Textile Engineer Sr

Exemplis•Cypress, CA

40d•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Senior Textile Engineer, you will serve as the technical authority for textile materials and soft goods across Exemplis brands including SitOnIt Seating, Albany Park, and Timbuk2. You will lead the research, development, qualification, and commercialization of high-performance materials that support product innovation, sustainability goals, and regulatory compliance. You will partner cross-functionally with Product Development, Quality, Sourcing, Manufacturing, and Marketing to develop and manage a portfolio of innovative, tested, and certified materials that support both commercial furniture and direct-to-consumer products while ensuring alignment in performance, sustainability, and regulatory standards across Exemplis brands. Based at our Cypress, CA headquarters, this is a hybrid role requiring onsite work three days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday). The position collaborates closely with teams in Buena Park and Tijuana and works directly with suppliers and testing partners globally.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Textile Engineering, Materials Science, Textile Technology, or related field.
7+ years of experience in textile engineering, development, or materials science (furniture, apparel, luggage, or related industries).
Advanced knowledge of textile manufacturing processes (weaving, knitting, coating, laminating, finishing).
Experience with textile testing (abrasion, colorfastness, tensile strength, flame retardancy, chemical compliance).
Experience managing material certifications and regulatory standards (CAL117, ACT, BIFMA, PFAS, REACH).
Experience establishing or influencing textile performance standards, testing protocols, or material qualification processes.
Experience evaluating and guiding suppliers and manufacturing partners on textile performance, compliance, and manufacturability.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, PLM, and project management tools.
Ability to handle rolls of fabric and testing samples.
Willingness to travel domestically and internationally.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading material innovation initiatives or supplier development programs.
Experience leveraging AI-assisted tools or advanced data analytics to evaluate material performance, analyze textile testing data, or support material innovation.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex development priorities and timelines in a cross-functional product development environment.
Proven ability to collaborate across engineering, design, sourcing, and manufacturing teams to resolve technical challenges and advance product development.
Experience diagnosing and resolving complex textile development or production issues.

Responsibilities

Lead cross-functional and external collaboration to approve textiles for production readiness and ensure manufacturability.
Drive textile material validation partnering with Product Development and Sourcing to optimize existing materials and identify opportunities for innovation and cost-performance improvements.
Serve as the subject matter expert for textiles and soft materials, advising Product Development, Quality, and Sourcing teams on performance, manufacturability, and compliance.
Manage material certifications and ensure compliance with regulatory standards (PFAS, CAL117, ACT, ANSI/BIFMA, GREENGUARD, REACH).
Provide technical guidance on material substitutions, risk assessments, and testing requirements for COM fabrics.
Develop and oversee textile testing protocols, coordinating internal and external lab testing and performance evaluations.
Maintain accurate product specifications and documentation in Textile management systems.
Benchmark competitor products and conduct patent research to establish performance and sustainability.
Investigate and resolve textile-related issues directly with suppliers in development and production.
Evaluate emerging sustainable materials, technologies, and processes to inform material innovation and product development.
Ensure textile readiness for NPI stage-gate milestones by identifying material risks, validating performance requirements, and confirming production feasibility.
Provide technical mentorship and guidance to cross-functional teams and junior engineers on textile performance, testing, and compliance.