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Join to apply for the Senior Technical Design Manager role at 5.11
Every great product starts with asking the right questions. How should it move? Where should it flex? How do we make it better? As Sr. Manager, Technical Design, you’ll be the one answering them, bringing function, fit, and innovation to life. You’ll lead seasonal fit execution, manage fit sessions, and ensure our construction standards consistently meet the demands of our end users. Working closely with Product, Design, Development, and Sourcing, you’ll make sure what we create performs just as good as it looks.
What You’ll Do:
Define and lead the fit and construction strategy across multiple product categories, aligning technical goals with seasonal brand direction
Lead and manage fit sessions, ensuring each product delivers on its performance promise and maintains brand consistency
Establish and evolve fit blocks, spec standards, construction libraries, and grading rules to scale quality and efficiency
Partner closely with cross-functional teams to translate design intent into commercially viable, technically sound product
Anticipate and solve complex construction challenges, providing strategic guidance to internal teams and factory partners
Ensure technical accuracy and fit integrity through rigorous testing, wear trials, and production sample evaluations
Drive calendar adherence and key commercialization milestones, ensuring your team hits every checkpoint on time
Influence vendor processes and collaborate with global partners to resolve pre-production issues and improve execution
Guide product corrections, troubleshooting, and technical approvals from proto through TOP
Monitor industry trends, fit innovations, and tech tools to continuously raise the bar
What You’ll Bring
8-10+ years in technical design, patternmaking, or apparel product development, with experience in performance or utility apparel preferred
2-4+ years leading and mentoring a team, with demonstrated ability to elevate others while delivering business results
Mastery of garment construction, fit engineering, and pattern correction
Expertise in PLM systems (Centric preferred), Adobe Illustrator, Excel, and 2D patternmaking software (Optitex strongly preferred)
Strategic thinking and decision-making skills, grounded in technical depth
Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
Degree or certification in Apparel Design, Patternmaking, or a related field
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed
Pay Range: $135,000-$155,000 annually plus bonus based on experience
5.11 offers a best-in-class benefits program including: medical, dental and vision insurance; a 401(k) program with employer match; employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance. Additionally, employees can choose from several voluntary benefits including: Hospital Indemnity/Accident insurance; Flexible Spending Account/Health Saving Account; Employee Assistance Program; Paid Time Off/Paid Holidays/Sick Time; Casual Dress Code; and Employee Discounts.
*If you are a regular full-time employee working at least 30 hours per week, you and your eligible dependents may participate in 5.11’s benefits program.*
You can find out what personal information we collect, correct any inaccuracies, or ask us to delete your personal information (with some exceptions). To check out our policy, click HERE . If you want to make a request about your personal data, CLICK HERE.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities Every great product starts with asking the right questions. How should it move? Where should it flex? How do we make it better? As Sr. Manager, Technical Design, you’ll be the one answering them, bringing function, fit, and innovation to life. You’ll lead seasonal fit execution, manage fit sessions, and ensure our construction standards consistently meet the demands of our end users. Working closely with Product, Design, Development, and Sourcing, you’ll make sure what we create performs just as good as it looks.
What You’ll Do:
Define and lead the fit and construction strategy across multiple product categories, aligning technical goals with seasonal brand direction
Lead and manage fit sessions, ensuring each product delivers on its performance promise and maintains brand consistency
Establish and evolve fit blocks, spec standards, construction libraries, and grading rules to scale quality and efficiency
Partner closely with cross-functional teams to translate design intent into commercially viable, technically sound product
Anticipate and solve complex construction challenges, providing strategic guidance to internal teams and factory partners
Ensure technical accuracy and fit integrity through rigorous testing, wear trials, and production sample evaluations
Drive calendar adherence and key commercialization milestones, ensuring your team hits every checkpoint on time
Influence vendor processes and collaborate with global partners to resolve pre-production issues and improve execution
Guide product corrections, troubleshooting, and technical approvals from proto through TOP
Monitor industry trends, fit innovations, and tech tools to continuously raise the bar
What You’ll Bring
8-10+ years in technical design, patternmaking, or apparel product development, with experience in performance or utility apparel preferred
2-4+ years leading and mentoring a team, with demonstrated ability to elevate others while delivering business results
Mastery of garment construction, fit engineering, and pattern correction
Expertise in PLM systems (Centric preferred), Adobe Illustrator, Excel, and 2D patternmaking software (Optitex strongly preferred)
Strategic thinking and decision-making skills, grounded in technical depth
Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
Degree or certification in Apparel Design, Patternmaking, or a related field
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed
Pay Range: $135,000-$155,000 annually plus bonus based on experience
5.11 offers a best-in-class benefits program including: medical, dental and vision insurance; a 401(k) program with employer match; employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance. Additionally, employees can choose from several voluntary benefits including: Hospital Indemnity/Accident insurance; Flexible Spending Account/Health Saving Account; Employee Assistance Program; Paid Time Off/Paid Holidays/Sick Time; Casual Dress Code; and Employee Discounts.
*If you are a regular full-time employee working at least 30 hours per week, you and your eligible dependents may participate in 5.11’s benefits program.*
You can find out what personal information we collect, correct any inaccuracies, or ask us to delete your personal information (with some exceptions). To check out our policy, click HERE . If you want to make a request about your personal data, CLICK HERE.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Seniority level Seniority level Mid-Senior level
Employment type Employment type Full-time
Job function Job function Design
Industries Retail Apparel and Fashion
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5.11 is hiring: Senior Technical Design Manager in Costa Mesa