Sr Design Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Senior Design Engineer – Advanced Concept Design

Scope: Individual Contributor (P4)

Experience: 8+ years

Location: Ventura, CA (Hybrid)

At Patagonia, our purpose is clear: we’re in business to save our home planet. Products sit at the heart of that mission, and how we innovate is just as important as what we create. As performance expectations evolve and new challenges emerge, we are called to think radically, act boldly, and push beyond incremental improvement to imagine entirely new possibilities.

• Develop proprietary solutions with unique intellectual properties, partnering with Legal to formalize patents and construction methodology.
• Explore and apply emerging manufacturing technologies to inform new, more responsible ways of building products.
• Evaluate all Forge-developed products with a focus on quality, performance, durability, repairability, and end-of-life considerations.
• Build product construction specifications and document step-by-step constructions to help communicate with the Development, Inline Design, Quality, and Production teams for commercialization.
• Partner with Pattern and Fit team ensuring our concepts adhere to our fit and pattern standards.
• Conceptualize and create new product opportunities—both within existing categories and in entirely new spaces.
• Collaborate with Design, Fit, and Advanced Concepts teams to innovate around movement and performance, incorporating biomechanics into design solutions.
• Build and test working prototypes using a wide range of construction techniques, including sewing, lamination, RF welding, seam taping, laser cutting, and emerging methods.
• Partner with world-class athletes to co-create activity-specific concepts and validate performance in real-world conditions.

• Purpose-driven – motivated to build best-in-class products in service of the planet.
• Curious & innovative – constantly exploring new ideas, tools, and techniques.
• Collaborative – able to interpret design intent and bring forward thoughtful, alternative solutions.
• Technical problem solver – skilled at navigating complexity and driving innovation through construction and engineering.
• Experimenter – comfortable testing, failing, iterating, and learning quickly to push concepts forward.

• 8+ years of experience developing high-quality products across apparel, accessories, and/or equipment.
• Advanced expertise in pattern making, including building concepts from the ground up.
• Degree in Design, Pattern Making, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• Exceptional attention to detail across product construction, execution, and documentation.
• Strong working knowledge of tools such as Adobe Illustrator, Optitex, Browzwear, Clo3D, or similar 3D platforms.
• Experience with 3D design/engineering tools (e.g., SolidWorks, Rhino) is a plus.
• Hands‑on experience with a range of fabrication methods, including sewing, adhesive lamination, RF welding, 3D printing, laser cutting, and seam taping.
• Deep understanding of material properties and their impact on product construction and performance.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver in a fast‑paced, iterative environment.
• Experience mentoring and developing designers and/or developers.

• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to look at a computer screen for extended periods of time.
• Ability to maintain a composed and professional demeanor within a flexible and (at times noisy) work environment.

$118,800 - $135,000 USD Annual

Patagonia offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, retirement and leave of absence plans. Benefit plans may vary slightly depending on the nature of your employment.

This position is Hybrid, with a standard schedule of Tuesday – Thursday on‑site and remote work on other days. Occasional additional office visits may be required for team events or critical meetings.

It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive, inclusive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co‑workers, customers and vendors.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.