Assistant Surface Pattern Design Jobs in California

Reports To: Senior Technical Design Manager

Location: Los Angeles, CA (On-site)

Employment Type: Full-Time, Salaried, Exempt 

About Wantable  

At Wantable, we're redefining retail through personalization. Our membership-based model and proprietary technology empower us to curate products that help customers discover confidence and joy through style. 

As a data-driven fashion company, we combine human intuition with algorithmic intelligence to  deliver personalized assortments - balancing creativity, analytics, and operational precision. 

We're seeking a hands-on Technical Designer/Pattern Maker to own fit, patterns, grading, and construction decisions across women's and men's activewear, wovens, and knits.

About The Role

In this role you will run fit sessions, translate design intent into production-ready specs, and refine patterns using Tukatech and AI-assisted tools to improve accuracy and speed. Your work will reduce returns, strengthen size consistency, and elevate product quality across categories.

You will manage all technical details from proto through production, maintain clear digital documentation in Tech Packs (future PLM), and collaborate directly with design, product development, and vendors to ensure each garment meets our standards. You will use data and customer insights to evolve fit blocks and grading rules, experiment with automation tools, and make independent decisions that move product forward quickly in a lean, low-bureaucracy environment.

What You'll Do

Ownership and Execution

• Own fit and construction across assigned product categories from proto through production approval.
• Lead fit sessions, interpret design intent, and make timely, independent decisions.
• Identify fit and construction risks early and implement corrective solutions.
• Deliver fit comments, pattern updates, and tech pack revisions with speed, precision, and consistent adherence to development deadlines.
• Maintain an organized digital archive of fit notes, photos, approvals, and pattern revisions.
• Develop and refine fit blocks, grading rules, and construction standards.
• Ensure all technical sketches, callouts, and documentation are complete and production-ready.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining speed, accuracy, quality, and on-time delivery.

AI and Automation

• Use AI-enabled tools within Illustrator, and pattern software to reduce manual, repetitive tasks.
• Employ AI to pre-check specs, detect inconsistencies, and compare patterns across seasons or brands.
• Use AI assistants to summarize fit feedback, generate communication drafts, and accelerate documentation.
• Identify opportunities for workflow automation and present solutions to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Use returns data, customer feedback, and fit performance metrics to guide grading and block development.
• Experiment with emerging automation tools and bring new capabilities into the technical design workflow.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Design to align on fit, construction, and aesthetic intent.
• Collaborate with Product Development to communicate changes, risks, and production implications.
• Work directly with vendors to clarify patterns, specs, corrections, and construction expectations.
• Participate in cross-functional pass-off meetings to maintain alignment across Design, PD, Production, and QA.
• Provide clear, timely updates that keep development and production on track.
• Contribute to post-season hindsight analysis to continuously improve size accuracy and fit consistency.

Production Readiness and Quality Management

• Build and maintain complete, accurate tech packs including POMs, BOMs, construction callouts, and graded measurements.
• Create and refine garment patterns in Tukatech to ensure fit accuracy and production feasibility.
• Validate vendor samples against approved specifications and identify quality risks early.
• Ensure consistency of fit and grading across styles, categories, and brands.
• Reduce returns and improve customer satisfaction through precise fit standards and quality management.
• Track sample approvals, spec updates, and revisions in Tech Packs to maintain a single source of truth.

Additional Functions

• Other duties as assigned. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Requirements

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of proven experience as a Technical Designer/Pattern Maker in women's and men's apparel (wovens & knits).
• Mastery of garment specs, grading, construction, and pattern terminology.
• Proficiency in Tukatech, Adobe Illustrator, Microsoft Office, and PLM or Tech Pack management systems.
• A sharp eye for detail, accuracy, and garment quality.
• Strong understanding of textiles, fit, and patternmaking.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to juggle multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• On-site availability, Monday-Friday.

Nice To Have

• Spanish language skills are a plus (not required).

You'll Thrive Here If You:

• Enjoy balancing creative product vision with technical precision and commercial execution.
• Take ownership of decisions and move work forward proactively without waiting for layers of approval.
• Are energized by solving fit, construction, and production challenges in a fast-paced environment.
• Use data, customer feedback, and technology to continuously improve fit accuracy and garment quality.
• Embrace AI and automation tools as a way to increase efficiency, reduce repetitive work, and improve outcomes.
• Communicate clearly and confidently with cross-functional partners and external vendors.
• Can shift easily between detailed technical work and big-picture product thinking.
• Thrive in lean teams where adaptability, accountability, and collaboration are highly valued.
• Care deeply about creating high-quality product experiences that customers love to wear and keep.

How We Work At Wantable:

• High ownership. You are trusted to make decisions that directly impact customers and financial performance.
• Hard-working and hands-on. We move fast, stay scrappy, and focus on impact.
• Independent thinkers. We value leaders who confidently make data-driven decisions without layers of approvals.
• Low bureaucracy. We avoid committees, long processes, and unnecessary steps.
• Love of fashion & product. We combine data with intuition to create experiences customers love.
• Results over pedigree. What you've built matters more than where you've been.

Benefits

Why Wantable?

• Be part of a dynamic, fast-growing company that has innovation and creativity embedded in its DNA.
• A chance to shape our customers' journey and leave a lasting impact on their self-confidence, one order at a time.
• Join a collaborative environment where your ideas matter, your efforts are rewarded and you can see results in real time.

We have a laid-back, casual environment in a state-of-the-art HQ in Walkers Point.

We offer flexible schedules, paid parental leave (mothers AND fathers), and a private room for nursing mothers.

Even more exciting: paid vacation and seven paid holidays per year, plus a 50% discount on all merchandise and a generous 50% discount on 41Fork Exchange located in the Wantable Cafe at our Corporate HQ in Walker's Point. You'll be eligible for the discount on your first day!

Important, but maybe less thrilling: we have ample parking, we offer medical (traditional and high deductible), dental, and vision insurance, as well as a 401K (both pre-tax and Roth options).