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Flexible Materials Jobs (NOW HIRING)

American Flexible Produ

Estimating Engineer

Chaska, MN · On-site

$75K - $95K/yr

American Flexible Products (AFP) is a state-of-the-art manufacturing company specializing in the custom conversion of foam, sponge, rubber, EMI/RFI shielding materials, and a wide range of flexible ...

American Flexible Produ

Machine Operator

Chaska, MN · On-site

$20 - $24/hr

American Flexible Products (AFP) is a state-of-the-art manufacturing company specializing in the custom conversion of foam, sponge, rubber, EMI/RFI shielding materials, and a wide range of flexible ...

American Flexible Produ

Machine Operator

Chaska, MN · On-site

$20 - $24/hr

American Flexible Products (AFP) is a state-of-the-art manufacturing company specializing in the custom conversion of foam, sponge, rubber, EMI/RFI shielding materials, and a wide range of flexible ...

American Flexible Produ

Staff Accountant

Chaska, MN · On-site

$55K - $75K/yr

American Flexible Products (AFP) is a state-of-the-art manufacturing company specializing in the custom conversion of foam, sponge, rubber, EMI/RFI shielding materials, and a wide range of flexible ...

American Flexible Produ

Staff Accountant

Chaska, MN · On-site

$55K - $75K/yr

American Flexible Products (AFP) is a state-of-the-art manufacturing company specializing in the custom conversion of foam, sponge, rubber, EMI/RFI shielding materials, and a wide range of flexible ...

ProAmpac

Lamination Operator (2nd Shift)

Cary, IL · On-site

$25 - $28.50/hr

Monday - Friday / 2pm - midnight (10hrs) QUALIFICATIONS * 3-5 years demonstrated experience running lamination equipment using flexible materials. * Ability to work with all levels of employees.

PPC Flexible Packaging

Materials Handler

Kansas City, KS · On-site

$16.25 - $19.50/hr

... flexible packaging materials on time in accordance with specific work instructions and applicable safety and quality assurance procedures. In the event of absence, these job responsibilities will be ...

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Flexible Materials information

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How much do flexible materials jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average hourly pay for flexible materials in the United States is $22.20, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.75 and $25.24 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are flexible materials?

Flexible materials are materials that can bend, stretch, or deform without breaking and then return to their original shape. They are commonly used in industries such as textiles, packaging, electronics, and construction due to their versatility and durability. Examples include fabrics, rubber, flexible plastics, and certain types of metals and composites. Flexible materials are valued for their ability to conform to different shapes and their resilience under mechanical stress.

What is the difference between Flexible Materials vs Flexible Materials Technician?

AspectFlexible MaterialsFlexible Materials Technician
CredentialsMay require certifications in materials science or manufacturingTypically needs certifications in materials handling, safety, and equipment operation
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, manufacturing plants, or design studiosProduction floors, testing labs, or assembly lines
Industry UsageUsed broadly in product design, manufacturing, and R&DFocuses on testing, maintaining, and operating equipment related to flexible materials

Flexible Materials refers to the actual substances used in various industries, while a Flexible Materials Technician specializes in handling, testing, and maintaining equipment related to these materials. The technician role involves practical application and operational tasks, whereas flexible materials themselves are the raw or finished products used across multiple sectors.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in Flexible Materials roles, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in Flexible Materials often encounter challenges such as rapidly evolving material technologies, stringent quality standards, and the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration. Staying updated on the latest advancements and regulatory requirements is essential, as is developing strong communication skills to work effectively with engineers, designers, and production teams. Addressing these challenges involves continuous learning, leveraging industry networks, and utilizing project management tools to streamline coordination and ensure material innovations meet both functional and compliance demands.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Flexible Materials Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Flexible Materials Engineer, you need a solid background in materials science, polymer chemistry, and engineering principles, usually supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with simulation software, laboratory testing equipment, and quality management systems is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills help individuals excel in developing innovative material solutions. These skills are crucial for ensuring product performance, safety, and the successful implementation of flexible materials in diverse industries.
What cities are hiring for Flexible Materials jobs? Cities with the most Flexible Materials job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Materials jobs? The most popular types of Materials jobs are:
What states have the most Flexible Materials jobs? States with the most job openings for Flexible Materials jobs include:
Flexible Materials jobs near you
Mechanical Engineer, Soft Goods Design

Mechanical Engineer, Soft Goods Design

OpenAI

San Francisco, CA • On-site

$266K - $295K/yr

Full-time

Posted 13 days ago

Job description

About the Team
Our Robotics team is focused on unlocking general-purpose robotics and pushing towards AGI-level intelligence in dynamic, real-world settings. Working across the entire model stack, we integrate cutting-edge hardware and software to explore a broad range of robotic form factors. We strive to seamlessly blend high-level AI capabilities with the constraints of physical systems to improve peoples' lives.
About the Role
We are seeking a Mechanical Engineer to lead the engineering, characterization, and productionization of flexible and compliant components in robotic platforms.
You will partner closely with cross-functional teams to translate material concepts into engineered subsystems that meet functional, durability, and manufacturing requirements. This role focuses on understanding how soft materials behave in dynamic mechanical systems - including fatigue, creep, hysteresis, wear, and environmental degradation - and designing assemblies that perform consistently at scale.
You will work with materials such as elastomers, foams, thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs), engineered fabrics, knitted and woven textiles, cables, and other flexible load-bearing or transmission elements, integrating them with rigid hardware, sensors, and actuators using fabrication methods such as bonding, molding, lamination, and sewn assemblies.
This role is based in San Francisco, CA, and requires in-person presence 4 days a week.
In this role, you will
  • Design and integrate compliant or flexible materials into mechanical subsystems and rigid hardware interfaces.
  • Leverage FEA tools to characterize material behavior under operational loads, including tension, compression, abrasion, fatigue, and environmental exposure.
  • Develop test methods and validation protocols to evaluate durability, performance, and failure modes of soft components.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to transition early prototypes into manufacturable designs.
  • Source and evaluate materials in collaboration with supply chain partners and specialty fabricators.
  • Work with contract manufacturers on fabrication methods such as bonding, lamination, molding, overmolding, cut-and-sew, and composite layups.
  • Analyze system-level tradeoffs between compliance, durability, manufacturability, and integration constraints.
  • Document material specifications, test data, and mechanical performance to support design iteration and production readiness.
  • Investigate field failures and iterate designs based on observed wear patterns and performance degradation.

You might thrive in this role if you
  • Understand mechanical tradeoffs in elastomers, foams, textiles, and flexible composites.
  • Enjoy working across the full lifecycle from early prototyping through production.
  • Can develop test fixtures or experiments to characterize material or assembly behavior.
  • Are comfortable collaborating with both design and manufacturing partners.
  • Are detail-oriented and rigorous about documentation and repeatability.

Preferred qualifications
  • Degree in mechanical engineering or equivalent.
  • Experience with A-surface and cosmetic component development
  • Experience integrating soft or compliant components into robotic, wearable, medical, automotive, or industrial hardware systems.
  • Familiarity with environmental or durability testing (abrasion, ingress, cyclic loading, UV, temperature).
  • Experience working with contract manufacturers or specialty fabricators.
  • Familiarity with material characterization methods for flexible materials.
  • Experience transitioning flexible-material prototypes into production designs.

About OpenAI
OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. We push the boundaries of the capabilities of AI systems and seek to safely deploy them to the world through our products. AI is an extremely powerful tool that must be created with safety and human needs at its core, and to achieve our mission, we must encompass and value the many different perspectives, voices, and experiences that form the full spectrum of humanity.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or other applicable legally protected characteristic.
For additional information, please see OpenAI's Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity Policy Statement.
Background checks for applicants will be administered in accordance with applicable law, and qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment consistent with those laws, including the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, for US-based candidates. For unincorporated Los Angeles County workers: we reasonably believe that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship with the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment: protect computer hardware entrusted to you from theft, loss or damage; return all computer hardware in your possession (including the data contained therein) upon termination of employment or end of assignment; and maintain the confidentiality of proprietary, confidential, and non-public information. In addition, job duties require access to secure and protected information technology systems and related data security obligations.
To notify OpenAI that you believe this job posting is non-compliant, please submit a report through this form. No response will be provided to inquiries unrelated to job posting compliance.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made via this link.
OpenAI Global Applicant Privacy Policy
At OpenAI, we believe artificial intelligence has the potential to help people solve immense global challenges, and we want the upside of AI to be widely shared. Join us in shaping the future of technology.

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