execution.Reporting to product leadership, you will manage a team of 4–6 technical designers while maintaining direct category ownership and actively leading fit sessions. Due to the evolving nature of our business, you will act as both a team leader and a hands-on technical expert—evaluating current PLM software and tech tools, optimizing workflows, and forecasting departmental workload to scale infrastructure alongside brand growth.Strategic Leadership & Team ManagementTeam Leadership & Mentorship: Lead, direct, and nurture a team of 4–6 technical designers; establish individual career growth paths, clear performance metrics, and accountability frameworks.Workload & Capacity Planning: Analyze departmental bandwidth and resource allocation relative to seasonal SKU counts, proactively planning headcount and freelance support to scale with business growth.Fit & Quality Governance: Establish and enforce global fit, grading, and construction standards across all product categories to maintain brand consistency and high quality.Hands-On Category Ownership & FittingDirect Category Ownership: Maintain full end-to-end technical responsibility for designated core product categories—from initial design concept through commercialization and production.Lead Fit Sessions: Facilitate and lead live-model fit sessions for assigned categories, providing real-time pattern, construction, and balance corrections to maintain creative design intent while ensuring optimal fit.Technical Excellence: Partner closely with Design, Merchandising, and Production to solve complex construction and technical fitting challenges.Systems, Tools & Digital Process OptimizationPLM & Tech Audit: Continuously evaluate current PLM systems, digital tracking tools, and technical workflows to ensure they meet the needs of the evolving brand or make recommendations for software upgrades.Process Innovation & AI/Tool Adoption: Research, pilot, and implement emerging technical design tools (such as 3D digital sampling, automated spec generation, or enhanced PLM modules) to drive operational efficiency and shorten development cycles.Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Create, update, and maintain comprehensive brand technical manuals, master spec blocks, construction guidelines, and digital libraries.Vendor Engagement, Costing & Supply Chain AlignmentFactory Partnerships: Build strong relationships with international and domestic factory technical counterparts; conduct vendor capability assessments to ensure technical alignment.Cost & Commercialization Balance: Partner with Sourcing and Production to optimize garment construction for commercial viability, targeting production efficiency and yield without sacrificing design integrity or quality.Vendor Onboarding: Establish standardized onboarding protocols and technical execution packages for new factory partners.Cross-Functional Integration & Continuous ImprovementVoice of Customer (Fit Analytics): Collaborate with Customer Service, Merchandising, and E-Commerce teams to analyze customer return rates, reviews, and fit feedback, integrating data insights directly into seasonal fitting adjustments.E2E Calendar Accountability: Oversee the technical development pipeline to ensure all milestone dates on the end-to-end (E2E) calendar are consistently met by the TD team.What You'll Have:RequiredExperience: 12+ years of progressive technical design and patternmaking experience in the apparel industry, with at least 3–5 years in a direct team management or departmental leadership role.Hands-On Expertise: Proven track record of managing direct reports while simultaneously owning product categories and running live fittings.Systems Mastery: Deep knowledge of PLM systems (e.g., Centric, FlexPLM, Bamboo Rose), CAD patternmaking software (e.g., Gerber, Lectra), and 3D fashion design/fitting tools (e.g., Browzwear, Clo3D).Scalability & Process Improvement: Demonstrated experience mapping workflows, identifying process bottlenecks, and upgrading technical infrastructure in growing brand environments.Product Knowledge: Advanced expertise in patternmaking, grading, garment construction, textile performance, and factory execution across multiple apparel categories.Education: Bachelor's degree in Technical Design, Fashion Design, Patternmaking, or a related field.PreferredExperience transitioning or upgrading legacy PLM/software platforms.Background managing both domestic and overseas factory technical communications.Experience with circular fashion, sustainable materials, and low-impact garment construction techniques.We aim to pay competitively for our size and industry. The base salary range for this position is $150,000 - $160,000 USD, but we will consider location, skill level and experience to determine the final offer.Why us you ask!Health benefits401(K) Plan with company matchIncentives ProgramCommuter Options/BenefitsGenerous employee discountA bit about us:Founded in 2013 by Mike and Alex Faherty and Kerry Docherty, Faherty is a family-run lifestyle and apparel brand fueled by purpose and optimism. Our goal: to build a new American legacy by creating high-quality, sustainably minded, feel-good favorites that will bring you joy to wear.We feel a deep responsibility to do things differently: to promise comfort without compromising quality. To hold ourselves to a higher standard with a lower environmental impact. To leave the world a better place than we found it.We recognize the impact the fashion industry has on the world, and we're dedicated to learning how to be better stewards of the planet. We believe the power of conversation and connection can make real change, and we're committed to supporting people and organizations doing work that we believe in.Our passionate leadership team comes from different backgrounds but share a singular goal: to deliver on our promise of comfort and craftsmanship. To work side-by-side in a collaborative, energetic, and creative environment every day, like the family we are.We welcome everyone — and we mean everyone. We believe a diversity of viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds only serve to make our team stronger, which is why we strongly encourage those from historically and systemically marginalized communities to apply: BIPOC, women, and people in the LGBTQIA+ community, to name a few. We strive to lead consciously, bravely, and inclusively — and to reflect those values in our work. Employees should embody the five core values of the Faherty team:Always Innovate, constantly seeking creative ways to improve and drive forward.Bring Day One passion, energy, and grit to every challenge, iterating relentlessly to exceed expectations.Move forward as one with a shared purpose, All Together, fostering inclusivity and collaboration across teams.Harness the Power of Positivity, even when things get tough we're leading with optimism and resilience in every interaction with our team, customers, and communities.Deliver with a Timeless focus, ensuring quality and long-term impact in all efforts.Remain compassionate. Stay focused. Seek joy. Let's make the world a better place!