Textile Designer – STOLL Flat Knitting Specialist

Pay: $30.00–$40.00/hour Schedule: 1st Shift Type: Contract Experience: 5+ Years Education: HS Diploma minimum (Bachelor’s preferred) Portfolio Required Position Summary We are seeking a Textile Designer with hands-on STOLL flat knitting machine and STOLL M1+ programming experience to develop high-performance knitted textile products. This is a highly technical role focused on building production-ready knit programs, not general fashion design. The ideal candidate has direct experience programming, debugging, and optimizing knit structures using STOLL CMS flat knitting systems in a production or prototyping environment. Key Responsibilities Knit Programming & Development Create and program knit structures using STOLL M1+ (M1plus) Develop prototypes on STOLL CMS flat knitting machines Translate product and engineering concepts into functional knit designs ⚙️ Optimization & Technical Execution Optimize knit structures for: Fit Durability Manufacturability Performance characteristics Troubleshoot knitting issues including: Yarn behavior Machine tension Stitch defects and structural inconsistencies Collaboration & Production Support Partner with engineering and production teams to ensure manufacturability Support iterative prototyping from concept through production readiness Maintain organized libraries of knit programs, structures, and standards Required Qualifications (Must-Have) 5+ years of hands-on knitwear design and/or knit programming experience Direct experience programming STOLL flat knitting machines (CMS series preferred) Proficiency with STOLL M1+ (M1plus) software Strong understanding of: Knit structures (jersey, rib, interlock, engineered knits, etc.) Yarn behavior and textile performance characteristics Proven ability to independently build, debug, and refine knit programs Portfolio demonstrating STOLL or equivalent machine knitting work (required) Preferred Qualifications Experience in technical textiles or performance textile applications Exposure to rapid prototyping environments (ADF or similar workflows) Experience with coated, bonded, or laminated textile systems Experience in production-scale knit manufacturing environments Key Traits for Success Strong technical problem-solving mindset (mechanical + textile systems thinking) High attention to detail in pattern and structure development Comfortable working in iterative prototyping cycles Ability to bridge design intent with manufacturing constraints Important Notes This is a technical programming role, not a fashion-only design role Candidates must demonstrate STOLL machine programming experience (not just knit design) Portfolio submission is required for consideration