Senior Manager, Knit Machine Programming & Sampling

Darn Tough Vermont / Cabot Hosiery Mills; Waterbury (VT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Cabot Hosiery Mills in Vermont is seeking a Product Development Programmer Manager to lead our Programming & Sampling team and serve as the technical authority for knit machine programming and sample production.

You will partner with Product Development and Design, drive new concept development including chassis innovation, stitch construction, patterning, and materials testing, and oversee day-to-day operations, staffing, scheduling, and performance.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required; technical degree or equivalent training preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in machine programming and knit quality.
• Prior management or team lead experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of circular knit machine programming and manufacturing processes.
• Exceptional communication skills—written and verbal, cross-functional.

Responsibilities

• Work with Product Design and Development to support new designs; identify constraints to keep design intent.
• Lead the team in translating new design concepts from CAD into patterns and programs.
• Support structured experiments while tracking iterations and changes to dial in concepts.
• Oversee all SMU (Special Make-Up) requests.
• Provide feedback to Product Development on machine capabilities and restrictions.
• Support Master Technicians in troubleshooting technical issues.
• Partner with Production, Quality Control, and Continuous Improvement to transition development to production.
• Audit specs, BOMs, and programs prior to production.
• Maintain current spec documentation; ensure running changes are documented.
• Provide progress updates via internal reports.
• Ensure the team has resources — staffing, equipment, and safety.
• Manage day-to-day team operations; delegate tasks to meet targets.
• Conduct performance reviews; address issues promptly.
• Make decisions aligned with company values and goals.
• Follow safety regulations and SOPs; treat coworkers with respect and honesty.
• Perform other job-related responsibilities as assigned.

Skills

Circular knit programming

Strong communication

Leadership/people mgmt

Work under pressure

Cross-functional collaboration

Values-driven culture

Analytical mindset

BOM knowledge

Attention to detail

Education

High School Diploma or GED; technical degree preferred

10+ years machine programming & knit quality

Prior management experience preferred

Job description

Cabot Hosiery Mills in Vermont is seeking a Product Development Programmer Manager to lead our Programming & Sampling team and serve as the technical authority for knit machine programming and sample production.

You will partner with Product Development and Design, drive new concept development including chassis innovation, stitch construction, patterning, and materials testing, and oversee day-to-day operations, staffing, scheduling, and performance.