As a technical designer, you will support students with fabric preparation, pattern layout and marking, garment assembly, and pressing. You will demonstrate industrial, hand-sewing, and fine finishing techniques. You will also effectively communicate with students about all intended fit corrections and technical details. Among other duties, you will build professional relationships within the fashion department, assist with presenting and conducting live model fittings to ensure proper garment fit, apply adjustments to eliminate defects, and recommend materials and relevant finishing techniques. Similarly, you will collaborate with fashion students to ensure that garment specifications are feasible and help them implement design changes and contingency plans. Additionally, you will ensure that all fashion student products meet high standards of quality and align with SCAD's values and expectations.

In this role, you will assist students in creating spec sheets, inspire performance solutions for constructing high-quality garments, and develop new patterns and muslins. You will also measure samples, inspect the overall execution of student garments, and teach students how to use industrial sewing machines, sergers/overlockers, fusing machines, and digital fabric printers. Among other duties, you will create a database of supplementary materials such as technical handouts and videos for online student access, and manage the library of pattern blocks and muslins to ensure standards are met, support the best fit, and help students speed up their production process. Responsibilities include the maintenance of fashion studio areas, design analyses to ensure the necessary techniques and resources are available for student project deadlines, and fit and aesthetic consistency assurance for each student's design intent. Additionally, you will conduct training on Juki industrial sewing equipment and specialty machines.

In this position, you will upload images using RIP Master software, print, steam, profile, and maintain printers. Among other duties, you will provide additional help sessions and lead at least 20 SCADextra technology workshops each quarter, including weekends and breaks between sessions. You will also maintain prompt and professional email communication with students, staff, and vendors. Responsibilities include the establishment of quality control standards for the technical team and office procedures, the identification of department supply needs, and collaboration with various internal offices to help students submit fashion competition entries for successful outcomes on domestic and international platforms. Additionally, you will uphold and improve department-specific technical standards, record-keeping processes, procedures, and resources. You will also perform daily key inventory and maintenance checks to communicate needs to the appropriate personnel.

The ideal candidate demonstrates a strong understanding of the entire apparel design and development process, as well as knowledge of how products are sourced and manufactured. They also possess excellent time management, organizational, and communication skills. The candidate pays close attention to detail, follows directions, and completes projects independently. They can adjust patterns, analyze garment construction and workmanship, and have a professional interest in the clothing industry. Additionally, the candidate can modify existing patterns and communicate adjustments effectively to fashion students, professors, and the fashion department.

The candidate has a solid understanding of technical design, including construction, fit, patternmaking, fabric's relationship to design intent, and overall enhancements in garment quality to control the costs of cutting and sewing products. They are skilled in commercial fit and pattern standards, corrections, grading, construction techniques, sewing, and sketching. The candidate demonstrates a strong work ethic, is dedicated to high-performance standards, and efficiently works in a fast-paced environment. They actively pursue professional development opportunities and are knowledgeable about factory production, tools, and machinery. 

Minimum qualifications:  

• Technical design and apparel manufacturing skills demonstrated through work samples and presentations
• Proficiency in PC use, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and Gerber AccuMark or other pattern design software.
• Experience operating industrial sewing machines, sergers, specialty sewing machines, digital printing equipment, and fabric cutters

Preferred qualifications: 

• Undergraduate degree in fashion design or a closely related program
• At least five years of industry experience within technical design and apparel manufacturing
• Knowledge in the Avancé Embroidery machine, Mutoh Fabric Digital Printer, and FreeJet Sublimation Printer

Travel required:

• Less than 10%

Work hours: The university work week is Sunday through Saturday. Most offices are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To accommodate business needs, employees may be assigned to other workdays and/or hours, including weekends and evenings. 

ADA tag: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements and minimum qualifications listed represent the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and/or meet the minimum qualifications.