Who are we?
Mustang Survival has been solving real problems for real heroes on the water, and delivering confidence for over 50 years. Headquartered in British Columbia, Canada, the Mustang Survival Waterlife Studio is a stone’s throw from the water’s edge. We are surrounded by fresh water, a big ocean, and all the weather the Pacific Northwest can throw at us. Our HQ houses a lab to test human physiology and material properties, a product creation shop to craft product concepts, a testing pool to evaluate new ideas (not to mention we are right beside the mighty Fraser River and Pacific Ocean for real-world testing), and a full manufacturing center to carefully craft our marine gear. We are a collective group of people so obsessed with every detail that we control every facet of the product experience and challenge the status quo of how marine gear is designed and built.
What are we looking for?
This position will work closely with Mustang Survival’s design and engineering teams to design, source, select, and coordinate the qualification of new textile materials from strategic global supply partners. The new textile materials will be applied to current and future Mustang Survival products.
Responsibilities
- Research, develop, specify, and approve textile materials while adhering to company procedures
- Collect and consider material development inputs from category managers, marketing, and the design team to understand the brand and product direction
- Participate in sustainable product designs through advanced material development
- Stay informed and provide consultation for issues related to existing materials and products
- Stay informed about advanced research projects related to new materials
- Create, maintain and share material road maps and material development project plans with key stake holders. Roadmaps include price and performance objectives
- Create and maintain relevant textile sample library and related documentation
- Act as a technical point of contact for all textile related inquires
- Discover, establish, develop, qualify, and maintain relationships with new textile suppliers
- Plan and execute material development projects that align with new product developments (seasonal and response) or other initiatives (e.g. contract, consolidation efforts)
Requirements
- Education – Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Engineering, Textile Science, or equivalent
- Experience – 5-7 years of proven materials development experience
- Experience with ASTM/ISO/JIS test standards and Bluesign/Oeko-Tex
- Extreme attention to detail, organized, ability to define and hit timelines
- Ability to test and evaluate materials to industry standard and Mustang Survival specific lab testing including assisting with management of any materials-specific end-use field-testing programs
- Ability to evaluate the capabilities and capacities of prospective business partners
- Proven ability to work in a collaborative team environment
- Excellent communication skills, enabling discussions with product management, design, development, engineering, purchasing and marketing functions
- Experience in material specification creation
- Strong computer skills including proficiency with MS Office
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills
- Ability to read, understand and interpret technical specifications, standards and drawings
- Understanding of deadlines, ability to manage project schedules and operate within specific deadlines and requirements is critical
- Ability to travel globally
Assets
- Applicable Social and Environmental Responsibility standards
- Experience with outdoor equipment and apparel development
- Familiar with textile manufacturing processes & concepts
- Contract negotiations
- Ability to adapt and work well in a continually changing environment
- Ability to speak additional languages, i.e. Mandarin