Technical Designer

Reports to: Sr. Technical Designer

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Department: Product and Brand Services (PBS)

Location: Zumiez Home Office - Lynnwood, WA

At Zumiez, great product starts with individuality, craft, and collaboration. We’re looking for a Technical Designer who sees the details others may miss—fit, balance, proportion, construction, and pattern accuracy—and brings strong technical thinking to assigned categories. This role partners across teams to solve fit and construction challenges while helping product move forward with consistency, speed and confidence.

Zumiez and Product and Brand Services (PBS)

Zumiez is a leading specialty retailer of apparel, footwear, accessories, skateboards, and snowboards for customers who express their individuality through fashion, music, art, action sports, streetwear, and other unique lifestyles. Headquartered in Lynnwood, Washington, Zumiez operates more than 700 stores across North America, Europe, and Australia under the Zumiez, Blue Tomato, and Fast Times brands. The Product and Brand Services (PBS) team supports more than 30 unique brands across categories including men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, and snow/skate hardgoods. These brands include owned brands and licensed brands.

Position Purpose

The Technical Designer independently manages fit and technical execution for assigned product categories within established Product and Brand Services (PBS) fit standards, blocks, grade rules, and calendar expectations. This role analyzes factory garment submits on fit models or dress forms against approved patterns, construction standards, measurements, and intended silhouettes to support consistent fit and grading across assigned categories, factories, and brands. The Technical Designer makes technical recommendations, executes fit and construction solutions, and maintains accurate tech pack updates, sample tracking, fit comments, graded specifications, and category documentation. This role partners cross-functionally with Design, Product Development, Production, Buying, vendors, factories, Technical Design leadership, and Patternmaking to support fit, construction, quality, and timeline goals, while escalating complex technical, calendar, vendor, pattern, process standard, mentorship, or strategic direction needs to Senior Technical Designer or Technical Design Manager for collaboration and alignment.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

Fit, Pattern, and Sample Review:

Independently manage assigned product categories from proto submit through top of production, reviewing garment samples for fit, silhouette, construction, measurement, and grade accuracy within established PBS standards.
Identify fit, construction, and measurement issues and communicate clear technical corrections through written comments, illustrations, photos, and pattern callouts to international factories.
Measure garment samples and review against technical packs, bills of materials, approved fit intent, and packaging requirements for accuracy.
Review and create final graded specifications based on each style’s construction, fit intent, approved measurements, and category requirements.
Review factory-sent patterns and provide comments as needed, partnering with Patternmaking and Technical Design leadership on complex pattern or fit concerns.
Maintain the garment block library for assigned categories, applying established fit blocks, grade rules, and technical standards to support consistent product execution.
Use CLO3D to review, create, and manage digital patterns and block libraries, supporting speed-to-market trend execution while maintaining pattern accuracy.

Fit Session Coordination:

Recruit, audition, and manage live models for fit sessions as needed.
Coordinate fit sessions with Design, Product Development, Production, Buying, live models, and/or dress forms, making technical recommendations within established fit standards, blocks, grade rules, and calendar expectations.

Tracking, Documentation, and Handoff:

Track requested samples for assigned categories, communicate vendor status updates, flag delivery concerns, and maintain accurate weekly and seasonal sample tracking records.
Maintain accurate technical pack updates using Adobe Illustrator, including fit comments, construction details, measurements, graded specifications, and related category documentation.
Ensure accurate and timely handoff of samples to cross-functional teams for review, approval, and web processing.

Process, Calendar, and Cross-Functional Execution:

Identify opportunities to improve category-level execution, tools, and communication; recommend solutions within assigned scope; and escalate broader process standards or strategic direction to Senior Technical Designer or Technical Design Manager for collaboration.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Manager.

Requirements:

College degree or equivalent coursework in textiles, patternmaking, apparel manufacturing, or related experience.
5+ years of experience in technical design, with experience in men’s and/or women’s knit and woven tops and bottoms; denim experience preferred.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe Illustrator, and intermediate to advanced Excel skills; CLO3D and Airtable experience preferred.
Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
Working knowledge of basic fabric characteristics and the ability to distinguish between knit structures and weave types.
Working knowledge of dye & finishing processes and how they affect fit, drape, and spec.
Highly organized with strong attention to detail.
Exceptional time management skills with the ability to multitask and reprioritize as business needs change.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Ability to remain in a stationary position in an office environment for extended periods and work on a Mac or PC without limitations. Must be able to distinguish colors and inspect materials and product details.

Benefits

Hourly rate: $33.00–$38.50.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance following an initial waiting period.
401(k) eligibility after one year of service.
Paid parental leave.
Paid Sick Leave, following an initial wait period
Life insurance.
10 days of accrued paid vacation.
Bonus potential.
Stock purchase program.
Open, casual, pet-friendly office environment
Employee discount on Zumiez products.
On-site skate park and on-site cafeteria.

This job description is not all-inclusive and is intended to describe the general nature of the work. All job responsibilities are considered essential job functions. Job responsibilities and requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. The Company reserves the right to modify this job description as it deems necessary for proper business operations.

Qualifications