Materials Innovation Lead for Outdoor Gear

5.11 Costa Mesa (CA)

On-site

USD 100,000 - 115,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) match

PTO

Casual dress code

Employee discounts

Job summary

5.11 is seeking a seasoned Materials Manager to lead fabric and trim development across Apparel, Gear, Footwear, and Logowear. You will guide materials from concept through production hand-off, focusing on quality, consistency and performance.

You’ll collaborate with product, design, sourcing, and vendors to balance innovation with practicality, supervising a small team and managing material budgets while traveling as needed to support development.

Qualifications

5+ years in technical fabric or trim development.
Strong understanding of the end-to-end fabric lifecycle.
Familiarity with fabric testing standards and regulatory requirements.
Experience working with PLM systems and fabric documentation tools.
Ability to identify and resolve color discrepancies and construction issues.

Responsibilities

Lead fabric and trim development across Apparel, Gear, Footwear, and Logowear.
Partner with internal teams and mill vendors to balance performance, cost, and sourcing strategies.
Stay current on material innovations and work with vendors to introduce relevant technologies.
Ensure materials meet performance expectations through lab, garment, and wear testing.
Lead and mentor a small team of material developers.