At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead product development from design to bulk readiness, ensuring quality and fit.
- Company: Join PICANTE, a trendy London-based fashion brand making waves in the industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, staff clothing, and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Shape innovative products at a pivotal growth stage in a dynamic brand.
- Qualifications: 4-7+ years in product development with strong technical garment knowledge.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor a junior developer and collaborate closely with design.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 Β£ per year.
PICANTE is a London-based fashion and lifestyle brand founded by Jude Taylor and Saam Zonoozi. Built from a shared love of food, friendship and travel, PICANTE has grown into a cult label featured in Vogue, HYPEBEAST, Highsnobiety, Complex and GQ. Alongside its mainline collections, PICANTE collaborates with iconic restaurants, brands and cultural partners, creating product that blends premium construction with playful, culturally relevant storytelling.
We are now looking for a Senior Product Developer / Product Development Manager to lead product development from design handover through to bulk readiness, while remaining closely involved in execution and technical decision-making.
The Role
This is a senior, hands-on role with responsibility for the quality, flow and technical execution of product development across the brand. You will own fit, sampling and technical development, lead and manage a Junior Product Developer, and work closely with Design and Production to elevate product quality while maintaining pace, margin and realism. Designers at PICANTE create their own tech packs. Your role is to challenge, refine and strengthen these through development, ensuring design intent is pushed where possible and grounded where necessary.
Core Responsibilities
- Lead product development from design handover to bulk-ready sign-off
- Own and lead all fit sessions, setting fit standards and final decisions
- Review, refine and edit designer-created tech packs for accuracy and clarity
- Personally manage development of complex, high-risk or priority styles
- Resolve construction, wash, trim and fabric issues directly with factories
- Ensure all styles meet quality, fit, cost and margin expectations
- Prepare clear and confident handovers into Production
- Own pattern cutting outsourcing, working closely with external pattern cutters to brief, review and refine blocks, patterns and construction to achieve fit intent
- Work closely with Design to push product quality, construction and finish
- Challenge designs constructively to elevate fit, fabrication and longevity
- Collaborate with Design through considered fabric and trim sourcing
- Own fabric and trim sourcing, including research, lab dips, strike-offs and approvals
- Help structure and maintain a clear archive of samples, references and materials
- Organise and support reference, archive and inspiration visits where relevant
- Line-manage and mentor a Junior Product Developer
- Set clear priorities and workload direction within the PD function
- Review all PD outputs before factory send
- Build technical confidence, accuracy and independence within the team
- Establish clear standards for tech packs, fit comments and sample tracking
- Manage relationships with external pattern cutters, ensuring clear briefs, timely delivery and alignment with development timelines
- Own the Product Development calendar in line with the critical path
- Work closely with the Production Manager to ensure clear handovers, aligned timelines and a joined-up approach from development into production
- Support Production with feasibility, construction detail and development clarity
- Ensure Production is set up for success with clean, locked product handovers
Supplier & Factory Management
- Manage day-to-day development communication with factories
- Visit new and existing factories as required
- Assess supplier capability by category, complexity, price and lead time
- Flag supply-chain risks early and propose practical solutions
- Manage relationships with external pattern cutters, ensuring clear briefs, timely delivery and alignment with development timelines
What Success Looks Like
- Elevated fit, construction and finish across collections
- Faster, cleaner sampling cycles with fewer revisions
- Strong collaboration between Design, PD and Production
- A confident, improving Junior Product Developer
- Reduced re-work, clearer ownership and smoother bulk handovers
Skills & Experience
- 4β7+ yearsβ experience in Product Development within premium or luxury RTW
- Strong technical knowledge of garment construction, fit and pattern
- Proven experience leading fit sessions and making final fit decisions
- Confident editing and refining tech packs created by designers
- Strong fabric and trim knowledge, including sourcing and performance
- Strong understanding of pattern cutting and block development, with experience briefing and managing external pattern cutters
- Experience working directly with overseas factories
- Strong working knowledge of Excel for tracking, costings and development management
- Strong commercial awareness of cost, margin and feasibility
- Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
- Clear, calm and solutions-focused communicator
- Menswear RTW experience
- Experience managing or mentoring junior team members
- Experience working in small, fast-growing brands
- Interest in product archives, references and long-term brand building
- Experience using Figma for reference sharing, development communication or documentation
Personal Attributes
- Hands-on and execution-focused
- Confident pushing design while remaining collaborative
- Comfortable taking ownership and making decisions
- Pragmatic, non-political team player
- Quality-driven with strong commercial awareness
The Details
- Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
- Location: London
- Staff clothing
- Supportive, close-knit team
- Opportunity to shape product at a pivotal stage of growth
PICANTE is an Equal Opportunities Employer and recruits purely on the basis of skills and experience.
Senior Product Developer / Product Development Manager in London employer: PICANTE
Contact Detail:
PICANTE Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice π€«
We think this is how you could land Senior Product Developer / Product Development Manager in London
β¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the fashion industry, especially those connected to PICANTE. Attend events, join online forums, and donβt be shy about sliding into DMs. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
β¨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work in product development. Include examples of tech packs you've refined, fit sessions you've led, and any successful collaborations. This will give you an edge when you apply through our website.
β¨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching PICANTEβs recent collections and collaborations. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their vision and how you can elevate their product quality. Tailor your answers to show youβre the perfect fit for their team!
β¨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. Mention something specific from your conversation to remind them of your enthusiasm and fit for the role. It shows you're proactive and genuinely interested in joining PICANTE.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Product Developer / Product Development Manager in London
Some tips for your application π«‘
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your love for fashion and product development shine through. We want to see how your experiences align with our brand's ethos and how you can contribute to our creative journey.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight relevant experience in product development, especially in premium or luxury RTW. Weβre looking for specifics, so donβt hold back on showcasing your achievements and skills that match the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why youβre the perfect fit for PICANTE. Be sure to mention your technical knowledge, leadership experience, and how you can elevate our product quality while keeping pace with our growth.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. Itβs the best way for us to receive your application and ensures youβre considered for this exciting opportunity to join our team at PICANTE!
How to prepare for a job interview at PICANTE
β¨Know Your Product Development Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the specifics of product development, especially in the context of premium or luxury RTW. Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in garment construction and fit, as well as any recent collections from PICANTE that you can reference during your discussion.
β¨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your technical knowledge of garment construction and pattern cutting. Bring examples of tech packs you've edited or refined, and be ready to explain how youβve resolved issues with fabrics or trims in past projects. This will demonstrate your hands-on experience and problem-solving abilities.
β¨Emphasise Collaboration and Leadership
Highlight your experience in leading fit sessions and mentoring junior team members. Share specific examples of how you've fostered collaboration between design and production teams, and how youβve managed relationships with external pattern cutters. This will show that you can not only lead but also work effectively within a team.
β¨Prepare Questions That Matter
Think of insightful questions to ask about PICANTE's approach to product development and their vision for future collections. This shows your genuine interest in the brand and helps you assess if itβs the right fit for you. For instance, ask about their process for sourcing fabrics or how they handle feedback from fit sessions.