Technical Developer; Bottoms Categories

What You’ll Do:

As the Technical Developer, you will play a key role in the development of quality bottoms product, ensuring all styles meet the fit, construction, and aesthetic standards of the OAK + FORT brand. Working closely with the Design and Production teams, you will bring both technical expertise and a strong design sensibility to the development process — from first proto through to final approval.

This is a mid-level role suited to a candidate with a solid foundation in bottoms development, ideally with experience in tailored constructions, who is ready to take ownership of their category and contribute meaningfully to the brand’s evolution.

• Develop on-the-body fits with the design team for seasonal product
• Develop spec packages, measurements and grading for all styles
• Create a block library for all product categories
• Work directly with factories on style development and travel for product development
• Communicate the fit and construction requirements and corrections clearly to factories, anticipating potential production issues, and work out any problems that arise
• Problem solve fit and fabric issues as they arise
• Coordinate approval of garments and specs
• Maintain production deadlines and the organization/logistics of samples
• Review each sample for quality, construction, and OAK + FORT standards, with a strong understanding of bottoms‑specific fit and finish requirements
• Continuously develop, maintain and elevate fit standards
• Support in the development of process and procedures for the Technical Development department
• Support in the creation of standards manual for product categories, labels placement and QA testing

• Continuously develop, maintain and elevate fit standards
• Keep design concept in mind throughout the fitting process from the first proto through all stages of pre‑production samples, to the final size sets and top of production samples
• Support the Senior Manager, Technical Development in fittings and day‑to‑day work
• Work closely with Design team from first proto fitting stage to establish desired look and fit of garment on model.
• Develop on‑the‑body fits with the design team for seasonal product
• Active participation in the fit sessions – give feedback on fit improvements

• Attain departmental goals for self
• Support the Senior Manager, Technical Development in mentoring junior team members and contribute to the development of training resources
• Improve and maintain departmental process Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to drive process consistency in the department as well as provide training documents for new hires
• Prioritize workload for the associate team to maintain a good work‑life balance

• Meet technical design timelines for development and production
• Manage technical design timelines and prioritize workload
• Create partnerships with cross‑functional partners to ensure the collection is delivered on time and design direction is clear

• Other projects and responsibilities as assigned

• 3+ years of industry experience in Technical Development and/or pattern making, with a focus on bottoms categories;
• Experience in tailored bottoms required, denim experience a strong asset
• Proficiency in MS office (Excel/Word/Outlook), Adobe Illustrator, PLM software

• Passionate about both the technical and aesthetic dimensions of product; brings a keen eye for fit, proportion, and design detail
• Highly organized, solutions‑oriented, and collaborative; a self‑starter who takes ownership of their category
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; comfortable working cross‑functionally with design, production, and vendor partners

• Extremely generous employee discount starting from day one
• Health and dental benefits
• Paid vacation time off
• An opportunity be a part of our growth journey
• Work amongst an exceptionally talented team

OAK + FORT is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a respectful, diverse, and unique approach to hiring individuals in the communities in which we operate – allowing each person to be their authentic selves. Our hiring commitment applies to all candidates and employees regardless of race, ethnicity, citizenship, creed, place of origin, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, family status, marital status, disability, age, and any other protected characteristic.

Requests for accommodation due to any disability or any other protected characteristic can be made at any stage of the recruitment process and during employment by contacting our People & Culture team. Employee pay will vary based on factors such as qualifications, experience, skill level, competencies and work location.