Senior Designer, Knitwear

STAUD Clothing, headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, has an opening for a full-time Senior Designer, Knitwear.

Founded in Los Angeles in 2015 by Sarah Staudinger and George Augusto, STAUD stands at the intersection of vintage inspiration and modern design—cool, confident, and deeply tied to culture. From cult-favorite accessories to elevated collaborations with brands like Birkenstock and St. Regis, STAUD has built a world that’s distinctly LA yet globally resonant.

STAUD offers a health care plan to include medical coverage, dental care, vision insurance, an FSA plan, a matching 401k plan, paid time off, paid retail holidays, and generous product discount & allowance.

Role Overview

As a Senior Designer, Knitwear at STAUD, you will be responsible for creating compelling, innovative and on-brand knitwear designs for seasonal collections. You will follow the Director of Design, Knitwear's aesthetic and strategic direction, translating creative concepts into fully developed knit silhouettes, stitches, and CADs, and will partner closely with mills, Product Development, and Technical Design to bring the knitwear line from concept to production.

Essential Duties:

Design & Development

• Design and develop seasonal knitwear collections (sweaters, knit dresses, separates, and special projects) that balance creative vision with commercial viability, under the direction of the Director of Design, Knitwear.
• Sketch and CAD original silhouettes, stitches, and colorways; translate creative direction into cohesive knitwear concepts each season.
• Lead research into knit trends, yarns, stitches, and consumer insights to drive seasonal concepts and long-term category innovation.
• Present design concepts, boards, sketches, and CADs to the Director of Design, Knitwear and Creative Director, providing clear rationale behind design decisions.

Yarn & Mill Development

• Partner with mills and yarn suppliers to source seasonal yarns and develop stitch, gauge, and hand-feel options that support the design vision.
• Drive innovation in knit construction, including stitch development, garment shaping, and trim details.
• Maintain an organized, up-to-date library of yarns, swatches, and knit developments for reference across current and past seasons.

Technical Packages & Linesheet Management

• Create and maintain detailed knit tech packs, including stitch specs, gauge, yarn composition, garment shaping, and trim details, ensuring accuracy and readiness for development handoff.
• Maintain and update seasonal line sheets and market CAD decks, including sketches, CADs, and color/material changes.
• Partner with Technical Design to confirm knit specs, fit, and construction align with design intent.

Fittings & Sample Development

• Lead knitwear fittings from first prototype through bulk approval, providing clear fit and construction feedback.
• Evaluate knit strike-offs, lab dips, and swatch submissions for hand-feel, colorfastness, and quality; drive corrective action with mills where improvements are needed.
• Partner closely with Product Development and overseas knit mills/vendors to guide samples from concept to final execution, ensuring design intent and quality standards are maintained.
• Lead sample reviews and ensure timely communication of all changes to Product Development.

Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Manage multiple knitwear deliveries simultaneously, prioritizing workload and consistently meeting aggressive deadlines.
• Mentor junior and associate knitwear designers, offering design feedback, process guidance, and professional development support.
• Provide clear, regular category updates to the Director of Design, Knitwear; identify risks early and propose actionable solutions.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Merchandising, Production, and Product Development to align on aesthetic direction, pricing strategy, and product assortment needs.

Special Projects

• Lead design and development of knitwear capsule collections and special collaborations from concept to execution, alongside the Director of Design, Knitwear.

Prerequisite Knowledge Skills, and Education:

• 5-7+ years of professional knitwear design experience, with demonstrated ownership of a category or key product line.
• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Textile Design, or a related field preferred, or equivalent professional experience.
• Deep knowledge of knit construction, gauge, stitch development, yarn types, and garment shaping.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and strong competency in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel).
• Exceptional sketching and rendering skills (digital and hand), with the ability to communicate design concepts clearly and efficiently.
• Experience building detailed knit tech packs and managing sample development with overseas mills and vendors.
• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and cross-functional collaboration skills; able to influence partners and drive decisions.
• Highly organized with the ability to strategically prioritize in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, collections, and timelines simultaneously.
• Ability to adapt to new situations quickly.
• Ability to maintain a realistic balance among multiple priorities.
• Ability to work flexible hours as dictated by the needs of business for projects and meetings.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Standing and sitting for extended periods of time.
• Lifting up to 25 pounds in a safe and prudent manner.
• Ability to easily move throughout an office with ease.
• Ability to read, write, and understand English.
• Ability to effectively interact with others internally and externally.
• Ability to utilize office equipment in a safe and prudent manner, including a copy machine, fax machine, computer, telephone, and other general office equipment that may be used regularly.
• Ability to kneel, crouch, bend, push, pull, stoop, and lift above shoulders.
• Ability to work with many different personalities.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Correctable vision and hearing.
• Ability to work on-site as needed.

Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt