Assistant Designer - SMU

Career Opportunities: Assistant Designer - SMU (8104)

Requisition ID 8104 - Posted 10/05/2026 - Apparel - Full Time - United States - Hybrid - California - San Leandro, CA

About the Role

We are looking for a hands-on, detail-oriented Assistant Designer to support our SMU (Special Make Up) team. This is a position will be reporting to the Associate Designer, Apparel is a great opportunity to build foundational skills in apparel product development within a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

SMU products are designed to meet the specific requests of accounts, developed from existing styles with modifications in body silhouette, colors, and graphics. The Assistant Designer provides day-to-day support across the SMU development process and assists the broader apparel design team across divisions including Equestrian, Countryside, Work, Western, Pet, and Accessories.

You'll Make a Difference By

SMU product support

• Assisting in creating sketches for SMU requests using Adobe Illustrator, under the direction of the Associate Designer.
• Supporting the materials team with processing labdip and strike-off requests.
• Helping to prepare spec packages alongside the tech designer, including technical sketches and bill of materials.
• Assisting with issuing development packages to vendors as directed.
• Helping to track SMU development milestones - materials, mock-ups, and samples - and updating MIRO boards to keep the team informed.
• Attending fit sessions and assisting with note-taking, follow-up actions, and tech package updates.
• Supporting coordination with quality assurance and materials teams to ensure products, materials, and components are tested and approved.

General design assistance

• Providing day-to-day support across design and development tasks for the broader apparel team - projects vary and may include any of the divisions.
• Assisting in building tech packs including BOMs, measurements, and tech sketches.
• Helping to manage colorways, print, art, and design coordination tasks.
• Maintaining and updating design files, ensuring accuracy throughout the product development cycle.
• Supporting communication with merchants, product development, and vendors on design questions to help keep deliveries on track.
• Assisting in preparing design presentations and assortment reviews as needed.
• Staying curious - keeping an eye on market trends, competitive products, and emerging design ideas to bring fresh thinking to the team.
• Assisting with other responsibilities based on business needs.

What Success Looks Like

• Ensuring SMU development tasks are completed accurately and on time, with minimal rework.
• Ensuring design files and tracking boards are always up to date and easy for the team to use.
• Being a reliable, proactive team member - the Associate Designer and team can count on you.
• Growing your skills and building confidence across tech packs, sketching, and cross-functional collaboration.

About You

• A strong eye for color, proportion, and detail - you notice things others might miss.
• Internship or entry-level experience in apparel design or product development.
• Working proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; MS Office (Word, Excel) competency required.
• PLM or 3D design exposure is a plus but not required.
• Basic familiarity with fitting and pattern construction is helpful.
• Clear communicator - comfortable working across teams and asking questions when you need clarity.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Able to juggle multiple tasks, shift priorities quickly, and work with a degree of independence.
• Comfortable in a fast-moving environment where things change and adaptability is valued.
• Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design, Apparel, or a related field preferred - or equivalent hands-on experience.

About Ariat

Ariat is an innovative, outdoor global brand with roots in equestrian performance. We develop high-quality footwear and apparel for people who ride, work, and play outdoors, and care about performance, quality, comfort, and style.

The hourly range for this position is $25.00 - $30.00 per hour.

The salary is determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data for geographic locations. Ariat in good faith believes that this posted compensation range is accurate for this role at this location at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.

Ariat's holistic benefits package for full-time team members includes (but is not limited to):

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance options
• Expanded wellness and mental health benefits
• Paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and paid volunteer days
• 401(k) with company match
• Bonus incentive plans
• Team member discount on Ariat merchandise

Note: Availability of benefits may be subject to location & employment type and may have certain eligibility requirements. Ariat reserves the right to alter these benefits in whole or in part at any time without advance notice.

Ariat will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws. Ariat is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetics or any other basis protected under federal, state, or local law. Ariat is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to candidates with disabilities. If you need an accommodation during the application process, email human.resources@ariat.com.

Please see our Employment Candidate Privacy Policy at www.ariat.com/careers to learn more about how we collect, use, retain and disclose Personal Information.

Please note that Ariat does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Agreement, Ariat will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter/agency placement fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed Agreement, Ariat explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted directly to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Ariat.

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