Product Developer, Equipment

About the role

At The North Face, our equipment is built to go further, from everyday exploration to the most demanding adventures. As the Product Developer, Equipment, you’ll help bring our range of packs, travel bags, and duffels from creative concept to production-ready product. You’ll be the technical connection between Design, Product Management, Materials, Sourcing, Quality, and our global vendor partners, turning design vision into products that deliver on performance, durability, quality, and value. From evaluating prototypes and solving construction challenges to managing product specifications and identifying smarter ways to build, you’ll play a hands-on role throughout the development process.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical development of assigned products from prototype through pre-production and buy readiness.
• Translate design intent into production-ready solutions across construction, patterning, reinforcement, structure, hardware, zippers, trims, and other technical components.
• Create and maintain accurate product specifications in FlexPLM, including tech packs, BOMs, measurements, construction details, colorways, labeling, and packaging.
• Review prototypes and samples, providing clear vendor direction and resolving construction, workmanship, function, and durability issues.
• Manage development milestones and partner with Design and Product Management to address risks, changes, and trade-offs while protecting product intent.
• Review vendor costing and identify value-engineering opportunities that support margin goals without compromising quality or performance.
• Partner with Materials and Quality on material selection, testing, sustainability, compliance, and continuous product improvement.
• Use Adobe Illustrator and other technical tools to clearly communicate construction details, callouts, artwork placement, and product specifications to vendors.

Requirements

• 4+ years of product development experience in equipment/hardgoods (preferably packs, bags, luggage, travel, or outdoor softgoods).
• Strong technical knowledge of bag construction and components.
• Experience analyzing vendor costing and communicating cost drivers/trade-offs.
• Proficiency with FlexPLM (or equivalent PLM) and strong data discipline.
• Working proficiency in Adobe Illustrator for technical diagrams and/or artwork placement.
• Strong communication skills with global vendor partners; able to give precise, actionable sample feedback.
• Ability to manage multiple styles and hit development gates.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience supporting global development across regions and factory types.
• Familiarity with testing standards and common failure modes in packs/travel/duffels.
• Experience supporting sustainability initiatives (preferred/recycled materials, packaging reduction, durability/repair considerations).
• Outdoor/travel enthusiast and dedicated outdoor gear user.

Schedule

This role operates on a hybrid schedule out of our HQ in Denver, CO three days a week.

Pay

Hiring range: $86,400.00 – $108,000.00 USD annually. This position is eligible for additional compensation awards that may include an annual incentive plan, sales incentive, or commission potential. Specific details of the additional compensation eligibility will be provided during the recruiting and interview process.

Benefits

A general overview of benefit programs, including medical plan rates, is available at www.MyVFbenefits.com. Detailed benefits information will be provided during the hiring process.