Senior Engineer, Apparel

Role Purpose

Independently lead the technical industrialization and production readiness of complex and high-risk apparel products through integrated physical and digital development. The role connects product engineering, vendor capability, risk management and data-based performance follow-up to improve right-first-time execution and support compressed Go-To-Market calendars.  Build trusted functional partnerships within VF across pillars, with Brand and vendor teams, bringing strong technical judgment, constructive challenge and solution-oriented recommendations to enable better product decisions

Key Accountabilities

1. Product Engineering & Industrialization

• Lead product industrialization across development, innovation, collaboration and commercialization stages using physical and virtual sampling.

• Provide advanced technical expertise to resolve complex fit, pattern, construction, raw-material, manufacturing and product-performance issues. 

• Partner with Brand Development, Sourcing Development and vendors to engineer products that meet safety, fit, function, performance, quality, cost and manufacturability requirements. 

• Own development-to-production handover for assigned complex and high-risk styles, ensuring technical specifications are complete, production readiness is confirmed and critical risks are resolved and communicated. 

• Partner with brands on complex construction, sizing, grading and block initiatives, balancing design intent with consumer experience and production feasibility. 

2. Integrated Physical & Digital Sample Execution 

• Review and validate physical and digital samples across Proto, SMS, POC, PPS, Counter and Size Set stages, providing clear, actionable technical comments in the relevant forms and systems. 

• Review digital production creation outputs to confirm alignment with approved product intent, construction, pattern, fit, workmanship and production requirements before downstream use. 

• Ensure physical and digital sample decisions are connected through one integrated process, with consistent risk identification, issue closure, approval logic and production handover. 

• Manage vendor performance for both physical and digital samples, using quality, accuracy, timeliness, right-first-time execution and recurring-issue data to drive corrective actions and capability improvement. 

• Independently manage local pre-production and re-allocation sample approvals within delegated authority, escalating significant exceptions or risks when required. 

3. Risk, Testing & Production Readiness 

• Lead technical risk assessment and product-risk allocation in line with RBM guidance, applying heightened focus to high-risk styles. 

• Participate in Tech Pack handover meetings and lead technical readiness during Risk Analysis handoff from development to production. 

• Own Tech Pack discrepancy resolution for assigned products, update minor and intermediate discrepancies where authorized and address recurring issues with brand partners. 

• Manage applicable product testing, including rain-room, Futurelight, Gore-Tex, GB and other required testing, and drive timely resolution of failures. 

• Attend Pre-Production (where required) and PRM (All) meetings and provide clear technical recommendations and decisions; escalate systemic, ambiguous or material business risks. 

4. SMV / YY Exception Validation Support 

• Provide technical support for SMV and YY exception validation, particularly where product complexity, construction method, pattern engineering, manufacturing sequence or material behavior requires Apparel Engineering input. 

• Partner with the relevant SMV / YY specialists and vendors to verify exception rationale, supporting evidence and product assumptions, and identify risks or follow-up actions before final decision. 

• Use technical findings from exceptions to strengthen standards, improve data accuracy and reduce repeat variances or avoidable cost and calendar impact. 

5. Development Trip Effectiveness 

• Lead preparation, onsite technical execution and follow-up for Brand Development, Collaboration, CKO, Innovation and Fit Training trips. 

• Increase development-trip efficiency by using digital product creation and virtual sample review to pre-align product intent, identify risks and focus onsite time on decisions that require physical validation or factory engagement. 

• Combine physical and digital evidence during trips to accelerate issue resolution, reduce duplicate sample iterations and close actions with clear ownership and timing. 

• Capture trip outcomes, unresolved risks and lessons learned in the appropriate systems to enable continuity after the trip and support compressed GTM calendars. 

6. Vendor Capability & Performance Management 

• Support onboarding of new vendors and brands, assess technical readiness and lead focused capability-building for existing vendors. 

• Drive vendor technical capability through training, sample-room assessment, TVCP module development, TVCP / CFT calibration, RBM training and ongoing correlation. 

• Use product, issue and vendor-performance data across physical and digital workflows to identify recurring technical gaps, prioritize interventions and monitor improvement actions. 

• Travel frequently to factories to maintain hands-on technical engagement and strengthen vendor execution. 

7. Standards, Leadership & Continuous Improvement 

• Partner with brands on construction toolboxes, construction manuals, SOPs and continuous improvement of technical standards. 

• Lead assigned cross-functional projects or workstreams and deliver outcomes against development and Go-To-Market milestones. 

• Drive VF Way standardization, innovation, cross-region calibration, knowledge sharing and consistent ways of working. 

• Mentor and coach Apparel Engineers through technical guidance, calibration and knowledge transfer without direct people-management responsibility. 

Core Competencies 

• Growth mindset, strong learning agility and ownership of results. 

• Solution-oriented and process-driven, with sound judgment, attention to detail and urgency. 

• Ability to influence complex internal and external stakeholders without formal authority. 

• Clear written and verbal communication, active listening and constructive problem-solving. 

• Ability to work independently, navigate ambiguity, prioritize risk and escalate appropriately. 

• Curiosity and courage to seek and provide feedback and improve ways of working. 

Technical Skills & Knowledge 

• Advanced knowledge of apparel product development from concept through production and commercialization. 

• Proficient in flat pattern and draping, apparel sizing, grading, live-model fitting and body-form fitting. 

• Working knowledge of computerized pattern systems such as Gerber, PLM such as Flex, 3D tools such as Browzwear, and Adobe Illustrator. 

• Strong knowledge of garment construction and engineering, raw-material properties, wet processing, garment testing and manufacturing methods. 

• Ability to interpret design intent and recommend alternatives that balance fit, quality, performance, cost and manufacturability. 

• Working knowledge of risk management, root-cause analysis, corrective action, SMV / YY exception validation, digital sample review and vendor capability improvement. 

• Ability to use technical, sample and vendor-performance data to identify trends, prioritize actions and communicate recommendations. 

Experience & Language 

• 7+ years of relevant experience in apparel engineering, technical development, product development or a similar role. 

• Demonstrated experience independently managing complex or high-risk apparel products from development through production readiness. 

• Demonstrated experience with physical and digital sample review and cross-functional product decision-making. 

• Demonstrated experience coaching peers or junior engineers, leading technical projects or influencing vendor capability without formal authority. 

• English and relevant local language. 

Role Scope & Decision Authority 

• Senior Individual Contributor with technical leadership responsibility and no direct people-management accountability. 

• Independently manages complex and high-risk apparel products and makes technical decisions within delegated authority across development, sample approval and production readiness. 

• Acts as an escalation point and senior technical resource for Apparel Engineers, brands, vendors and cross-functional partners, providing guidance on complex, ambiguous or material technical issues. 

• Leads assigned technical projects, workstreams, vendor capability initiatives and process improvements, influencing outcomes without formal authority. 

• Provides Apparel Engineering input to SMV / YY exception validation; final exception decisions remain with the designated SMV / YY governance or accountable business owner. 

• Escalates decisions with significant consumer, compliance, quality, cost, calendar or enterprise impact to the Manager or Senior Manager, Apparel Engineering.  Extensive stakeholder network globally – internal and external. 

• Mentors and coaches Apparel Engineers through technical guidance, calibration and knowledge transfer, but does not hold formal team-performance accountability.