Textile Development Professional - Apparel

Milliken & Company; Hilltop (SC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Milliken & Company is seeking a Textile Development Professional - Apparel to drive product development and new technology platforms for flame-resistant textiles. You will lead end-to-end woven textile projects, translate lab concepts to scalable specifications, and collaborates with manufacturing, sourcing, and product teams.

Expect 25-50% travel to mills and customer sites. You will mentor teams, advance development rigor, and ensure robust processes from concept to commercialization in a

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related field
• Applied understanding of fiber, yarn, weave, dye, finish processes and impact on textile properties
• 3+ years of experience in textile product development/manufacturing
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end woven textile product development from concept to commercialization
• Translate lab concepts into manufacturable specifications with scalable processes
• Plan and run manufacturing trials with data-driven decisions and lean iterations
• Analyze test data to guide product trade-offs and durability performance
• Collaborate across manufacturing, sourcing, and product teams to launch products
• Mentor the team in woven design, chemical formulations, and development rigor

Skills

Textile product development

Cross-functional leadership

Fabric science

Data-driven decision making

Education

BS in Engineering

Job description

Milliken & Company is a global manufacturing leaderwhose focus on materials science delivers tomorrow's breakthroughs today. Fromindustry-leading molecules to sustainable innovations, Milliken creates products thatenhance people's lives and deliver solutions for its customers and communities. Drawing on thousands of patents and a portfolio with applications across the textile, flooring, chemical and healthcare businesses, the company harnesses a shared sense of integrity and excellence to positively impact the world for generations. Discover more about Milliken's curious minds and inspired solutions at Milliken.com and on Facebook, Instagramand LinkedIn.

POSITION TITLE

Textile Development Professional - Apparel

POSITION OVERVIEW

The position will focus on product development and new technology platforms to expand the Apparel SBU. The position will report to the Director of Development and will support the overall growth initiatives of the business. The Development Engineer will work with the business and manufacturing partners to create and launch new products in our markets with specific emphasis on the flame resistant textile market. Required travel will be approximately 25-50% to the company's manufacturing facilities and customer locations.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Textile Acumen:

• Applied understanding of fiber, yarn, weave, dye, finish processes and impact on textile properties
• Design and optimize fabric constructions (fiber, yarn, weave, etc) to meet market performance requirements
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in textile formulation chemistry and finish development to achieve targeted performance outcomes

Product Development Process:

• Lead end to end development of woven textile products from concept through commercialization
• Translate lab concepts into manufacturable specifications, ensuring scalability and process robustness
• Plan and execute manufacturing trials with clear hypotheses, data-driven decisions, and reduced iteration cycles
• Analyze test data (TPP, thermal transfer, strength, shrinkage, durability) to drive product trade-offs and decisions with a data science mindset
• Collaborate cross-functionally with manufacturing, product line management, sourcing, and external partners to deliver successful launches
• Identify and mitigate technical and scale up risks early in the development process
• Serve as a technical leader and mentor, elevating team capability in woven design, chemical formulations, and development rigor
• Engage with suppliers and customers as needed, providing credible technical support and guidance

QUALIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• BS in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related field
• Applied understanding of fiber, yarn, weave, dye, finish processes and impact on textile properties
• 3+ years of experience in textile product development/manufacturing
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and cross-functional leadership skills

QUALIFICATIONS - PREFERRED

• MS in Engineering, Materials Science, Chemistry, or related field
• Deep understanding of inherent FR fibers and FR chemistry to meet applicable standards
• Apply knowledge of fire service standards and certification requirements to proactively design compliant products
• Proven track record of innovative commercialized products in FR, protective, or adjacent markets

Milliken is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, including but not limited to lactation), sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran or military status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To request a reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, a job interview, or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact [e-mail].