Leather goods product developer
Also known as: leather product engineer, leather technologist, leatherware engineer, leather product technologist, leather product designer & developer, product developer, leather goods
About this occupation
Leather goods product developers perform and interface between design and actual production. They analyse and study designer’s specifications and transform them into technical requirements, updating concepts to manufacturing lines, selecting or even designing components and selecting materials. Leather goods product developers also perform the pattern engineering meaning to make patterns manually, produce technical drawings for various range of tools, specially cutting. They evaluate prototypes, performing required tests for samples and confirming the customer’s quality requirements and pricing constrains.
Essential skills and knowledge
- footwear and leather goods marketing planning
- communicate commercial and technical issues in foreign languages
- reduce environmental impact of footwear manufacturing
- prepare leather goods samples
- apply development process to footwear design
- develop leather goods collection
- apply fashion trends to footwear and leather goods
- use communication techniques
- distinguish fabrics
- use IT tools
- develop footwear and leather goods marketing plans
- practice innovative thinking in the footwear and leather goods industries
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other (O*NET 51-4199.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
US median pay: US$45,950 a year (2025), 15,900 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.