Product Design & Development Associate

FARIBAULT MILL

Product Design & Development Associate

Full-Time, On-Site | 40 hours per week | Starts Immediately

For more than 160 years, Faribault Mill has endured as an iconic American maker. Within our mills in Minnesota and Maine, we combine timeless craftsmanship with modern thinking to create wool and cotton products that last for generations. Our profoundly unique processes, devotion to quality, and the loyalty of our valued customers have allowed us to carry on our legacy and continue weaving our story into American history.

The Role

As a Product Design and Development Associate, you will help turn creative concepts into finished products across soft home categories, including bed blankets, throws, decorative pillows, towels, and accessories. Working closely with the Director of Product Design and Development, Production, Sales, and external vendors, you will combine design skill with technical expertise to support products from initial concept through production while preserving design integrity, quality, cost, and manufacturability.

Core Responsibilities

• Design and develop products, using custom concepts, collaborations, mockups, and design decks for internal and wholesale clients.
• Translate customer, artist, and internal design concepts into production-ready woven, sewn, and embroidered products while maintaining the integrity of the original design.
• Create realistic CAD renderings, line sheets, presentations, artwork, and other materials that clearly communicate product concepts.
• Create and maintain accurate technical specification packets, including artwork, color, construction, materials, dimensions, finishing details, and quality standards.
• Collaborate with production teams to develop efficient, production-friendly designs and support weave, sewing, embroidery, and wet and dry finishing specifications as needed.
• Coordinate prototypes, lab dips, and first article samples; conduct quality reviews and provide clear, actionable revision comments to internal teams and external vendors.
• Reference historical designs, construction records, and testing information to support shrink-rate estimates, size calculations, fabric analysis, and product consistency.
• Develop new and custom embroidery designs, create digitized files for production, and support personalization services offered through the direct-to-consumer website.
• Work with freelance jacquard programmers and other partners to translate designs and artwork into production-ready files.
• Source materials, communicate with vendors, and maintain organized sourcing, construction, color, specification, and swatch records.
• Support the Faribault Mill product archive by logging, tagging, storing, and maintaining samples and historical product information.
• Partner with Sales and Marketing on quick-turn requests, custom client projects, licensed products, and product updates.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize changing needs, meet deadlines, and perform other product development duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Textile Design, Apparel Design, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• Two or more years of experience in product development, textile design, or a related role.
• Familiarity with a manufacturing or production setting.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating print, pattern, color, CAD, and product development capabilities.
• Strong understanding of woven and sewn fabric construction, product development methods, and technical specifications.
• Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, including the ability to create realistic CAD renderings.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, and Teams.
• Strong eye for color and design; completion of a color proficiency assessment may be required.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and the ability to work quickly, prioritize effectively, and adapt to changing business needs.
• Sound independent judgment and problem-solving skills, balanced with a willingness to ask questions and collaborate.
• Commitment to excellence, integrity, accountability, and results.
• Positive, commercially minded, team-oriented approach.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of sewing construction and embroidery methods.
• Experience creating digitized embroidery files.
• Experience with licensed products, vendor coordination, and sourced soft goods.
• Illustration skills and a passion for fabrics and textiles.

Position Details

This is an on-site role based in Faribault, Minnesota. The successful candidate must be comfortable working in the Faribault office five days per week and able to maintain reasonable flexibility in hours and schedule when business needs require it. Hybrid work could be considered for the right candidate.

Why Join faribault mill?

• Contribute to an enduring American manufacturing legacy built on craftsmanship, quality, and innovation.
• Work in a creative environment where design, technical development, production, and heritage come together.
• Help create products intended to be cherished and passed down for generations.
• Join a collaborative team that values curiosity, craft, community, and continuous improvement.