Textile Research Engineer | Fabric Innovation Specialist

Employment Type: Full-Time

Level: Mid-Level to Senior

We are seeking an innovative, analytical, and technically proficient Textile Research Engineer | Fabric Innovation Specialist to lead textile research, fabric development, material testing, and performance optimization initiatives. This role combines textile engineering, fiber science, fabric innovation, laboratory testing, sustainable material development, and manufacturing process improvement to create high-performance textile solutions that meet evolving industry requirements, customer expectations, and product quality standards.

• Conduct research and development activities focused on textile fibers, yarns, fabrics, finishes, and advanced textile materials.
• Develop innovative fabric solutions for apparel, home textiles, industrial applications, technical textiles, and other relevant product categories.
• Evaluate natural fibers, synthetic fibers, blended materials, recycled textiles, and emerging bio-based alternatives.
• Investigate the relationships between fiber composition, yarn structure, fabric construction, finishing processes, and material performance.
• Design and conduct laboratory experiments to assess fabric strength, elasticity, durability, dimensional stability, and functional properties.
• Perform or coordinate textile testing for tensile strength, tear resistance, abrasion resistance, pilling, shrinkage, and colorfastness.
• Evaluate specialized fabric characteristics, including moisture management, breathability, thermal insulation, water resistance, and antimicrobial performance where applicable.
• Analyze test results and prepare technical reports, research summaries, and material performance evaluations.
• Identify opportunities to improve fabric quality, functionality, manufacturing efficiency, and product consistency.
• Collaborate with product development, garment engineering, sourcing, manufacturing, and quality assurance teams.
• Research advanced textile technologies, including smart textiles, technical fabrics, nanotechnology-based finishes, and functional material systems.
• Develop and validate new textile formulations, fiber blends, fabric structures, and finishing treatments.
• Evaluate dyeing, printing, coating, lamination, and finishing techniques to achieve targeted material properties.
• Coordinate prototype fabric production, sample preparation, laboratory trials, and pilot-scale testing.
• Establish testing protocols, experimental procedures, and evaluation criteria for new textile materials.
• Investigate fabric defects, performance failures, inconsistent coloration, dimensional changes, and other material-related quality issues.
• Conduct root-cause analysis and recommend corrective actions to improve textile performance and production reliability.
• Work with suppliers and mills to evaluate raw materials, technical specifications, production capabilities, and quality documentation.
• Support the qualification and approval of new fabrics, yarns, fibers, dyes, and chemical finishing agents.
• Evaluate alternative materials to improve product cost, availability, durability, and environmental performance.
• Investigate sustainable textile solutions, including recycled fibers, biodegradable materials, low-impact dyeing, and water-efficient processing.
• Assess textile manufacturing processes to identify opportunities for energy savings, waste reduction, and improved resource utilization.
• Ensure research activities and material development processes follow relevant laboratory safety procedures and applicable industry standards.
• Coordinate with external laboratories, research institutions, universities, and technology partners on collaborative research projects.
• Maintain accurate records of experiments, material specifications, test results, prototypes, and research findings.
• Prepare technical presentations, development proposals, product specifications, and recommendations for internal stakeholders.
• Monitor emerging textile regulations, performance standards, material technologies, and industry research developments.
• Support the development of intellectual property documentation and technical disclosures for eligible material innovations.
• Provide technical guidance to junior researchers, laboratory technicians, and product development personnel.
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives involving textile testing methods, research workflows, and material validation procedures.

• Bachelor's…