Senior Materials Developer

Cotopaxi Foundation; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading adventure gear company is seeking a Senior Materials Developer to lead materials development across apparel and accessories. The role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver innovative materials that align with quality and sustainability standards. Candidates should have a strong background in materials development and a passion for ethical sourcing. Join a mission-driven team committed to making a positive impact while enjoying a flexible work environment.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401(k) plan with employer match

Unlimited responsible PTO

Discounts on Cotopaxi gear

Company paid mental health benefits

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of experience in materials development, ideally within the outdoor or lifestyle apparel industry.
• Established network of go‑to material suppliers relevant to the outdoor apparel space.
• Strong knowledge and passion for sustainable materials and responsible sourcing practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the end‑to‑end materials development process across apparel and accessories categories.
• Collaborate closely with Design team to ensure material selections align with aesthetic vision.
• Evaluate material trends and sustainability innovations.

Skills

Knowledge of sustainable materials

Strong communication skills

Project management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Textiles, Apparel Development, or Design

Tools

Microsoft Office

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

Centric PLM

Job description

Job Title: Senior Materials Developer

Job Level: Senior-Level

Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Job Location: MST or PST (Salt Lake City, UT Preferred)

Job Compensation: $85-95k plus bonus potential

About Cotopaxi:

Cotopaxi is a B Corporation that makes adventure travel gear to empower people to see the world and make it better. Our Gear for Good promise is to make our products as ethically, sustainably, and durably as possible, while having a positive social, environmental, and economic impact. We dedicate 1% of revenue to the Cotopaxi Foundation, which supports nonprofit partners with proven track records of alleviating poverty. Through our Foundation to date, we have helped more than 4.25 million individuals experiencing extreme poverty. For more information, visit www.cotopaxi.com.

Cotopaxi is a company that values people, innovation, and adventure and our work environment reflects just that. Whether you are working from one of our retail stores, our headquarters, your couch at home, or even your van in the woods, you’ll feel the camaraderie of our amazing team of visionaries, builders and go-getters. We are a team of adventurous, mission‑driven people looking to prove that business CAN be a force for good.

Job Overview (What You’ll Do)

Cotopaxi is growing our product team and we’re looking for a Senior Materials Developer who is equal parts innovator, problem solver, and collaborator. This role is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of creativity and technical expertise—someone who’s passionate about building durable, ethical, and high‑performing materials that bring our mission‑driven designs to life.

In this role, you’ll lead the development of materials and trims across all product categories, with an emphasis on apparel and accessories. You’ll collaborate closely with cross‑functional partners—including Design, Product Development, Merchandising, Sourcing, and Compliance—to ensure materials meet Cotopaxi’s standards for performance, sustainability, cost, and timeline. You’ll work directly with mills and factory partners to bring concepts to reality, while preserving design intent and elevating material quality.

The ideal candidate brings a maker’s mindset, a solutions‑driven attitude, and a strong sense of ownership. You’ll play a critical role in helping Cotopaxi deliver gear that’s not only beautiful and functional—but also built for good.

Job Responsibilities (How You’ll Do It)

• Lead and manage the end‑to‑end materials development process across apparel and accessories categories.
• Collaborate closely with the Design team to ensure material selections align with aesthetic vision, quality standards, cost targets, and lead‑time requirements.
• Deliver a fully commercialized line of materials and trims in alignment with the seasonal product development calendar.
• Build and maintain the fabric library, materials database, and global supplier matrix to support long‑term innovation and speed‑to‑market initiatives.
• Develop and maintain a core toolbox of key materials to support fabric platforming, maximize efficiency, and improve margin across categories.
• Evaluate material trends, sustainability innovations, and new technologies; recommend opportunities that align with brand and business goals.
• Lead supplier negotiations on cost, lead times, and minimums to ensure business objectives are met.
• Partner with Quality Assurance and Compliance to uphold material performance and brand standards across all developments.
• Own material ordering for prototypes and wear test samples; collaborate with Product teams to apply wear test results to material decision‑making.
• Manage the lab dip process from supplier communication to final approval; ensure timely coordination with the Color Design team.
• Support Planning by assisting with Sales Sample material orders when needed.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with cross‑functional partners to ensure a cohesive and efficient development process.
• Develop and maintain strong global partnerships with existing material suppliers while actively sourcing new vendors as needed.

The Ideal Candidate (What You Need to Succeed)

• Bachelor’s degree in Textiles, Apparel Development, or Design, or equivalent experience.
• 7–10 years of experience in materials development, ideally within the outdoor or lifestyle apparel industry.Comprehensive knowledge of material testing standards and the ability to define and implement testing processes.
• Established network of go‑to material suppliers relevant to the outdoor apparel space.
• Strong knowledge and passion for sustainable materials and responsible sourcing practices.
• High passing score on the Farnsworth‑Munsell 100 Hue Test (color accuracy).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop.
• Experience working in PLM systems; Centric PLM preferred.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects, meet strict timelines, and work under pressure.
• Comfortable working independently and navigating ambiguity to drive timely decisions and resolutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills across all levels of the organization and with global vendors.
• Open to feedback and capable of integrating input from team members, partners, consumers, and field testers.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally to visit suppliers and partners as needed.

Job Benefits (The Perks)

We deeply care about our employees and are proud of our commitment and investment in our team. We prioritize wages and benefits and always keep the employee experience in mind as we work to create a quality work‑life balance for everyone.

Here is a snapshot of the benefits we provide:

Core Benefits:

• Medical, dental and vision benefits with HSA, FSA, and DCSA options.
• Company paid basic life insurance with the option to purchase additional coverage.
• Voluntary short‑term and long‑term disability coverage.
• Voluntary accident and critical illness insurance.
• Company paid employee assistance program.

Wellness Benefits:

• Company paid mental health benefits.
• Company paid volunteer time.
• 401(k) plan with employer match.
• Unlimited responsible PTO.
• In The Wild Days: Two company‑wide days off to recharge, reconnect, and embrace what inspires you.

Uniquely Us:

• Enjoy deep product discounts with 60% off Cotopaxi gear—perfect for living out your next adventure in style.
• Gear up for the outdoors with exclusive discounts from partner outdoor and lifestyle brands.
• Grow personally and professionally through thoughtfully curated learning and development opportunities.
• Stay connected and celebrate often with regular in‑person and virtual events that bring our team together, no matter where you work.
• Be part of a vibrant, values‑driven culture that champions people, innovation, and adventure in everything we do.

As a mission‑driven brand, Cotopaxi is not only hyper aware of but also deeply invested in putting people first and paving the way as a humanitarian brand. We welcome, embrace and celebrate all people regardless of gender, age, race, disability, nationality, ethnicity, faith, or sexual orientation. We believe in Doing Good, and how we’re involved with that has no limits.

No matter what experience you have within the outdoor industry we encourage you to apply. At Cotopaxi we believe that experience comes from a variety of places. We look for individuals who thrive on challenges, are passionate about doing good, and believe that collaboration and radical candor are necessary for success. Show us how your experiences have shaped you and how you can contribute to Cotopaxi in our mission to Do Good. We can’t wait for you to share with us your personal story!

Cotopaxi participates in E‑Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I‑9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.