Fabric Patterning Engineer (Tension Fabric Design)
Location: Near Spartanburg, SC
Salary: $100,000 - $120,000 + Bonus + Benefits
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, STD/LTD, Life Insurance, 401k w/ Match, PTO
Job Type: Full-Time
Typical Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM ET
Travel: Occasional site visits (10–20%, some overnight)
Start Date: ASAP
Sponsorship: Not available
Relocation assistance: Available

Fabric Patterning Engineer (Tension Fabric Design) Description

Our client in the specialty construction industry is looking for a Fabric Structures Designer/Engineer to add to their team near Spartanburg, SC. In this role, you will design and engineer custom tensile fabric structures used in commercial, industrial, and architectural applications. You will translate client concepts into engineered drawings, calculations, and fabrication-ready plans while collaborating with project managers, production teams, and installation crews to ensure structural integrity and code compliance.

Our client is looking for someone with structural engineering experience and hands-on expertise in tensile or membrane structures. To be successful, you must be comfortable owning projects from concept through fabrication, balancing creativity with technical precision. This is an opportunity to work on highly visible, custom-built structures where your designs move from screen to skyline.

Fabric Patterning Engineer (Tension Fabric Design) Responsibilities

•    Design tension fabric structures from concept through production-ready release
•    Build surface geometry, seam orientation, and reinforcement/load transfer zones
•    Convert 3D fabric surfaces into accurate 2D cutting patterns for fabrication
•    Create seam maps, weld/sew allowances, and reinforcement details for build teams
•    Apply compensation factors for stretch, creep, and tensioning behavior
•    Generate fabrication files (DXF, AI, PDF, PLT) for cutting and production
•    Prepare and map graphics to curved panels for seam-to-seam registration
•    Support prototypes, first-article builds, and production troubleshooting
•    Improve material yield and reduce rework through better patterning standards
•    Train and support junior designers on patterning and production file quality

Fabric Patterning Engineer (Tension Fabric Design) Qualifications

•    3+ years tension fabric structures design or patterning/panelization experience required
•    2+ years of translating 3D surfaces into 2D patterns for manufacturing experience required
•    Understanding of fabric behavior under tension and compensation required
•    Proficiency with AutoCAD and structural analysis software required