About the role
Company Description:
Mad Engine is a leading Global Apparel and Accessories company that caters to all genders and sizes across a full range of licensed, private label, branded and influencer/celebrity products. With an evolving omni-channel distribution network, Mad Engine services direct-to-consumer, e-commerce, mass retail, mid-tier, department stores and specialty retail. Our talented and experienced team of artists and designers obsessively strive to deliver innovative products to fully meet the needs of our customers and brands.
Purpose:
The Lead Graphic Designer is responsible for setting the creative vision, guiding the design team, and ensuring delivery of innovative, brand-right, and commercially successful apparel graphics. This role will balance hands-on design responsibilities with leadership, mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration to strengthen brand image and drive company growth globally.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Leadership & Mentorship
- Lead, inspire, and mentor a team of graphic designers, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and innovation.
- Provide constructive feedback and guidance to elevate the quality of design work across the team.
- Serve as a point of contact between the design team, product development, and sales teams.
Creative Direction
- Define seasonal graphic design direction aligned with brand strategy and licensing requirements.
- Ensure adherence to licensor guidelines while pushing for innovation in design concepts.
- Anticipate and interpret market trends to guide the team in developing relevant, on-trend graphics.
Execution & Oversight
- Oversee the development of apparel graphics, including placed prints, embellishments, novelty applications, and AOP prints.
- Ensure accuracy, scalability, and production-readiness of all designs.
- Manage timelines and deliverables for the team, ensuring on-time completion of projects.
Collaboration
- Partner closely with Product Development, Sales, and Licensing teams to deliver graphics that meet customer, market, and business objectives.
- Present design concepts to internal stakeholders and licensors, influencing decision-making with a strong creative point of view.
- Troubleshoot production issues with solution-driven recommendations.
Innovation & Research
- Stay current with design trends, graphic techniques, and consumer insights to keep product fresh and competitive.
- Introduce new creative processes, tools, and methods to improve efficiency and output.
Required Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or related field (preferred).
- 4+ years of professional graphic design experience, including leadership or mentoring responsibilities.
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).
- Strong understanding of apparel design, garment construction, and production processes.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and presentation skills.
- Ability to balance hands-on design work with leadership responsibilities.
- Repeat AOP Print Pattern making and tech pack experience highly preferred.
- 3D rendering skills a plus.
What We’re Looking For
A creative leader who is passionate about apparel graphics, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and brings both strategic vision and design excellence to the table. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver who inspires others while contributing fresh, innovative ideas.
About Mad Engine Global, LLC
Mad Engine Global, LLC started as a production screen printing company. Now operating out of San Diego county in California, with extended manufacturing and sourcing capabilities in the U.S, Mexico, & all over the globe. Mad Engine is one of the leading Licensed Apparel wholesalers in the world. With a strong licensing roster of the worlds largest brands, including several TOP SELLING evergreen properties including Lucasfilm, Marvel, & Disney. Our artwork is used for style guide elements, and offered to other licenses worldwide. Mad Engine has earned a recognized position with all of the major retailers across the US & Canada such Walmart, Target, JCPenney, Kohl's, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, and more. Our Shelf Stock program keeps in house inventory to service the just in time inventory deliveries of over 400 items for smaller store chains and boutique sales.
With an in house art staff of over 25 highly skilled and experienced artists, Mad Engine has proven to licensors and its customers that it is able to create unique & custom designs that cater to a wide array of audiences. Our Merchandising team helps keep floor presentations fresh & & coherent by retailer, & help them to design into POS displays such as Pallets, Trays, Tables & Rounders. The Company's managed production schedules help meet the needs of any retailer, large or small. We excel in Quick turn product & On Time deliveries in accordance with vendor floor ready guidelines. We stay compliant with all State, Federal, & licensor requirements. Mad Engine is recognized as one of the top 5 suppliers for Licensed Apparel products in the U.S.A.
About the role
Company Description:
Mad Engine is a leading Global Apparel and Accessories company that caters to all genders and sizes across a full range of licensed, private label, branded and influencer/celebrity products. With an evolving omni-channel distribution network, Mad Engine services direct-to-consumer, e-commerce, mass retail, mid-tier, department stores and specialty retail. Our talented and experienced team of artists and designers obsessively strive to deliver innovative products to fully meet the needs of our customers and brands.
Purpose:
The Lead Graphic Designer is responsible for setting the creative vision, guiding the design team, and ensuring delivery of innovative, brand-right, and commercially successful apparel graphics. This role will balance hands-on design responsibilities with leadership, mentoring, and cross-functional collaboration to strengthen brand image and drive company growth globally.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
Leadership & Mentorship
- Lead, inspire, and mentor a team of graphic designers, fostering a culture of creativity, accountability, and innovation.
- Provide constructive feedback and guidance to elevate the quality of design work across the team.
- Serve as a point of contact between the design team, product development, and sales teams.
Creative Direction
- Define seasonal graphic design direction aligned with brand strategy and licensing requirements.
- Ensure adherence to licensor guidelines while pushing for innovation in design concepts.
- Anticipate and interpret market trends to guide the team in developing relevant, on-trend graphics.
Execution & Oversight
- Oversee the development of apparel graphics, including placed prints, embellishments, novelty applications, and AOP prints.
- Ensure accuracy, scalability, and production-readiness of all designs.
- Manage timelines and deliverables for the team, ensuring on-time completion of projects.
Collaboration
- Partner closely with Product Development, Sales, and Licensing teams to deliver graphics that meet customer, market, and business objectives.
- Present design concepts to internal stakeholders and licensors, influencing decision-making with a strong creative point of view.
- Troubleshoot production issues with solution-driven recommendations.
Innovation & Research
- Stay current with design trends, graphic techniques, and consumer insights to keep product fresh and competitive.
- Introduce new creative processes, tools, and methods to improve efficiency and output.
Required Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or related field (preferred).
- 4+ years of professional graphic design experience, including leadership or mentoring responsibilities.
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).
- Strong understanding of apparel design, garment construction, and production processes.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and presentation skills.
- Ability to balance hands-on design work with leadership responsibilities.
- Repeat AOP Print Pattern making and tech pack experience highly preferred.
- 3D rendering skills a plus.
What We’re Looking For
A creative leader who is passionate about apparel graphics, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and brings both strategic vision and design excellence to the table. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver who inspires others while contributing fresh, innovative ideas.
About Mad Engine Global, LLC
Mad Engine Global, LLC started as a production screen printing company. Now operating out of San Diego county in California, with extended manufacturing and sourcing capabilities in the U.S, Mexico, & all over the globe. Mad Engine is one of the leading Licensed Apparel wholesalers in the world. With a strong licensing roster of the worlds largest brands, including several TOP SELLING evergreen properties including Lucasfilm, Marvel, & Disney. Our artwork is used for style guide elements, and offered to other licenses worldwide. Mad Engine has earned a recognized position with all of the major retailers across the US & Canada such Walmart, Target, JCPenney, Kohl's, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, and more. Our Shelf Stock program keeps in house inventory to service the just in time inventory deliveries of over 400 items for smaller store chains and boutique sales.
With an in house art staff of over 25 highly skilled and experienced artists, Mad Engine has proven to licensors and its customers that it is able to create unique & custom designs that cater to a wide array of audiences. Our Merchandising team helps keep floor presentations fresh & & coherent by retailer, & help them to design into POS displays such as Pallets, Trays, Tables & Rounders. The Company's managed production schedules help meet the needs of any retailer, large or small. We excel in Quick turn product & On Time deliveries in accordance with vendor floor ready guidelines. We stay compliant with all State, Federal, & licensor requirements. Mad Engine is recognized as one of the top 5 suppliers for Licensed Apparel products in the U.S.A.