Senior Product Development & Sourcing Manager (Austin)
Mello, Austin, TX, United States
About Mello
Mello is building a premium custom merchandise company for modern brands. We create elevated apparel, headwear, accessories, packaging, and branded products for fast-growing companies across food & beverage, hospitality, retail, lifestyle, and beyond.
We are not a promo company. We focus on products people actually want to wear, keep, and use.
As we scale, we’re investing heavily in our bespoke product division - creating custom products from the ground up with stronger quality, better design, and more fashion-forward execution than typical merchandise providers.
The Opportunity
We’re hiring a
Senior Product Development & Sourcing Manager
to lead our custom product development engine.
This person will own the process of turning ideas into real products - managing sourcing, materials, factories, fit, samples, costing, timelines, and production readiness across apparel, headwear, accessories, and specialty merchandise.
You should understand how products are actually made and know how to balance quality, speed, cost, and execution.
This is a high-impact role with real ownership inside a fast-growing company.
What You’ll Own
Product Development
Lead custom product development across apparel, hats, bags, accessories, uniforms, and specialty merchandise
Translate client concepts, inspiration, and brand direction into manufacturable products
Create and manage specs, measurements, construction notes, BOMs, and tech packs
Review samples and manage revisions through approval
Sourcing & Vendor Management
Source and manage domestic and overseas factories, mills, trim suppliers, and production partners
Request quotes, negotiate pricing, MOQs, lead times, and capabilities
Match each project with the right vendor based on complexity, budget, and timeline
Build a world-class supplier network over time
Materials & Quality
Evaluate fabric quality, handfeel, weight, washes, trims, finishes, and packaging details
Recommend better materials and construction methods
Ensure products meet premium quality standards before production
Production Readiness
Prepare approved styles for production handoff
Solve pre-production issues before they become expensive mistakes
Improve consistency, margins, and execution speed
Cross-Functional Leadership
Work closely with sales, creative, operations, and leadership teams
Help educate internal team on possibilities, timelines, and costs
Build repeatable systems as the department grows
Who You Are
Must-Have Experience
5+ years in product development, sourcing, apparel production, or related industry
Strong understanding of garment construction, fit, fabrics, trims, and manufacturing processes
Experience working directly with factories and suppliers
Ability to review samples and give clear corrective feedback
Organized, decisive, and able to manage multiple projects at once
Strong Plus If You Have
Headwear development experience
Accessories / bags / hard goods experience
Technical design or patternmaking background
Existing supplier relationships in the U.S., Asia, Europe, or Latin America
Experience with premium, streetwear, fashion, or hospitality brands
Personality Fit
Taste level matters - you care about details
Resourceful and proactive
Fast-moving without sacrificing standards
Ownership mentality
Comfortable building systems from scratch
Why Join Mello
High ownership role with visible impact
Help build a modern product company from the ground floor
Work on exciting projects for growing brands
Real opportunity for career growth as company scales
Fast-paced environment where great people can move quickly
Mello is building a premium custom merchandise company for modern brands. We create elevated apparel, headwear, accessories, packaging, and branded products for fast-growing companies across food & beverage, hospitality, retail, lifestyle, and beyond.
We are not a promo company. We focus on products people actually want to wear, keep, and use.
As we scale, we’re investing heavily in our bespoke product division - creating custom products from the ground up with stronger quality, better design, and more fashion-forward execution than typical merchandise providers.
The Opportunity
We’re hiring a
Senior Product Development & Sourcing Manager
to lead our custom product development engine.
This person will own the process of turning ideas into real products - managing sourcing, materials, factories, fit, samples, costing, timelines, and production readiness across apparel, headwear, accessories, and specialty merchandise.
You should understand how products are actually made and know how to balance quality, speed, cost, and execution.
This is a high-impact role with real ownership inside a fast-growing company.
What You’ll Own
Product Development
Lead custom product development across apparel, hats, bags, accessories, uniforms, and specialty merchandise
Translate client concepts, inspiration, and brand direction into manufacturable products
Create and manage specs, measurements, construction notes, BOMs, and tech packs
Review samples and manage revisions through approval
Sourcing & Vendor Management
Source and manage domestic and overseas factories, mills, trim suppliers, and production partners
Request quotes, negotiate pricing, MOQs, lead times, and capabilities
Match each project with the right vendor based on complexity, budget, and timeline
Build a world-class supplier network over time
Materials & Quality
Evaluate fabric quality, handfeel, weight, washes, trims, finishes, and packaging details
Recommend better materials and construction methods
Ensure products meet premium quality standards before production
Production Readiness
Prepare approved styles for production handoff
Solve pre-production issues before they become expensive mistakes
Improve consistency, margins, and execution speed
Cross-Functional Leadership
Work closely with sales, creative, operations, and leadership teams
Help educate internal team on possibilities, timelines, and costs
Build repeatable systems as the department grows
Who You Are
Must-Have Experience
5+ years in product development, sourcing, apparel production, or related industry
Strong understanding of garment construction, fit, fabrics, trims, and manufacturing processes
Experience working directly with factories and suppliers
Ability to review samples and give clear corrective feedback
Organized, decisive, and able to manage multiple projects at once
Strong Plus If You Have
Headwear development experience
Accessories / bags / hard goods experience
Technical design or patternmaking background
Existing supplier relationships in the U.S., Asia, Europe, or Latin America
Experience with premium, streetwear, fashion, or hospitality brands
Personality Fit
Taste level matters - you care about details
Resourceful and proactive
Fast-moving without sacrificing standards
Ownership mentality
Comfortable building systems from scratch
Why Join Mello
High ownership role with visible impact
Help build a modern product company from the ground floor
Work on exciting projects for growing brands
Real opportunity for career growth as company scales
Fast-paced environment where great people can move quickly