Apprentice Garment Pattern Making Jobs in Santa Clara, CA

Location: Hayward, CA
Salary: $71,000–$85,000 (Full-time 1.0 FTE, Exempt)

About Stelle

Stelle (stelleworld.com) is a mom-trusted dancewear & athleisure brand best known for girls’ ballet and dance essentials. Founded in 2015, our woman-led team has supported modern women, moms, and active kids with quality dancewear, activewear, and timeless athleisure staples.

With over 15 million products sold worldwide, Stelle designs pieces that move seamlessly from the dance studio to daily life. Our e-commerce platform serves a growing community that values both fashion and function, offering apparel that helps girls and women look, feel, and move their best through every stage of life.

The opportunity
We’re seeking a creative, detail-driven Assistant Fashion Designer to join our growing design team. This is an exempt, professional-level role that supports the design process from concept development through sample execution and production readiness.The ideal candidate exercises independent judgment, applies creative and technical expertise in apparel design, and contributes meaningfully to product development decisions. This role is well-suited for someone passionate about fashion design, activewear, and garment construction, with strong pattern-making and sewing capabilities.

What You'll Do:

• Develop and update tech packs, CADs, and line sheets that translate design concepts into production-ready documents
• Draft patterns and construct sample garments to support design intent and fit accuracy
• Participate in and support fittings by documenting feedback, recommending design and pattern adjustments, and executing revisions
• Conduct trend research, develop mood boards, and contribute original design ideas and inspiration
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to support daily design and production workflows
• Maintain organized digital and physical design archives, including fabrics, trims, and samples
• Manage and track samples throughout the development lifecycle
• Assist in coordinating and maintaining the seasonal product development calendar, ensuring milestones are met

What we're looking for

• Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design or a related field (or equivalent professional experience)
• 1+ years of experience in a fashion design, assistant designer, or technical design role preferred
• Demonstrated expertise in pattern making and garment construction (drafting and sewing required)
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Excel
• Solid understanding of tech pack creation, garment construction, and product development processes
• Excellent organizational, communication, and collaboration skills
• Passion for fashion, activewear, and thoughtful design innovation
• Ability to manage multiple projects, exercise independent judgment, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment

What we offer

• Competitive salary: $71,000–$85,000 based on experience
• Paid time off
• Paid company holidays
• 401(k) plan
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Employee discount on Stelle merchandise

Stelle is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristics.