Principal Material Engineer, Rainwear

Role details

Inspired by Hard Work

At Carhartt, the values of hard work—dependability, honesty, and trust—are rooted in the legacy of our founder, Hamilton Carhartt. His commitment to serving hardworking people continues to inspire everything we do. Guided by his legacy and our mission— *We serve and protect all hardworking people by building durable products* —we remain dedicated to upholding these principles in every decision we make and every product we create.

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 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.

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.

This position offers a comprehensive suite of medical, dental, and vision insurance for associates and their dependents. In addition to healthcare coverage, Carhartt provides short-term and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, an employee assistance program, and a 401(k) plan with employer matching contributions. Employees can also benefit from paid time off and designated paid holidays.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

All associates are required to understand and act in accordance with the Carhartt Core Values. Carhartt reserves the right to change, modify, suspend, interpret or cancel in whole or in any part, the job duties outlined above at any time and without advance notice to the employee.