Textile Design Engineer

Position Summary: The Textile Design Engineer is a unique position serving as the subject matter expert (SME) at the intersection of technical expertise and conceptual creativity within fashion-forward designs. The Textile Design Engineer will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between technical engineering and design, collaborating closely with the knit manufacturing team to find innovative solutions and gaining a deep understanding to meet both internal and external customer needs.

Position Responsibilities:

Innovation Integration and Fabric Development:

• Collaborate closely with the research and development team to understand and stay updated on the latest fabric innovations, construction techniques, and manufacturability aspects.

• Translate technical information into design-related concepts that align with the company's vision and aesthetic.

• Provide technical expertise and support on fabric development for cross functional teams, ensuring all samples meet specified technical construction requirements.

• Utilize Design Scope/EAT to ensure accurate completion of design tasks within specified timelines.

• Serve as the subject matter expert for all technical aspects related to knit and woven technical designs.

Design Creativity and Circular Knit and Woven Design Packages:

• Bring a fresh and innovative perspective to the design process, ensuring creativity is infused into every stage of product development.

• Work closely with the design team to incorporate cutting-edge fabric concepts into visually appealing and marketable designs.

• Provide technical support and translate technical concepts into documentable solutions related to circular knit design packages.

• Analyze technical problems, devise new or improved techniques, and communicate solutions to the supervisor for approval and implementation.

Communication and Collaboration:

• Act as a technical bridge for design team ensuring effective communication and understanding.

• Collaborate with the design, product development, and manufacturing teams to align technical guidelines, ensuring all samples meet set specifications.

• Manage and communicate all sample changes to cross-functional teams in a timely manner.

• Collaborate with the knit manufacturing team to find innovative solutions and gain a comprehensive understanding to meet internal and external customer needs.

Innovation Initiatives and Design Execution:

• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance innovation within the product development process.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to streamline development workflows and maximize efficiency in translating innovative ideas into tangible products.

• Support concept execution for various knit and woven constructions, utilizing a library of pre-existing fabrics and constructions, recommending solutions, and curating new fabrics to meet global platform strategies.

Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement:

• Ensure that fabric innovation is not only technically robust but also meets high standards of design quality.

• Conduct thorough assessments to guarantee that the final product reflects both technical excellence and creative innovation.

• Review all design files for sample production to ensure they meet guidelines.

• Assist design team to prepare machine files, including stitch and color assignments for knitting, and review sample fabrics, making necessary adjustments.

• Keep up to date with knit and production techniques, adopting new skills to implement new technology and optimal processes.

Role Qualifications/Essential Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in design, Textile Engineering, or a related field preferred.

• Proven experience in a technical capacity, circular knit and woven design, and manufacturing processes.

• Proficient 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.

Reporting to This Position: N/A

Physical demands and Work Environment: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift up to 15 lbs. and push/pull up to 15-foot lbs. with the use of equipment. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

• Work environment: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time.

• Audio Testing: N/A

• PPE: As needed by each location.

• Driver's License Required: Yes