Job Summary

The mission of the Pennsylvania Fabric Discovery Center (PA FDC) housed within Drexel’s Center for Functional Fabrics (CFF) is to advance the design and manufacturing of integrated textile systems that will transform the way we work, live, and interact with the world. The PA FDC’s vision is to help lead innovation and fuel economic expansion in advanced manufacturing of functional fabrics across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and more generally across the entire country. The PA FDC is a transdisciplinary center where teams from academia and industry work together to address the grand challenges of advanced manufacturing, digital fabrication, modeling, design, and rapid prototyping. This in turn will lead to the pilot production of new products that will stimulate the creation of a new industry: textiles that see, hear, emit, and transmit.

Reporting to the Director, Pennsylvania Fabric Discovery Center (PA FDC) and the Center for Functional Fabrics (CFF), and part of the Innovation Team, the candidates for the Textile Fabrication Engineer role should be highly motivated with experience in textile fabrication, an understanding of computerized textile technologies, traditional and non-traditional textile materials, and additive manufacturing processes. This position works in transdisciplinary teams consisting of, but not limited to, industrial designers, material scientists, computer scientists, engineers, sociologists, and commercial partners for the development of the next generation of textiles with enhanced functionality. The duties for the Textile Fabrication Engineer depends on the skillset of the team member and can include design research, computerized textile machine programming, sample fabrication, proof of concept and prototype development, material testing, prototype validation, machine maintenance, participation in project meetings, writing progress updates and reports, and other related duties.

Essential Functions

• Work as part of the PA FDC Innovation Team to work on funded R&D projects as instructed by Innovation Team Manager and other leadership.
  • Work with team to identify requirements, research existing and emerging technologies, and ideate potential solutions.
  • Create and visualize ideas to produce designs by hand or using a computer-aided design system.
  • Contribute to rapid prototyping of textile components and systems including hands-on construction of prototypes.
  • Assist in developing project plans, presentations, reports, and other materials for communication to collaborators, funders, and external stakeholders.
  • Participate in internal and external meetings to support and drive research.
• Performs additional duties and assignments as requested.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Textile Engineering, Textile Design, Fashion Design, or other design- or engineering-related fields
• Five (5) years related professional experience or Equivalent.
• Specialized skills related to functional fabric prototype development (i.e., material testing and characterization; garment construction; sewing techniques; pattern making; computer-controlled knitting, weaving, embroidery).
• A flexible approach to new design and fabrication concepts.
• Ability to understand technical specifications for wearable technology and functional fabric design.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including the ability to facilitate meetings, contribute to written research reports and make effective presentations.
• Strong analytical skills, detail oriented, and a strong self-starter.
• Work effectively in a team environment.
• Professional, courteous, and tactful, especially while under pressure.
• Excellent time management skills with ability to establish clear priorities and manage multiple projects with strict deadlines in a high-volume setting.
• Demonstrated ability to listen to and communicate with a variety of stakeholders.
• Customer-focused and dedicated to providing optimum service.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Textile Engineering, Textile Design, Fashion Design, or other design- or engineering-related fields and three (3) – five (5) years related professional experience or equivalent combination of experience, education, and training.

Physical Demands

• Typically sitting at a desk/table

Location

University City

Additional Information

This position is classified as Exempt with a salary grade of M. For more information regarding Drexel’s Professional Staff salary structure, https://drexel.edu/hr/career/ducomp/salstructure/

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application.

Review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.