Senior Apparel Technical Designer & Product Development Lead — Streetwear

Senior Technical Designer & Product Development Lead — Apparel & Merchandise

Full-time • Remote • Philippines
40 working hours per week
$1400-$2000/month, depending on demonstrated experience
Exceptional candidates may be considered above this range.
Begins with a paid two-week trial.

ABOUT US

We are a product development and production business supporting US streetwear and merchandise brands.

Our products include hoodies, T-shirts, sweatpants, zip-ups, bags, hats, jewelry, keychains, plushies, toys, collectibles, and other branded accessories. We work with established blanks and custom manufacturing.

We’re looking for a senior, hands-on technical designer who can lead product development and communication between creative teams and production—from the initial idea through sampling, approvals, and production follow-up.

THE MISSION

Turn creative ideas into clearly specified, manufacturable products with minimal day-to-day direction from the business owner.

Our designers provide creative direction. You clarify their vision, resolve missing details, present practical visual options, create production documentation, and drive the follow-through.

Designers should receive clear recommendations and straightforward approval decisions. Production teams should receive complete, current instructions. You own the communication and development work that connects the two.

This is a hands-on role combining technical design, product development, and client communication.

PRODUCT SCOPE

You will own development coordination across our full product range, including apparel, accessories, plushies, toys, and other merchandise.

Apparel technical design should be your strongest area. For unfamiliar products or manufacturing processes, you must proactively obtain technical input through our China team, document requirements, present workable options, and keep development moving.

You are not expected to personally engineer every product. You are expected to take responsibility for getting the right information and bringing outstanding questions to a clear resolution.

WHAT YOU WILL OWN

Creative clarification and client communication

• Lead meetings with designers to establish exactly what each product should look and feel like.

• Clarify fit, silhouette, graphics, colors, texture, washes, placement, embellishments, proportions, and finishing details.

• Translate incomplete concepts and references into clear visual options with a recommended approach.

• Explain feasibility, appearance, cost, and timing trade-offs using input from our production team.

• Follow up on missing information and approvals proactively. Keep communication patient, concise, and focused on decisions.

Technical design and production files

• Create technical drawings, annotated mockups, complete tech packs, and production artwork using Illustrator and Photoshop.

• Prepare, clean up, or adapt supplied artwork into usable production files.

• Define blank selection or custom garment requirements, colorways, measurements, trims, labels, artwork dimensions, placement reference points, and decoration specifications.

• Plan graphic placement across XS–3XL, balancing visual proportions with production efficiency. Assess when one artwork/screen size can work across the range and recommend alternatives when necessary.

• Develop clear specifications for vintage, mineral, ---------- and snow-wash effects, tie-dye, rhinestones, patches, appliqué, and other decorative treatments.

• Identify which details require supplier confirmation, physical samples, or testing before approval.

Accessories, plushies, toys, and merchandise

• Prepare product briefs and annotated visuals covering dimensions, proportions, materials, colors, textures, components, branding, attachments, and packaging.

• For plushies and soft toys, clarify character shape, facial details, fabric texture, embroidery or print placement, stuffing and firmness expectations, and finishing details.

• Coordinate technical input through our China team for materials, construction, tooling, mechanisms where relevant, and manufacturing limitations.

• Confirm intended use and target age where relevant, and coordinate any required specialist safety or testing review through the China team before production approval.

Sampling, approvals, and production follow-up

• Prepare complete quote and sample briefs so our China team and local printing partners can respond without repeated clarification.

• Coordinate sample requests, track progress, and follow up on outstanding questions.

• Request the photos, videos, measurements, and inspection findings needed to evaluate samples remotely.

• Identify deviations from the brief, consolidate designer feedback, and issue precise visual correction instructions.

• Drive sample revisions and secure documented approvals from the designated creative approver.

• Track development and production milestones through launch. Raise risks early with proposed solutions and follow through on design-related issues.

Organization and systems

• Build reusable tech pack templates, blank specifications, placement guides, and development checklists.

• Maintain organized source files, revision histories, sample comments, and approval records.

• Keep a current tracker showing each product’s status, owner, next action, deadline, and blocker.

• Ensure approved changes are reflected in the latest production documents and communicated to the responsible team.

YOUR AUTHORITY AND TEAM

You will communicate directly with designers/client stakeholders, our China production team, and local printing partners as needed.

You are expected to request missing information, chase decisions respectfully, challenge impractical approaches, identify incorrect samples, and recommend better solutions.

Our China team owns supplier sourcing, cost negotiation, Chinese factory communication, physical quality inspections, and shipping arrangements.

You own technical clarity, development coordination, and communication of design decisions and approvals. For China production, you work through our China team rather than communicating directly with Chinese-speaking factories.

Mandarin is not required. Final creative approvals remain with the designated client approver.

WHAT YOU BRING

• A demonstrated record of taking apparel from concept through sampling into production.

• Strong streetwear experience, particularly hoodies, T-shirts, sweatpants, zip-ups, and decorated blanks.

• Practical production experience with garment washes, rhinestones, patches/appliqué, and graphic placement.

• Advanced Adobe Illustrator skills and strong Photoshop skills.

• A working understanding of garment construction, fit, measurements, grading, and manufacturing limitations.

• Excellent spoken and written English, including the confidence to lead client meetings and explain technical choices clearly.

• Strong judgment: you identify missing information, distinguish assumptions from confirmed facts, and know when to involve production specialists.

• The organization and initiative to manage multiple products and deadlines without repeated reminders.

• A patient, constructive attitude and the ability to guide creative people toward decisions.

• Willingness and ability to own development coordination beyond apparel. Experience with accessories, plushies, toys, collectibles, or other custom merchandise is strongly preferred.

Experience with puff, metallic and glitter effects, chenille, and distressed finishes is valuable.

CLO 3D is a plus, but not required. We prioritize accurate specifications, clear mockups, practical production knowledge, and strong communication.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• Designers receive clear visual choices and informed recommendations.

• Production partners receive complete, current instructions.

• Sample corrections are specific and actionable.

• Every active product has an identifiable next step, owner, and deadline.

• Apparel and non-apparel products receive the same organized follow-through.

• Problems are raised early, with proposed solutions.

• Routine development moves forward without the business owner chasing communication or resolving every detail.

SCHEDULE AND COMPENSATION

• 40 working hours per week.

• Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Los Angeles time, including a one-hour unpaid meal break.

• Philippines schedule: Tuesday–Saturday, 2–11 a.m. during Los Angeles daylight saving time and 3 a.m.–noon during standard time.

• The meal break is scheduled before the China team’s 8 a.m. start to preserve collaboration time.

• ₱95,000–₱125,000/month for the ongoing role, depending on demonstrated experience. Exceptional candidates may be considered above this range.

• Required software and approved business expenses covered.

• The ongoing package includes 15 paid days off annually, plus an agreed holiday calendar.

• Performance and compensation review after 90 days.

PAID TWO-WEEK TRIAL

This opportunity begins with a paid two-week trial at 40 working hours per week—80 working hours total.

You will work on a limited set of real development tasks with our creative and production teams. We will evaluate technical accuracy, production judgment, communication, initiative, organization, and follow-through.

The exact trial fee, scope, and payment schedule will be agreed in writing before work begins. All agreed trial work will be paid.

Successful completion may lead to an ongoing full-time engagement by mutual agreement. Continued work is not guaranteed.

HOW TO APPLY

Please include:

1. Your résumé and a short explanation of a product development process you independently owned.

2. Two or three examples connecting technical specifications you personally created to photographs of the resulting products. Explain your contribution. Redacted examples are welcome.

3. One difficult wash, print, embellishment, or placement problem you resolved: what went wrong, what you recomm