R&D Pattern Maker- Trainee

Ashley Furniture Industries; Ecru (MS); On-site; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, Dental, Vision, and Employee Assistance Program

Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Your Birthday off

Generous Employee Discount on home furnishings

Professional Development Opportunities

Wellness Centers and Medical Tourism

401(k) and Profit Sharing

Life Insurance

Job summary

A leading furniture manufacturer in Mississippi is seeking a detail-driven trainee for its Research & Development team. This role focuses on developing and refining upholstery patterns, perfect for hands-on individuals aiming for a technical position. Collaborating across departments, the trainee will optimize patterns based on feedback and support prototype creation. Competitive benefits and a conducive environment for learning and innovation are offered, making this an ideal starting point for a career in upholstery design.

Qualifications

• Basic computer skills for tracking patterns and documentation.
• Knowledge of upholstery or sewing is preferred for this role.
• Willingness to learn R&D processes and pattern development.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain accurate patterns for upholstery products.
• Collaborate with various teams on product design and prototyping.
• Support prototype adjustments based on feedback.

Skills

Basic computer skills

General upholstery or sewing knowledge

Strong willingness to learn

Innovative mindset

High attention to detail

Positive attitude

Comfort working in a fast-paced environment

Education

Industrial Design

Furniture Design

Textile Technology

Patternmaking Certification

Upholstery/Furniture Manufacturing Training

Tools

Optitex

AutoCAD

SolidWorks

Microsoft Office

Adobe Illustrator

Job description

Join the Industry Leader in Upholstered Furniture Design

We’re seeking a detail‑driven trainee to support our Research & Development team in creating, testing, and refining upholstery patterns and prototypes. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys hands‑on problem‑solving and wants to grow into a technical pattern‑making position.

What You'll Do

• Develop and maintain accurate digital and manual patterns for various upholstery products.
• Collaborate with R&D, Engineering, Cutting, and Upholstery teams.
• Support prototype builds and adjust patterns based on fit and upholstery feedback.
• Prepare complete pattern packages for production facilities.
• Support SKU onboarding and floor-level production trials.
• Improve material yield through optimized nesting.
• Create technical documentation such as seam allowances and sewing guides.
• Assist with root-cause analysis on upholstery issues.

Key Qualifications

• Basic computer skills for pattern making and digital tracking
• General upholstery or sewing knowledge (preferred, not required)
• Strong willingness to learn R&D processes, pattern development, and prototyping
• Innovative mindset with the ability to troubleshoot and adapt during product development
• High attention to detail when measuring, cutting, and assembling test patterns
• Positive attitude and ability to collaborate with designers, engineers, and production teams
• Comfort working in a fast‑paced environment with evolving project needs

Preferred Experience

• Experience in cutting, sewing, upholstery, engineering, or QA
• High-volume manufacturing experience

Education

Preferred backgrounds include Industrial Design, Furniture Design, Textile Technology, Patternmaking Certification, or Upholstery/Furniture Manufacturing Training. Equivalent experience is also considered.

Tools & Software Proficiency- Preferred, Not Required

• Optitex
• AutoCAD or SolidWorks
• Microsoft Office and Teams
• Adobe Illustrator

Who We Are

At Ashley, we’re more than a business; we’re family. As the largest manufacturer of home furnishings in the world, we know what it takes to build incredible furniture and future leaders. We’re problem solvers with the grit to persevere during challenging times and innovators who won't coast when times are good. We create solutions, not excuses. And never settle for the status quo. It’s the reason we’re always searching for better ways to deliver an exceptional customer experience. That's why Ashley Furniture is #1 in our industry.

Ready to grow? You’ve come to the right place. Ashley Furniture has a "Growth Mindset", and once you join our team, you’ll learn from the best in the business.

Apply today and find your home at Ashley!

Benefits We Offer

• Health, Dental, Vision, and Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Your Birthday off
• Generous Employee Discount on home furnishings
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Ashley Wellness Centers (location specific) and Medical Tourism
• 401(k) and Profit Sharing
• Life Insurance

Our Core Values

Honesty & Integrity

• Without hesitation, he uses candor and is direct in communication
• Is tough-minded in working in and meeting the demands of reality
• Always tells the truth and follows through on commitments
• Enjoys working hard and pursues work with energy, drive, and willpower to finish
• Is disciplined in developing consistency into work processes
• Is focused and relentless in achieving goals

Continuous Improvement/Operational Excellence

• Fights to take costs and waste out of the system
• Seeks to understand "why" something works the way it does, and through study and improvement determines how to better all processes and systems.
• Strives for more in all areas of work by developing measurements, setting goals, and then working on ways to exceed goals through problem‑solving methods that look beyond the obvious

Dirty Fingernail

• Does not rely on reports to run the business, but rather goes to the work that is being done and sees if the work is being done right for him/herself.
• Has an insatiable curiosity and takes a "Go and See" approach to understand the current state of the business and the competitive realities
• Takes a hands‑on approach to tackle problems and demonstrates critical thinking through use of effective questioning…asking the 5 "Whys"

Growth Focused

• Understands the customer’s needs and wants, then challenges current ways of doing business that inhibits growth and organizes work to meet those needs
• Is competitive by studying the competition and is aggressive in looking for ways to beat them
• Strives to be the BEST by improving the quality of processes, reducing costs, doing more business, being profitable, and growing the business

To learn more about Ashley Furniture, our community engagement programs, environmental stewardship, and our core values, please visit our Corporate Social Responsibility information page:

Corporate Social Responsibility

We are an equal opportunity employer and provide a drug‑free working environment. While Ashley appreciates the interest of all candidates, only those meeting specific position requirements may be contacted. Principals Only.