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Textile Lab Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Fabrication Technician

San Francisco, CA ยท On-site

$120K - $180K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lab Operations & Organization * Maintain a highly organized, clean, and safe lab environment ... Experience with soft goods, textiles, or composite materials. * Comfort with basic electrical ...

Senior Upholster, Benicia

Benicia, CA

$36 - $44/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Be dependable The Role The Senior Upholsterer at Found Rental Co.'s Fab Lab plays a critical role ... Knowledge of textiles, fabric performance, and durability * Pattern-making and template creation ...

... textile development, or material R&D (women's apparel preferred) * Strong understanding of dyeing processes, color tolerances, and lab/bulk workflows * Hands-on experience approving lab dips and ...

Define material specifications and test plans (lab and wear) to validate performance, safety, and ... Develop strategic supplier relationships (tanneries, textile mills, compounders, foam suppliers ...

Showing results 21-40

Textile Lab information

See California salary details

$9

$24

$44

How much do textile lab jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 16, 2026, the average hourly pay for textile lab in California is $24.92, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.99 and $27.50 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Textile Lab vs Textile Technician?

AspectTextile Lab
Primary RoleConducts research, testing, and analysis of textiles in a laboratory setting to develop new materials or improve existing ones.
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, research facilities, and testing centers.
Required CredentialsTypically a degree in textiles, materials science, or chemistry; certifications in lab safety and testing methods.
Industry UsageResearch institutions, textile manufacturers, and product development companies.

Textile Lab professionals focus on research, testing, and development within laboratory environments, often requiring advanced degrees and specialized certifications. In contrast, Textile Technicians usually work directly on production lines or in quality control, applying practical skills to ensure textile products meet standards. Both roles are essential in the textile industry but serve different functions and environments.

What is a textile lab?

A Textile Lab is a specialized facility where various tests and analyses are conducted on fabrics, fibers, and other textile materials. The main purpose of a textile lab is to assess the quality, durability, safety, and performance of textiles according to industry standards. These labs perform tests such as colorfastness, strength, shrinkage, flammability, and chemical composition. Textile labs are essential for manufacturers, designers, and retailers to ensure their products meet regulatory requirements and customer expectations.

What are some careers in textile labs?

Careers in textile labs include roles such as textile technician, quality control analyst, research scientist, and lab supervisor. These positions involve testing fabric properties, developing new materials, and ensuring product standards, often requiring knowledge of lab equipment and safety protocols.

What are some common challenges faced when working in a textile laboratory, and how can they be managed?

Working in a textile laboratory often involves handling a wide variety of fabrics and materials, each requiring specific testing protocols and careful analysis. Common challenges include ensuring accurate test results despite variations in sample quality, maintaining equipment calibration, and staying updated with evolving industry standards. These can be managed through rigorous attention to detail, ongoing training, and effective communication with team members and other departments. Proactively documenting procedures and collaborating with quality assurance teams also helps maintain consistency and reliability in test outcomes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a textile lab technician?

To thrive as a Textile Lab Technician, you need a solid understanding of textile materials, testing procedures, and quality control, often backed by a degree or diploma in textile engineering or a related field. Familiarity with laboratory equipment, data analysis software, and textile testing standards such as ASTM or ISO is highly valued. Attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and effective communication are critical soft skills for ensuring accurate results and teamwork. These skills are essential to maintain product quality, ensure safety compliance, and support innovation within the textile industry.

What job categories do people searching Textile Lab jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Textile Lab jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Textile Lab jobs?

Cities in California with the most Textile Lab job openings:

Infographic showing various Textile Lab job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $51,829 per year, or $24.9 per hour.

Fabrication Technician

Sesame

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

$120K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 8 days ago


Job description

About Sesame
Sesame believes in a future where computers are lifelike - with the ability to see, hear, and collaborate with us in ways that feel natural and human. With this vision, we're designing a new kind of computer, focused on making voice agents part of our daily lives. Our team brings together founders from Oculus and Ubiquity6, alongside proven leaders from Meta, Google, and Apple, with deep expertise spanning hardware and software. Join us in shaping a future where computers truly come alive.
Sesame is building a complex and compact wearable hardware + AI product requiring custom mechanical parts, enclosures, fixtures, and test rigs. We are looking for a highly organized, hands-on Fabrication Technician to support the hardware team with fabrication, precision assembly, equipment operations, and build logistics.
In this role you will commission, operate, and maintain benchtop fabrication equipment; produce prototype parts to tight tolerances; and keep the lab organized and ready for daily engineering use. You will work under the direction of the Program Lead and alongside mechanical, electrical, and manufacturing engineers to turn CAD models and drawings into physical hardware-quickly, accurately, and repeatably.
Responsibilities
Equipment Commissioning & Maintenance
  • Commission, set up, and bring online new fabrication equipment including 3D printers (FDM, SLA/DLP, SLS), desktop CNC mills, laser cutters, and other benchtop tools.
  • Own routine maintenance, calibration, and consumables management for all prototyping equipment; proactively prevent downtime.
  • Troubleshoot equipment issues, coordinate service calls, and maintain maintenance logs.
  • Evaluate and recommend new tools, materials, and processes to expand lab capability.

Fabrication & Precision Assembly
  • Fabricate mechanical parts using additive, subtractive, and manual methods to meet drawing specifications and tolerances.
  • Perform post-processing: support removal, sanding, bonding, tapping, heat-setting inserts, painting, and surface finishing.
  • Execute precision hand assembly of tiny and compact electro-mechanical prototypes-including sub-centimeter enclosures, press fits, threaded fasteners, and delicate component integration.
  • Build and maintain jigs, fixtures, and test rigs used in prototype assembly and validation.
  • Read and interpret mechanical drawings, GD&T callouts, and 3D CAD models to execute fabrication tasks with minimal supervision.

Lab Operations & Organization
  • Maintain a highly organized, clean, and safe lab environment; enforce 5S principles across workstations and storage.
  • Manage lab inventory including materials, consumables, fasteners, adhesives, and tooling; reorder supplies before stockouts.
  • Follow and improve build procedures; document builds with photos, measurements, and structured notes.
  • Coordinate with vendors for outsourced parts: obtain quotes, track orders, inspect incoming parts for conformance.
  • Support engineering testing by preparing samples, running measurements, and logging data.

Required Qualifications
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience in mechanical fabrication, prototyping, or a related role in consumer electronics, robotics, or hardware development.
  • Demonstrated skill in commissioning and maintaining benchtop fabrication equipment (3D printers, CNC, laser cutters).
  • Strong hand-tool proficiency and precision assembly skills-comfortable working with small parts, tight tolerances, and delicate components.
  • Ability to read and work from mechanical drawings, GD&T callouts, and 3D models.
  • Strong understanding of common engineering materials: plastics (ABS, PC, nylon), metals (aluminum, steel, brass), adhesives, and fasteners.
  • Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to a clean, well-maintained lab.
  • Dependable, safety-conscious, and able to prioritize and manage multiple concurrent tasks.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • On-site role; this position requires daily hands-on presence in the lab.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Previous experience at a startup or early-stage hardware company.
  • Familiarity with MCAD tools (SolidWorks, Fusion 360) for viewing and measuring models.
  • Experience with soft goods, textiles, or composite materials.
  • Comfort with basic electrical assembly: connectors, cable harnesses, simple soldering.
  • Exposure to metrology tools: calipers, micrometers, height gauges, optical comparators.

Sesame is committed to a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered. We welcome all qualified applicants, embracing diversity in race, gender, identity, orientation, ability, and more. We provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Contact careers@sesame.com for assistance.
Full-time Employee Benefits:
  • 401 (k) max employer match: 3.5% of compensation
  • 100% employer-paid health, vision, and dental benefits for you and your dependents
  • Unlimited PTO and sick time
  • Flexible spending account with employer matching up to $1,650/year (medical FSA)
  • Guardian Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Opportunity to share in the company's success with competitive stock options

Benefits do not apply to contingent/contract workers.