Director / Head of Technology (AI and Emerging Tech)

Location: Dubai

Reports to: COO

About Sumwon Studios

Sumwon Studios is building the next generation of global fashion brands-fast, digitally native, and culturally relevant. With deep roots in product, process, and performance, and supported by SHEIN’s world-class infrastructure, we’re redefining what it means to build and scale brand-led businesses in the on-demand era.

The Role

As Technology Director, you’ll lead the charge in embedding AI and advanced technologies across our product, marketing, and operations. You’ll architect the systems, data, and workflows that power a seamless, reactive, and consumer-driven fashion pipeline from design ideation to launch. This role balances big-picture vision with hands-on execution, ensuring we are not only ahead of cultural and consumer trends but also scaling with efficiency and precision.

Key Responsibilities

Product & Design

• Develop AI-assisted design pipelines to accelerate trend translation into product (e.g. generating concepts, recolors, silhouettes).
• Implement customer validation loops (e.g. social voting on prototypes) to improve hit rates and reduce waste.
• Drive adoption of digital design technologies including 3D design, digital sampling, and virtual try-on.

Content & Marketing

• Deploy AI tools for campaign creative (image/video generation, copywriting, ad testing).
• Monitor and leverage trend signals through AI-driven social listening and prediction.
• Experiment with personalization and community engagement powered by AI.

Operations & Growth

• Lead the end-to-end technology strategy across design, sourcing, merchandising, and sustainability.
• Introduce automation and AI-driven forecasting, pricing, and personalization tools.
• Build and manage platforms for sourcing, sampling, product attribution, and supplier collaboration.
• Partner with startups, tech vendors, and research labs to pilot cutting-edge solutions, scaling the best into production.
• Define success metrics and governance frameworks to measure impact on speed, cost, quality, and sustainability.

Leadership & Change

• Act as a change agent: modernize legacy systems, embed agility, and foster a culture of innovation.
• Translate emerging technologies AI, ML, computer vision, digital twins, sizing algorithms into practical business impact.
• Build playbooks and train teams to adopt new tools and workflows.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders, including C-level executives, to align technology with business goals.

Data Infrastructure & Governance

• Own the foundations of Sumwon’s data ecosystem—single source of truth for SKUs, products, pricing, imagery, inventory, and customers.
• Establish data contracts, ownership, and validation standards across design, merch, marketing, finance, and supply chain.
• Partner with BI/analytics teams to ensure clean, timely, and accessible data powers all AI and decision-making.
• Balance speed of experimentation with governance and compliance (GDPR, sustainability data, financial audit trails).

What You’ll Bring

• Proven leadership of digital transformation within fashion, retail, or consumer tech.
• Hands-on experience applying AI/automation to product, marketing, or operations.
• Expertise with PLM, ERP systems, and integrations supporting design/merch workflows.
• Strong commercial acumen; ability to interpret business needs into scalable solutions.
• Familiarity with AI/ML applications in forecasting, pricing, personalization, and trend analysis.
• Strategic and executional agility: able to set vision and deliver tangible outcomes.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication.
• Entrepreneurial and experimental mindset; collaborative, growth-oriented.

Bonus Points

• Experience with virtual try-on, sizing tech, or sustainability platforms.
• Exposure to digital fashion trends (wearables, AR/VR, branded digital experiences).
• Track record of scaling R&D pilots into enterprise-wide adoption.

Success in 12 Months

• Design-to-launch cycle reduced by 50% through AI-enabled pipelines.
• 30–40% of new products validated by consumer input pre-production.
• AI-generated content and trend-led campaigns directly improving ROI.
• A clear “AI + Tech playbook” embedded across the business.

Why Join Us

• 25 days annual leave (increasing to 30 after one year)
• 30% employee discount across all Sumwon Studios brands
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Regular company social events
• A collaborative, ambitious, and creative team redefining fast fashion