Zero Waste Technical Designer
SXD is a design-tech start-up from Harvard charting a radical new standard: to eliminate material waste with great design and bleeding-edge AI. Our design has won the Global Change Award considered the “Nobel Prize of Fashion” while our technology has won MIT Solve’s Global Challenge. Our dynamic team includes award-winning leaders from Instagram to Adidas, passionately committed to zero waste, obsessed with proving the impossible possible.
Why We Need You
SXD is seeking an organized, proactive, and highly detail‑oriented Zero Waste Technical Designer to work directly with our founder, Shelly Xu, to bring new zero‑material‑waste designs to life.
In this role you will play an integral part in:
The creation, refinement, and delivery of SXD’s zero waste designs.
Supporting the development of SXD’s patent‑granted AI platform.
Managing design execution across our studio, international manufacturing partners, and collaborating brands.
This position requires flexibility, particularly when working with international manufacturers in various time zones. You should expect to respond within 12 hours and occasionally meet outside typical 9–5 hours.
What You’ll Do
Core Product Design
Digitize and refine initial patterns, grade patterns, and create comprehensive design specs, tech packs, and other design files—ensuring all annotations (notches, folds, etc.) are accurate across all sizes and styles.
Research new product directions and compile product feedback for the SXD team.
Create design files for prints, embroidery, care labels, and other labels, ensuring accuracy and production readiness.
Proof and update all design files and documents, keeping Dropbox organized and up to date.
Assist in creating initial samples for testing and manufacturer references.
Take meeting notes and send recaps.
Support product photography and editing.
SXD × Fashion Brand Projects
Collaborate on zero waste design creation for fashion brands.
Take notes from design meetings, send recaps, and ensure priorities are aligned.
Create samples for testing and brand presentations.
Digitize and refine patterns, grading as needed.
Develop target specs and other design files, ensuring all annotations are accurate and brand requirements are met.
Proof and update deliverables to maintain consistency and accuracy across materials.
SXD AI Zero Waste Design
Digitize patterns in CLO3D, DXF marker format.
Productionalize pattern files by adding and checking necessary annotations (e.g., notches, folds).
Support file creation for SXD engineers and proof all materials before integration.
Test SXD AI weekly, report feedback, and coordinate testing with other designers.
Product Development & Project Management
Ship, track, and receive samples.
Manage studio inventories and fabric samples.
Review, source, and select fabrics with Shelly.
Test fabric and sample qualities (e.g., color fastness via hot water and detergent testing).
Serve as the design point of contact for SXD’s manufacturing partners, supporting design kickoff, tracking, and updates.
Respond to design queries within 12 hours.
Review prototypes and samples against specs and QC lists within 12 hours, managing and reporting on spot and final QCs.
Attend manufacturing meetings, take notes, and provide recaps on decisions and next steps.
Lead weekly manufacturing project overviews from the design side, managing project timelines and tracking shipments to customers.
We Want to Talk to You If You…
Have experience in fashion design, pattern‑making, and production management.
Have expertise with digital design tools, particularly CLO3D, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
Demonstrate strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines and projects.
Communicate effectively and work well with diverse stakeholders across time zones.
Have a passion for sustainability and zero waste design.
(Bonus) Have experience with product photography and editing.
Why SXD May Not Be for You
We are working on bleeding‑edge technology and breaking new ground—expect uncertainty and shifting priorities.
We are a small team without many of the amenities or established processes you may find at larger organizations.
Why SXD
From turning the largest music record labels’ tour merchandise zero waste to creating the first zero waste car components—you will make outsized impact daily.
You will work alongside the best of the best, from a world‑renowned AI professor in Tokyo to Levi’s former head of technical design in Paris.
We’ve proven 10× more impact in material savings, environmental benefits, and material cost savings than any other solution today.
Without a sales or marketing team, we’ve attracted some of the most iconic global brands in apparel and automotive.
Benefits
Competitive salary and stock options
Health benefits through Take Command
Flexible PTO
Stipends/bonuses for exceptional project work
Opportunities to partner with iconic brands and industry legends
Originally posted on Himalayas
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