Principal Material Engineer, Rainwear

Carhartt, Inc.; Dearborn (MI); Remote; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Carhartt, Inc. is seeking a Principal Material Engineer- Rainwear & Insulation at our Dearborn, MI location with a remote work option.

You will lead long-term material strategy, drive TRLs and commercialization pathways, and partner across functions to turn materials science into consumer-ready solutions for rainwear, insulation, and related products. You will guide cross-functional teams, develop roadmaps, and build strategic supplier relationships while advancing proprietary platforms and

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years leading advanced material development and engineering.
• Experience bridging technical product creation and commercial strategy preferred.
• Deep expertise in polymers, fibers, textiles, chemistry, coatings, membranes, and material commercialization.
• Ability to travel to key partners and facilities.
• Experience translating technologies into commercial platforms.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and executive communication skills.
• Knowledge of testing metrics and performance standards.
• Full spectrum supply chain experience from polymer/fiber to finished garment.
• Demonstrated leadership in development with a focus on innovation and quality.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own Carhartt's long-term material engineering strategy for rainwear, laminates, composites, membranes, polymers, insulation and related chemistry.
• Create multi-year technology and material roadmaps aligned to business objectives.
• Develop technical and commercial business cases for new material technologies, including performance, cost, scalability, manufacturability, and supply-chain considerations.
• Partner with key industry leaders on technology, testing, and manufacturing.
• Lead exploration in advanced fibers, yarns, polymers, coatings, membranes, insulation, and emerging manufacturing technologies in rainwear and insulation systems.
• Establish Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), stage-gate processes, and commercialization pathways for new rainwear and insulation platforms.
• Serve as the company's technical rainwear expert on polymers, textiles, coatings, chemistry, material performance, and construction applications.
• Lead material characterization, testing methodology development, validation, and failure analysis.
• Partner with Merchandising, Design, Product Development, Materials, Color, Sourcing, Quality, and Compliance on all relevant developments for assigned categories.
• Lead technical collaboration with global mills, fiber producers, chemical suppliers, and strategic development partners.
• Develop and implement testing methodologies in key focus areas to characterize product performance, identify failure modes, and validate performance claims.
• Drive intellectual property generation including patents, proprietary material platforms, and exclusive supplier technologies.

Skills

Polymers

Fibers

Textiles

Coatings

Membranes

Material commercialization

Cross-functional leadership

Executive communication

Technical strategy

Testing methods

Education

BS in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Textile Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or related technical discipline

MBA or Doctorate preferred

Job description

Title: Principal Material Engineer- Rainwear & Insulation

Department: Material Creation

Reports to: Director, Global Material Creation

Location: Dearborn, MI

Job Classification: Remote

Job Summary

The Principal Rainwear and Insulation Engineer serves as Carhartt’s senior technical authority for rainwear and insulation materials, leading material architecture, performance requirements, testing standards, and commercialization pathways. This role develops the long-term material pipeline by identifying, validating, and scaling advanced technologies, polymers, chemistries, and manufacturing solutions that improve durability, comfort, elemental protection, manufacturability, and consumer performance across outdoor, workwear, and FR/PPE products. Working across materials, product development, sourcing, and compliance, the principal turns emerging material science into commercial solutions while building strategic supplier partnerships and future technology platforms.

Associate Responsibilities

• Develop and own Carhartt's long-term material engineering strategy for rainwear, laminates, composites, membranes, polymers, insulation and related chemistry.
• Create multi-year technology and material roadmaps aligned to business objectives.
• Develop technical and commercial business cases for new material technologies, including performance, cost, scalability, manufacturability, and supply-chain considerations.
• Partner with key industry leaderson technology, testing, and manufacturing.
• Lead exploration inadvancedfibers, yarns, polymers, coatings, membranes, insulation, and emerging manufacturing technologies in rainwear and insulation systems.
• Establish Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), stage-gate processes, and commercialization pathways for new rainwear and insulation platforms.
• Serve as the company's technical rainwear expert on polymers, textiles, coatings, chemistry, material performance, and construction applications.
• Lead material characterization, testing methodology development, validation, and failure analysis.
• Partner with Merchandising, Design, Product Development, Materials, Color, Sourcing, Quality, and Complianceon all relevant developments for assigned categories.
• Lead technical collaboration with global mills, fiber producers, chemical suppliers, and strategic development partners.
• Develop and implement testing methodologies in key focus areas to characterize product performance, identify failure modes, and validate performance claims.
• Drive intellectual property generation including patents, proprietary material platforms, and exclusive supplier technologies.

Required Education

• BS in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Textile Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or related technical discipline.
  • MBA or Doctorate preferred

Required Skills & Experience

• A minimum of 10 years leading advanced material development and engineering.
• Demonstrated experience bridging technical product creation and commercial strategy preferred.
• Deep expertise in polymers, fibers, textiles, chemistry, coatings, membranes, and material commercialization.
• Ability to travel to key partners and facilities
• Experience translating technologies into commercial platforms.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and executive communication skills.
• Knowledge of testing metrics and performance standards
• Full spectrum supply chain experience from polymer/fiber to finished garment
• Demonstrated leadership in development with a focus on innovation and quality.

• Strong strategic and analytical skills and aptitude.
• Demonstrated ability to build and foster business relationships with cross functional teams, and internal and external partners.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; and exceptional listener and communicator who effectively conveys information verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and negotiate.
• Excellent organizational skills with demonstrated ability to prioritize workload, delegate work, and concurrently manage multiple projects.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Typical office environment cubicle/ office setting. Extended periods of time sitting, standing, typing on a computer are required.
• Willing to work some weekends if necessary.
• Travel: Up to 50% travel domestically and/or internationally.
• This position has a Remote location: Associate will have no regular requirement to be on-site. Travel on-site is limited to special events.
• Carhartt is a tobacco free workplace.