About the role
Senior Swimwear Technical Designer — Confidential Search
Location: Orange County, CA | On-site
We are partnering with a growing Southern California lifestyle brand to identify a Senior Swimwear Technical Designer to lead the technical development of its swimwear collections from concept through production.
This is a highly technical, hands-on role for someone with deep expertise in swimwear fit, construction, pattern evaluation, grading, and stretch fabrications. The Senior Technical Designer will partner closely with Design, Product Development, Production, Sourcing, and overseas vendors to translate creative concepts into production-ready garments while maintaining exceptional standards for fit, quality, construction, and performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead technical development of swimwear from prototype through production.
- Create and maintain comprehensive tech packs, including technical sketches, POMs, grading, tolerances, construction details, and callouts.
- Lead live-model fit sessions and drive fit corrections and technical decision-making.
- Measure and evaluate prototype, fit, PP, and TOP samples for fit, construction, workmanship, and execution.
- Communicate detailed fit comments and construction revisions to domestic and international vendors.
- Partner closely with Design to preserve creative intent while optimizing fit, comfort, support, functionality, and manufacturability.
- Collaborate with Product Development, Production, and Sourcing to resolve technical and quality issues throughout development.
- Maintain consistency in fit, grading, construction, and technical standards across the swimwear assortment.
- Recommend construction improvements that enhance quality, durability, functionality, and cost efficiency.
- Build strong relationships with overseas factories, pattern engineers, and cross-functional partners.
- Maintain accurate development trackers, technical documentation, and sample status updates.
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior team members.
- Participate in calls with international vendors outside traditional office hours as needed.
Qualifications
- 9+ years of technical design experience, with significant expertise in swimwear.
- Deep knowledge of swimwear fit, construction, patternmaking, and grading.
- Expert understanding of stretch fabrications, linings, elastics, bonding, and specialty swimwear construction.
- Proven experience leading fit sessions and making technical decisions that balance aesthetics, fit, functionality, and manufacturability.
- Strong knowledge of garment grading, measurement standards, and pattern engineering.
- Experience working directly with domestic and international factories and pattern makers.
- Strong technical communication skills, including fit photos, technical sketches, pattern diagrams, and detailed fit comments.
- Thorough understanding of the apparel product development lifecycle from concept through production.
- Highly organized and comfortable managing multiple development timelines in a fast-paced environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop.
- StyleCAD or similar pattern software experience is a plus.
- Experience across knits and/or performance apparel in addition to swimwear is highly desirable.
- Collaborative, solutions-oriented team player with exceptional attention to detail.