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Material Developer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Brooks Running

Material Developer, Apparel

Seattle, WA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As the Materials Developer at Brooks, you play an integral part in the seasonal material development process, utilizing product and process knowledge. You will work with a cross-functional product ...

Brooks Running

Material Developer, Apparel

Seattle, WA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

As the Materials Developer at Brooks, you play an integral part in the seasonal material development process, utilizing product and process knowledge. You will work with a cross-functional product ...

Silgancontainers

Material Applications Engineer

Riverbank, CA · On-site

$82K - $115K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Material Applications Engineer, Manufacturing Silgan Containers - Riverbank, California Materials Engineering | Manufacturing | Quality Engineering | Multi-Site Operations Silgan Containers is ...

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Material Developer information

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How much do material developer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for material developer 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 the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a material developer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Material Developer, you need a solid background in materials science, chemistry, or engineering, typically with a bachelor's or master's degree in a related field. Familiarity with laboratory testing equipment, material analysis software, and industry standards such as ASTM or ISO is usually required. Strong problem-solving abilities, creativity, and effective communication help in collaborating with cross-functional teams and innovating new materials. These skills ensure the development of high-quality, cost-effective materials that meet product requirements and industry regulations.

What are some common challenges material developers face when working with new materials or technologies?

Material Developers often encounter challenges such as ensuring compatibility between new materials and existing manufacturing processes, meeting stringent industry regulations, and balancing cost-effectiveness with performance requirements. Collaboration with engineers, designers, and suppliers is essential to overcome these hurdles, as is staying up to date with rapidly evolving material science innovations. Successfully navigating these challenges not only improves product quality but also fosters professional growth and innovation in the field.

What is the difference between Material Developer vs Material Scientist?

AspectMaterial DeveloperMaterial Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Materials Science, Engineering, or related fieldsBachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Materials Science, Chemistry, or Physics
Work EnvironmentProduct development labs, manufacturing settings, R&D teamsResearch labs, academic institutions, industrial research facilities
Employer & Industry UsageManufacturers, product companies, R&D firmsUniversities, research institutes, industrial research divisions
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Material Developers focus on creating and testing new materials for specific products, often working closely with engineering teams. Material Scientists conduct fundamental research to understand material properties and develop new materials at a scientific level. While both roles require knowledge of materials, Material Developers are more application-oriented, whereas Material Scientists are research-oriented.

What is a material developer?

Material Developers are professionals who research, design, and create new materials or improve existing ones for various applications, such as in manufacturing, construction, electronics, or textiles. They combine principles from chemistry, physics, and engineering to develop materials with specific properties, like strength, flexibility, or heat resistance. Material Developers often work closely with engineers and product designers to ensure that the materials meet the required standards and performance criteria for their intended use.
More about Material Developer jobs

What job categories do people searching Material Developer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Material Developer jobs are:

Material Developer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Material Developer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, and 14% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $46,181 per year, or $22.2 per hour.

Material Developer, Apparel

Brooks Running

Seattle, WA • On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 16 days ago

Job description

Who We Are:
At Brooks, we believe movement is the key to feeling more alive. That's why we're driven to create gear and experiences that take people to the place that makes them feel more alive - whether it's a headspace, a feeling, or a finish line.
Everyone who works at Brooks is propelled by a company culture that sparks excitement, fuels collaboration, inspires creativity, and ignites innovation.
Our brand values help bond us together and drive our success:
  • Runner First
    • We act in the best interest of the runner
  • Word is Bond
    • We do what we say we'll do
  • Champion Heart
    • We give our all in everything we do
  • There is no "I" in Run
    • We stay generous with our humanity
  • Keep Moving
    • We find ways to move every day, because joy is kinetic!
We welcome everyone from every walk of life looking to inspire others through the power of movement - because we're all moving towards something. Let's run there.
YourJob:
As the Materials Developer at Brooks, you play an integral part in the seasonal material development process, utilizing product and process knowledge. You will work with a cross-functional product creation team from the collection of insights through commercialization to deliver products that exceed consumer expectations.
You will work with a cross-functional product creation team to collect insights through commercialization to deliver products that exceed consumer expectations. You must have knowledge across different material and trim constructions and processes involved in development, including engineering wrap, wefts, and wovens. Knowledge in raw material properties, testing, and costing is also a must. Other critical responsibilities include understanding manufacturing capabilities, anticipating issues, problem-solving, and timely resolution. You will be responsible for partnering with the Materials team to initiate ideas around material and trim development opportunities that will improve product performance, product value, and communicate improvements across product teams.
Your Responsibilities:
  • Partner on material and trim development from concept brief through commercialization and production, ensuring alignment with seasonal milestones and product objectives.
  • Manage workload according to the seasonal material development calendar and contribute to development process execution and continuous improvement.
  • Collaborate with Product Line Management, Design, Development, and cross-functional partners to define and deliver materials, trims, performance attributes, features, and benefits that support seasonal product objectives.
  • Collaborate with the Apparel Development team to evaluate material and trim prototypes, wear-test issues, and review milestones throughout the development process.
  • Support the Materials team with special projects, off-calendar initiatives, and future strategic goals.
  • Apply knowledge of material specifications, construction, identification, and industry testing standards to support development decisions that optimize product performance, quality, consumer experience, and cost targets.
  • Manage material and trim documentation in Flex system data, ensuring FDS (Fabric Detail Sheet), TDS (Trim Detail Sheet), Test Reports, and approval information are accurate, complete, and current throughout the development process.
  • Maintain an organized material and trim reference library, including approved materials, technical specifications, and approval records.
  • Partner with mills and suppliers to support seasonal costing objectives and material development strategies.
  • Partner with materials testing teams to ensure materials and trims meet performance requirements and commercialization standards within seasonal timelines.
  • Collaborate with Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility partners to support alignment between material development activities and long-term sustainability goals.
  • Maintain strong working relationships with material and trim suppliers to support development, quality, testing, innovation, and seasonal calendar commitments.
  • Identify and evaluate emerging materials, trims, technologies, and manufacturing capabilities, partnering with suppliers and the Materials team to translate opportunities into commercial applications that support brand and product goals.
  • Participate in domestic and international supplier visits, development trips, and tradeshows to support material innovation and supplier partnerships.
  • Coordinate vendor visits, supplier meetings, and tradeshow appointments for the Materials Team.
  • Track, coordinate, ship, and receive domestic and international material and trim shipments in a timely manner to support development and commercialization timelines.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives that enhance product quality, development processes, team effectiveness, and speed-to-market.
Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Textile Design or related field; equivalent combination of education and years of experience can be considered in lieu of degree(s)
  • 5+ years of experience in engineering, troubleshooting, and testing performance knits and wovens
  • Deep understanding and proven success working textile testing methods, a range of material constructions, and material processes
  • Proficient in PLM systems to build, support, and maintain digital material library
  • Computer proficiency with office software; MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Keynote, and Illustrator
  • Demonstrated ability to lead and influence in a collaborative, cross-functional group to meet strategic objectives
  • Effective project management skills and experience, including the ability to articulate goals and objectives, manage projects independently, and the ability to network and utilize internal and external resources
  • Keen attention to detail in planning, organizing, and execution of tasks (self and through others), while still seeing the big picture and understanding how all the pieces fit together and affect one another
  • Outstanding communication skills, verbal and written
  • Advanced ability to communicate new ideas, concepts, and functional expertise within project teams and to external stakeholders
  • Ability to anticipate how a decision made can affect our customers, our partners, our products, or other departments' operations and/or morale; "connecting the dots"
  • Curious and open-minded; always open for a challenge, inventive, creative. With the ability to challenge the status quo - always looking at improving our products and processes while also displaying a willingness to dive into the details
  • Demonstrated ability to develop highly positive relationships with individuals and teams that are made up of diverse disciplines and cultural backgrounds, resulting in effective working relationships across the company
  • Embraces and lives the Brooks values!

Compensation: The pay range for this position, based out of the Brooks Seattle HQ, is $91,931 - $137,896 per year. Base pay offered will vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
Other:
Brooks is proud to offer a robust benefits package to our employees and their families!
Benefits - Including medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, disability insurance, HSA and employer contribution, FSA, family & fertility assistance, 401K Savings Plan and match, employee assistance program, and transportation assistance.
Paid Time Off - Brooks offers generous time off, including five weeks of paid time off, eleven paid holidays, and paid sick and parental leave.
Bonus - In addition to base pay, Brooks employees may also be offered an annual bonus based on company performance.
Perks - Including product discounts, employee recognition, fitness discounts, volunteer and donation benefits.
Location - You will spend 4 days per week in our Seattle offices, as we believe our organization flourishes when connections, collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and celebrations happen in person.
At Brooks, we celebrate diversity & equity. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment, and encourage people of all backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills to apply. Brooks is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, two-spirit identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, the presence of a physical, mental, or sensory disability, marital status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), caste, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, actual or perceived victims of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking, HIV or Hepatitis C infection, political ideology, use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability, or on any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law, or any other non-merit based factors.

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