Head of Materials

WHO WE ARE

The Wing Group is a global leader in engineered solutions for demanding environments, bringing together a portfolio of trusted brands including Wing Inflatables, Mustang Survival, Henshaw Inflatables, Patten Company, and FabTek Industries. Across defense, marine safety, law enforcement, and industrial sectors, we design and manufacture mission-critical inflatable, flotation, and survival solutions that professionals trust to perform when it matters most.
 
From combat-ready rigid inflatable boats and inflatable structures to life-saving flotation devices and marine apparel, our products are engineered and tested to exceed the highest standards of safety, durability, and performance. With U.S. and Canadian-based manufacturing and a collaborative, hands-on culture, The Wing Group delivers purpose-built solutions for the world’s toughest environments. Join us in advancing safety, performance, and innovation—on the water and beyond.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

In this role, you'll be responsible for building and leading a small, dedicated team of material specialists.  You'll play a critical role in creating the vision and strategy for the performance products at Mustang Survival through material selection and development.  As a key member of the product leadership team, you'll be involved with advanced concept developments and elevating the sustainability of our products.  You will establish and maintain standards for testing and validating materials for flotation, apparel, dry suits and other protective equipment and drive innovations in textiles, trims, and other materials.   

WHAT WE OFFER

We estimate the salary range for this position to be between $116,000 to 160,000 annually. The final salary will be based on experience, and the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the candidate. Additionally, we offer extended health and dental benefits, Group RSP with employer matching, a generous bank of wellness days, and industry perks. The final agreed upon salary may vary based on factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Materials Leadership & Strategy

• Build, lead & inspire a technical team who specialize in textile and other material developments, testing, and ongoing material support.

• Based on the product strategy and road map, establish the company’s material strategy and  roadmap aligned with design, engineering, and sustainability objectives.

• With your expertise and background in materials development and textile science, you provide the team with vision, leadership, mentorship and direction to ensure that all materials are suitable for use in premium product.

Technical & Cross-functional Leadership

• Collaborate closely with engineering, design, pattern and prototyping teams to integrate new materials into early-stage product concepts.

• Work collaboratively with the design and engineering teams to identify future user needs and desires, and generate innovative fabric and material solutions in response to those needs

• Guide root-cause analysis and troubleshooting of material-related issues in development and production environments.

Testing, Standards & Compliance

• Develop fabric, textile and trims testing standards for both wear and lab testing to meet and exceed performance expectations

• Actively manage seasonal Material Timelines alongside response projects, prototype material positioning, and seasonal material cost negotiations

• Maintenance and accountability for both digital libraries and physical assets (organization of fabric swatches, trim submits, lab dips, bulk submits, etc)

• Responsible for performance results across the team, reporting progress of key performance indicators, mitigating risk, and communicating key information to drive business success.

• Initiate and drive sustainable raw materials projects and regulatory processes in alignment with current international regulations and certifications (EU REACH, Bluesign, Oeko-Tex etc.).

• Strategically support key business initiatives, challenge the status quo, and continually improve and evolve the team, processes, and results.

• Create and initiate processes to streamline sourcing and development of new materials

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelors or advanced degree in Textile Science, Material Science, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering combined with relevant work experience preferred
• 7+ years of experience in materials development, with at least 2 years in a technical leadership or team management role.
• Demonstrated experience developing and scaling advanced materials in high-performance or safety-critical applications (marine, aerospace, outdoor, or medical preferred).
• Advanced understanding of textile manufacturing and construction, including knitting, dying, laminating, coating, and finishing required.
• Familiarity with DFM (Design for Manufacturing) principles and how materials interact with manufacturing processes (e.g., RF welding, molding, lamination).
• Experience working in or with cross-functional engineering teams in a product-driven company.
• Passion for product innovation, and user-centered design.
• Strong knowledge of supply chain operations
• Understanding of material costs, MOQs, MCQs, and other logistical considerations
• Understanding of product creation calendar; ability to work with timelines.
• Knowledge of life cycle assessment processes and an understanding of how to evaluate a product’s environmental footprint
• Team player, knowledge of x-functional team accountabilities and requirements
• Familiarity with the activities Mustang Survival builds product for, and the associated performance needs
• Computer skills (Excel, Adobe Illustrator, PLM software, Microsoft office applications and Outlook).