Textile Technician (Hardware)
unspun, United States

unspun is a robotics and digital apparel company based in Emeryville, CA. Our mission is to reduce global carbon emissions by 1% through automated, localized, and intentional manufacturing.

Recently included in Time's Best Inventions amp; Fast Company's World Changing Ideas, unspun aims to rapidly transition the trillion-dollar apparel world into one that is more intentional, inclusive, and efficient by focusing on the overlap between sustainability and profitability on-demand (and automated) manufacturing.

We’ve developed a proprietary and patented technology at the crossroads of 3D printing and automated textile manufacturing called 3D weaving. By skipping the flat 2D fabric stage, we can additively build custom apparel products from the ground up straight from yarns to seamless final product. If the intersection of climate tech, robotics, fashion, and textile machinery get you excited, we’d love to talk!

You enjoy working on fast-paced and early-stage Ramp;D and bringing high quality products to market. You enjoy wearing multiple hats and switching between different contexts. You are capable of working independently and in a team while being flexible, self-motivated, and curious. You thrive on the lack of clear instructions at the beginning of ambitious projects, and your ability to learn, understand, and communicate clear instructions to others about a complicated process is one of your strengths. You have strong interpersonal skills and can help manage a complex testing program with competing needs from multiple sides of the organization. You probably love thinking about the things immediately around us, especially yarns, fabrics, clothing and the machines that make them. You enjoy daily challenges and relish the successes.

This Textile Technician (Hardware) role will split time across 3D weaving machine operation, support, AND build phases. We're looking for someone who has prior textile machinery experience, but also is game to jump in and help with machine builds and assembly help as needed.

As part of the early technician team at unspun (growing from 4 to 8 teammates), you will be a core member operating, building, and supporting a completely new manufacturing process. We’re looking for someone with a few years of hands-on industry experience already, and someone who is excited about the risks and rewards of joining an early-stage startup.

• Support 3D weaving material development and production
• You’ll work with the Product and Hardware teams to create the world’s first 3D woven products!

• Help the technician team in hands-on assembly pushes, yarn preparation, and warp routing
• (the next year is a big build push for us!)
• Troubleshoot and resolve assembly-related issues
• (we're building some things for the first time... troubleshooting amp; improving the process will be a core part of your work with us)
• Maintain a safe and organized workspace
• (we're still an early team, but we're certainly growing keeping things organized while we build is critical)
• Use measurement equipment to troubleshoot and diagnose machine issues
• (if you notice something isn't working right, can you help us figure out why?)
• Collaborate with the engineering team on experiments and results
• (everyone on the hardware team works closely with each other as we build, test, and improve these machines)
• Identify and communicate suggested improvements to designs, documentation, or processes
• (pretty soon, we'll need a factory to be building LOTS of these machines... can you help us figure out the best way to perform each step?)
• Work collaboratively on a team of technicians juggling multiple build projects
• (our technician team is close-knit, and covers projects across assembly, Ramp;D, and machine operation... there's a lot going on!)

Requirements

• 2+ years of experience in Textile machinery, Textile Engineering, Materials Science, Technician work, or related fields
• Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail
• Prior experience operating hand tools, power tools, or basic machinery
• Knowledge of textile fibers and yarns
• Strong verbal and written communication skills... this is a team sport!
• Work on-site in Emeryville from 9a - 6p, M-F
• Ability to work on your feet for extended periods, perform occasional repetitive tasks, and occasionally lift up to 50 lbs

• Familiarity with industrial scale looms
• Manu

Job Rewards and Benefits