Technical Design Manager

1. Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Technical Design Manager to lead the bulk pattern and garment technical teams, ensuring customer requirements are effectively translated into production-ready patterns and sewing methods.

In this role, you will take ownership of bulk pattern development, technical changeovers, garment construction methods, and production efficiency. By working closely with customers, Merchandising, Production, and technical teams, you will ensure garments meet customer specifications, quality standards, and delivery timelines while optimising material utilisation and production costs.

Working closely with cross-functional teams, you will drive technical process improvements, establish best practices, oversee quick changeover operations, and develop technical capabilities across the factory to ensure consistent and efficient bulk production.

2. Key Responsibilities

• Lead technical design and pattern development: Lead the bulk pattern and garment technical (technical changeover) teams to translate customer requirements into production-ready patterns and sewing methods, ensuring garments meet customer quality, style, and timing requirements at the most cost-effective method.

• Manage customer and technical requirements: Work with customers and Merchandising to understand fit preferences, style details, construction preferences, and bulk pattern and sewing requirements for new styles, and brief the pattern team accordingly.

• Ensure pattern accuracy and efficiency: Hold the pattern team accountable for accurate and timely bulk production patterns that meet customer specifications while maximising material utilisation and production efficiency.

• Oversee garment construction and sewing methods: Manage the technical changeover team in developing construction and sewing methods for new styles, including welding, seam sealing, and bonding, ensuring quality, efficiency, material utilisation, and consistent bulk production.

• Drive technical improvements: Suggest pattern and construction adjustments to customers to improve fit and quality, while improving trims and handling methods to enhance product quality and production efficiency.

• Maintain technical standards and documentation: Provide feedback to Merchandising, the pattern team, and marker makers on style or pattern changes required for customer compliance, quality, manufacturability, and material utilisation. Maintain an organised technical library of past styles, approved methods, machine settings, and technical solutions.

• Develop manufacturing best practices: Establish Methods Best Practices for key operations, audit their application on production lines, and share proven methods with sister factories within the group.

• Improve production methods and efficiency: Work with mechanics and the Industrial Engineering (IE) team to develop folders and work aids that reduce Standard Minute Value (SMV) and improve quality. Provide technical advice to ensure each style meets customer requirements at the lowest cost.

• Support production planning and preparation: Collect product requirements from Merchandising, QA, and customers, and provide technical advice. Supply the SMV department with sewing methods required to establish estimated and final SMVs before production.

• Lead pre-production technical preparation: Organise pre-production meetings to share technical knowledge with Production teams and identify potential issues. Introduce new operations to line technicians and train operators before bulk production starts.

• Oversee trials and technical problem-solving: Support mock-ups, PPU, and trial production, resolve technical issues identified during these stages, and advise line technicians on technical problems throughout production.

• Standardise machine settings and compliance: Establish standard machine settings, including stitches per inch and fusing, welding, seam sealing, and bonding temperature, pressure, speed, and time. Communicate standards to Cutting, Sewing, Finishing, line technicians, and mechanics, and audit compliance.

• Monitor production performance: Review production performance with the technical team after delivery to identify opportunities for improving future production methods.

• Lead quick changeover operations: Lead the technical changeover team in owning the Quick Changeover (QCO) process for every style change, from planning through to the first good pieces of the new style.

• Optimise the changeover process: Prepare methods, operation breakdowns, machine settings, folders, and work aids before each changeover. Train operators together with Production, IE, and mechanics; conduct changeover checklists and meetings; track changeover time and output loss; and continuously improve the process.

• Develop technical team capabilities: Evaluate the skill levels of pattern makers and garment technical executives, implement training plans to upgrade their skills, and train line trainers on correct methods and new Methods Best Practices.

3. Qualifications & Requirements

Main Requirements

• College or Bachelor's degree in Garment Technology, Textile Engineering, Fashion Technology, or a related field.

• At least 7 years of experience in garment technical work, including bulk patterns, sewing methods, and technical changeover.

• At least 2 years of experience as a Technical Leader or Assistant Technical Manager.

• Experience in outerwear and high-technical products, particularly welding, seam sealing, and bonding, is preferred.

• Experience setting up a technical team in a new factory.

• Experience working directly with international brands' technical teams.

• Strong knowledge of pattern making and grading, garment construction, sewing methods, and operation breakdowns.

• Understanding of machine settings for sewing, fusing, welding, seam sealing, and bonding.

• Knowledge of garment fit and measurement, materials and trims, folders, and work aids.

• Basic English communication skills, with good reading and writing skills for technical documents.

• Proficiency in MS Office, particularly Excel.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in outerwear and high-technical garment products.

• Experience with pattern CAD software such as Gerber or Lectra.

• Familiarity with ERP and MES systems.

• Experience establishing technical teams in new manufacturing facilities.

• Experience collaborating with international brands' technical teams.

HOW TO APPLY: Please send your CV to the consultant in charge:
Ms. Thuy Trang Nguyen
E-mail: thuytrang.nguyen@ev-search.com
All applications will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or any other non-merit factor.