Yves Saint Laurent Footwear Product Development Technician

About Yves Saint Laurent

Yves Saint Laurent stands as one of fashion’s most influential maisons, renowned for redefining modern elegance through audacity, precision, and cultural intelligence. As an employer, the House offers a dynamic environment where heritage and innovation meet, inviting talent to contribute to a legacy shaped by creativity, craftsmanship, and a distinctly Parisian spirit. Employees are encouraged to pursue excellence across design, retail, merchandising, communications, and corporate functions, within a culture that values individuality, rigor, and forward-looking vision. Joining Yves Saint Laurent means participating in the continued evolution of an iconic brand whose influence extends far beyond fashion.

Saint Laurent is seeking a Footwear Product Development Technician to develop technical structures and models for men's footwear prototypes and samples, coordinating with design, suppliers and manufacturers and tracking delivery schedules. The role is classified at employee level 6 under the footwear industry collective agreement, with gross annual pay from €55,000, commensurate with experience.

Role & Responsibilities

• Define the information required to develop components and send it to suppliers, supporting them throughout development.
• Define the information required to develop shoe models and send it to manufacturers, supporting them throughout development.
• Prepare product technical sheets after coordinating with the Style Office and receiving its design input.
• Liaise with semi-finished product suppliers, including last makers, sole makers and heel makers, and monitor component progress.
• Work with footwear manufacturers to ensure prototypes and samples meet design inputs and established technical manufacturing specifications, and monitor their progress.
• Ensure delivery deadlines set by the product development calendar are met.
• Provide the Product Development Office with the information required to code the bill of materials.
• Work with the Materials Research and Development Office to identify the most suitable materials for the requested footwear.
• Provide Industrialization and Quality Control with the technical data required to hand over samples for product industrialization.

Qualifications

• At least 5 years of experience in similar positions.
• A specialist footwear qualification, such as in shoe modelling or structure development, is preferred.
• Knowledge of all footwear manufacturing processes is preferred.
• Strong drive to achieve objectives.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Flexibility.
• Good command of English.
• Willingness to travel within Italy and/or abroad.

Skills

Experience

At least 5 years in similar positions.

Education

A specialist footwear qualification, such as in shoe modelling or structure development, is preferred.

Workplace

Compensation

The base compensation for this position is EUR 55,000 per annum.

Benefits

Annual variable bonus, welfare benefits, company canteen and smart working, in addition to benefits provided under the applicable collective agreement and current regulations.

Culture

Yves Saint Laurent fosters a bold, creative, and fast-paced workplace where teams are encouraged to challenge convention while upholding the Maison’s legacy of elegance and modernity. As an employer, it values artistic vision, collaboration, and excellence, offering an environment where talent can contribute to a globally influential luxury brand with a distinctive Parisian spirit.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.