Senior Rainwear & Insulation Materials Architect (Remote)

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

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