Apparel Test Engineer: Innovate & Validate Outdoor Gear

REI; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 74,000 - 119,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discount

Health benefits

Retirement savings plan

Paid time off

Job summary

REI is seeking a Test Engineer to ensure products perform as intended, delivering exceptional customer experiences. You will design test plans for apparel and softgoods, coordinate with external labs, and maintain lab equipment.

You will apply knowledge of materials, apparel construction, and data acquisition tools to develop new test methods and share best practices across teams. This role supports REI's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• 4-year degree in Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years in a similar position.
• Strong knowledge of testing practices, procedures and equipment.
• Product knowledge of apparel, tents, packs and sewn products.
• Materials knowledge and understanding of properties.
• Problem solving with data-driven decisions.
• Technical aptitude for professional testing assignments.
• Willingness to innovate and adapt.
• Effective communication of test data to stakeholders.
• Experience with testing/data acquisition software (ThermDAC, Instron, LabView).
• Experience operating fabrication shop equipment.

Responsibilities

• Determine appropriate testing for apparel and softgoods; design and execute test plans.
• Establish test requirements for performance of materials and sub-assemblies.
• Direct outside labs to ensure adherence to standards.
• Design and iterate sketches, drawings, specs, models and prototypes for new test methods.
• Organize, update, and share internal procedures and standard test methods.
• Maintain the lab, including equipment calibration and maintenance.
• Stay informed of latest developments by reading journals and attending meetings/shows.

Skills

Testing knowledge

Problem solving

Communication

Technical aptitude

Fostering innovation

Data interpretation

Education

4-year degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

LabView

Instron

ThermDAC

Job description

REI is seeking a Test Engineer to ensure products perform as intended, delivering exceptional customer experiences. You will design test plans for apparel and softgoods, coordinate with external labs, and maintain lab equipment.

You will apply knowledge of materials, apparel construction, and data acquisition tools to develop new test methods and share best practices across teams. This role supports REI's commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.