Product Developer - 12 Month Maternity Cover

Fixed-Term Contract, January 2027 – January 2028 

Location: Ashington, Northumberland 

Hours: Full Time / flexible working – Fixed-Term Contract  

About Montane: 

For over 30 years Montane has become famous for its innovative, lightweight breathable clothing and equipment for endurance sports and outdoor activities in extreme environments. Montane specialises in creating technical outdoor clothing, backpacks and accessories, where design and performance are of the highest quality. We have a friendly, dynamic and ambitious team motivated by a love of the outdoors and with a passion for producing exceptional products. Based in the North East of England, we are represented in many territories around the world and have a head office in Northumberland along with a showroom in the Lake District.  

About the Role 

We're looking for an experienced Product Developer to join our Design & Development team on a 12-month fixed-term contract to provide maternity cover. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in developing innovative, high-performance outdoor apparel, working closely with Designers, Product Developers, Quality Control and our global supplier base to bring products from concept through to bulk production. 

If you're passionate about technical product development, thrive in a fast-paced environment and enjoy solving problems collaboratively, we'd love to hear from you. 

 

What You'll Be Doing 

As Product Developer, you'll be responsible for managing the technical development of products throughout the product lifecycle, ensuring they meet our quality, fit and performance standards. 

Key responsibilities include: 

  • Managing products through the seasonal development process, ensuring critical path deadlines are achieved. 

  • Leading fit sessions and evaluating garments for fit, construction and quality. 

  • Providing detailed technical comments and development feedback to suppliers. 

  • Ensuring prototypes, samples and production garments meet agreed specifications. 

  • Maintaining size charts, technical specifications and trim information. 

  • Managing sample tracking and coordinating development timelines. 

  • Supporting product testing, quality assurance and pre-production approvals. 

  • Working closely with Quality Control to investigate product issues and identify continuous improvements. 

  • Building strong relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders across Design, Development and Production. 

  • Keeping up to date with garment innovation, construction techniques and consumer trends. 

 

What Success Looks Like 

You'll be successful in this role by: 

  • Delivering products to bulk production on time through effective project management. 

  • Demonstrating strong technical garment knowledge throughout the development process. 

  • Building effective working relationships across the Design & Development team and wider business, contributing positively to seasonal delivery. 

 

About You 

We're looking for someone who brings: 

  • Previous experience within apparel or technical product development. 

  • A strong understanding of garment construction, fit, manufacturing processes and quality standards. 

  • Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. 

  • Strong communication skills and confidence working with international suppliers. 

  • Excellent attention to detail and a proactive, solution-focused approach. 

  • The ability to work collaboratively while delivering against deadlines. 

  • Good working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and Microsoft Office. 

  • A genuine interest in the outdoors and technical performance products. 

 

Why Join Us? 

Reporting into the Design Director, and working with two Senior Product Developers, you'll become part of a passionate team dedicated to creating innovative outdoor products used by adventurers across the world. This role offers the opportunity to make a real impact, work alongside experienced technical specialists and contribute to products built for some of the toughest environments on the planet. 

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience. 

Contract: 12 Month Maternity Cover, Fixed-Term Contract, January 2027 – January 2028 

Apply by submitting a covering letter and CV to:  Recruitment@Montane.com