Textile Engineer

Who We Are

We are a venture-backed manufacturing startup building the most advanced automated production facilities in the United States. We are on a mission to make American manufacturing economically viable — through intelligent machinery, automation, and a relentless focus on execution. We are early, we are moving fast, and we are looking for exceptional people who want to build something that matters.

Role Title: Textile Engineer – Fiber & Fabric Development (Entry-Level)

Location: Leander, TX; Austin, TX, On-site

Shift: 1st shift, Full-time

Role Summary

We are seeking a motivated Textile Engineer to join our Product Development team. In this entry-level role, you will support the full lifecycle of fiber and fabric innovation with a primary focus on 100% cotton, cotton blends, technical yarns, yarn spinning, woven fabrics, and knitted fabrics. You will contribute to the development of high-performance, sustainable textile products while gaining hands-on experience in a fast-paced manufacturing and laboratory environment. This is an excellent opportunity for a driven early-career professional to build a career in textile engineering.

Responsibilities

· Support fiber development initiatives, including the evaluation, testing, and optimization of 100% cotton fibers and cotton-blend formulations for improved strength, softness, durability, and functionality.

· Assist in the creation and refinement of technical yarns, including specialty yarns for performance applications.

· Conduct yarn spinning trials and process optimization on ring, open-end, and air-jet spinning systems to enhance yarn quality, uniformity, and production efficiency.

· Design, prototype, and develop woven and knitted fabrics using industry-standard equipment and software; iterate on constructions to meet target specifications for weight, hand-feel, stretch, breathability, and performance.

· Perform comprehensive laboratory testing (e.g., tensile strength, abrasion, pilling, dimensional stability, colorfastness, etc.) and analyze data to validate product performance.

· Collaborate with cross-functional teams (production, sourcing, quality assurance, marketing, and suppliers) to scale new developments from lab to commercial production.

· Document all development work, maintain accurate records of trials and results, and prepare technical reports and presentations.

· Troubleshoot production issues related to fiber, yarn, or fabric performance and recommend corrective actions.

· Stay current with emerging trends in sustainable cotton processing, technical textiles, and digital textile design tools.

· Support Master Data and Product Development milestones through proper data tagging and classification of fiber, yarn, and fabric specifications within EIS/PLM systems, ensuring accurate style setup, traceability from raw material to finished good, and a clean handoff from development to production and sourcing teams.

· Coordinate fiber, yarn, and fabric sample submissions, track approvals against target specs, and manage revisions through the testing/sample-to-bulk process.

· Support compliance testing and documentation for applicable regulatory and retailer requirements.

· Create and maintain detailed technical specifications and tech packs for fiber, yarn, and fabric construction to support the Product & Sales team through development, sourcing, and production.

· Collaborate with customers throughout the product development process to translate their specifications into actionable process requirements, communicating clear guidance to production and quality teams to ensure accurate execution.

Basic Skills & Qualifications

· 0–2 years of relevant experience (internships, co-ops, or capstone projects in textiles strongly preferred). Recent graduates with strong academic or project-based experience in cotton textiles, yarn spinning, or fabric development will be considered.

· Bachelor’s degree in Textile Engineering, Textile Technology, Fiber Science, or a closely related engineering discipline (graduation within the last 2 years preferred).

· Strong academic foundation and/or project experience in fiber science, yarn spinning technology, weaving, and knitting processes.

· Working knowledge of cotton fiber properties, blending techniques, and their impact on final fabric performance.

· Familiarity with textile testing standards (ASTM, AATCC, ISO) and basic laboratory equipment operation.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and basic textile CAD/CAM or design software.

· Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret technical data.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to present findings clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.

· Hands-on mindset and willingness to work in both laboratory and manufacturing floor environments.

Preferred Skills & Experience

· Internship or co-op experience in a textile mill, yarn spinning facility, or fabric development lab.

· Knowledge of sustainable textile practices, including organic/recycled cotton, low-water processing, or circular economy principles.

· Experience with technical yarns (e.g., core-spun, flame-retardant, or functional yarns) and performance fabric applications.

· Familiarity with statistical process control (SPC) and design of experiments (DOE) methodologies.

· Proficiency in advanced textile design software or data analysis tools (e.g., Minitab, Python for data analysis).

· Any relevant certifications (e.g., Certified Textile Technologist or similar) or participation in textile industry student competitions.