Textile Product Development Engineer

Culp•Stokesdale, NC

20d

About The Position

We are actively seeking a dynamic individual for the role of Textile Product Development Engineer. This position serves as the technical liaison for fabric construction, bridging communication and collaboration between manufacturing, product development (PD), and design teams. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in finding innovative solutions to meet both internal and external customer needs. They will be responsible for coordinating efforts across various departments, ensuring the creation of high-quality textile products that meet design specifications, production standards, and market demands. Innovation Integration and Fabric Development: The responsibilities below emphasize effective communication and collaboration between various teams, ensuring that technical and design elements align throughout the process. This structure highlights the integration of communication, technical expertise, and cross-functional teamwork necessary to ensure smooth processes and successful product outcomes. Innovation Initiatives and Design Execution: Proactively identify opportunities to enhance innovation within the product development process.

Requirements

Proven experience in technical engineering, circular knit and woven design, and manufacturing processes.
Proficiency in using Design Scope/EAT and other relevant design software.
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify root causes and provide effective solutions.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Detail-oriented with a critical eye for creative, structural, and technical output

Responsibilities

Act as the technical point of contact between the product development, manufacturing, and design teams to ensure smooth communication and workflow.
Collaborate with design team to translate creative concepts into feasible and manufacturable textile solutions.
Work closely with manufacturing teams to ensure that fabric constructions meet both quality and production requirements.
Conduct research and experimentation on new textile materials, constructions, and processes to drive innovation and meet customer demands.
Monitor the performance and quality of fabric prototypes, offering technical guidance and adjustments as needed.
Assist in troubleshooting and resolving any technical issues that may arise during the development and / or manufacturing process.
Provide technical support to ensure that textile products meet required specifications and standards.
Stay current with industry trends and advancements in textile technology to apply best practices.
Ability to become Proficient in using Design Scope/EAT and other relevant design software.
Collaboration with PD Team: Work closely with the Product Development (PD) team to stay informed on the latest fabric innovations, construction techniques, and manufacturability aspects, ensuring alignment with company vision and goals.
Design Concept Translation: Translate technical fabric information into actionable design concepts that support the company's aesthetic vision and product development strategies.
Technical Support: Provide expertise on fabric development and technical guidance to cross-functional teams, ensuring all samples adhere to required technical construction standards.
Timely Execution: Use tools such as MDS1 / EAT to ensure design tasks are completed accurately and on time within defined project timelines.
Subject Matter Expertise: Serve as the support person for technical aspects of knit and woven fabrics, assisting design team with material choices and construction methods.
Problem-Solving & Innovation: Analyze technical challenges related to fabric design and production, developing solutions and suggesting new or improved techniques. Present findings and recommendations to team for review and implementation.
Serve as the main point of contact between technical and design teams, facilitating clear and concise communication.
Ensure mutual understanding of project requirements, timelines, and constraints, translating technical specifications into actionable design insights.
Provide updates and feedback to both teams to maintain alignment throughout the process.
Work closely with design, product development, and manufacturing teams to ensure that technical guidelines and design specifications are understood and met during sample creation.
Verify that all samples align with the established standards and requirements.
Provide technical expertise to assist in overcoming any design or manufacturing challenges.
Manage and document all changes to samples and ensure that modifications are communicated effectively to all relevant stakeholders.
Proactively notify the cross-functional teams of any updates or changes to ensure all teams are working with the most up-to-date information.
Fabric Innovation and Design Quality: Ensure that fabric innovations not only meet technical performance standards but also uphold high levels of design quality, seamlessly integrating aesthetics with functionality. Strive to innovate while ensuring the fabric aligns with both creative and technical requirements.
Thorough Product Assessments: Conduct detailed assessments throughout the production process to ensure that the final product is of the highest quality, adheres to technical specifications, and can be reliably replicated in future productions.
Review of Design Files for Sample Production: Evaluate all design files thoroughly before sample production to ensure they meet the established guidelines and technical requirements, identifying potential issues and recommending corrective actions before production begins.
Collaboration with Design Team: Support the design team in preparing machine files, including stitch types and color assignments for knitting processes. Ensure the files are accurate and comprehensive, facilitating smooth transition to sample production.
Sample Fabric Review and Adjustment: Review sample fabrics produced during the testing phase, making necessary adjustments to ensure consistency in quality and that the fabric meets the intended design, performance, and durability standards.
Continuous Knowledge and Skill Development: Stay current with emerging knit and production techniques, adopting new technologies, methodologies, and industry trends. Continuously enhance your skills to implement improved processes, ensuring that the fabric production remains at the cutting edge of innovation and efficiency.