A skilled technician, the textile engineer conducts research and development work with the aim of discovering innovative textiles. Whether in the clothing, medical or construction sectors, fabrics and materials hold no secrets for them. Intelligent fabrics, high-tech materials for the manufacture of aeronautical products and components... any type of industry can call on the engineer. His expertise is also required in quality control and production monitoring. If you'd like to find out more about the job of Textile Engineer, take a look at our job description. Education, training, role, missions, qualities and skills... Discover the facets of this job, part of the engineering field. 

Textile engineers carry out studies, research, tests and trials in the field of textile engineering. Using microencapsulation, they develop or improve innovative, flexible materials and technical textile fabrics: 

• fragrances, 
• antiperspirants, 
• stain-resistant, 
• UV-resistant,
• antibacterial fibers, 
• filters, 
• shock- and temperature-resistant, 
• waterproof, 
• water-repellent...

These new textile products are in demand in a number of sectors, including fashion (waterproof footwear), aeronautics, automotive, sports (connected tee-shirt), medical (straps, masks), agriculture, construction, civil engineering and packaging. The role of a textile engineer is highly varied, depending on the company in which they work. They may work in a research laboratory or design office, supervising and coordinating the development teams (technicians and chemists) in charge of each project. He or she may liaise with the sales, marketing and production departments. At the beginning of the chain, the engineer may purchase raw materials according to defined specifications, and intervene in the manufacturing and finishing stages. Most of the time, he or she works in the R&D department, as a project engineer or design engineer. Textile engineers must constantly innovate to meet consumer and industry expectations. They need to know all there is to know about new technologies, and be able to analyze customer needs in order to propose new products.

Textile engineers' tasks vary according to their area of specialization. Here, however, are the most common tasks performed by textile engineers:

• Design of textile products to meet the needs of customer companies.
• Development or improvement of textile implants to facilitate geolocation, or textile implants (textiles made of synthetic materials).
• Development of manufacturing processes and quality control methods. 
• Study and selection of raw materials. 
• Research and selection of suppliers.
• Evaluation of suppliers in terms of price, delivery times and product quality.
• Analysis of physical and chemical tests to guarantee the quality of textile products.
• Production management and budget compliance.
• Collaboration with other engineers and textile experts to constantly innovate and improve manufacturing processes. 
• Work with sales teams to understand market needs and develop new products.
• Solving technical problems. 
• Ensuring regulatory and environmental compliance of products and manufacturing processes.
• Constant monitoring: keeping abreast of market trends and every technological innovation in its field of expertise. 
• Supervision of production plants abroad (for mass retailers).

Textile engineers can occupy a number of positions: production manager, quality engineer, logistics/procurement manager, sourcing manager (purchase of raw materials).

Textile engineers have many qualities: 

• Creativity Innovation: this creative profession requires constant innovation. Working on successive or simultaneous projects means sharing ideas and collaborating with many different people. Every technical challenge is important, especially when it comes to developing new manufacturing processes or materials. It takes a great deal of imagination to embark on the development of a sustainable, environmentally-friendly textile product.
• Perseverance This is a very demanding job. It sometimes involves irregular working hours and frequent travel, whether in France or abroad. 
• Rigor The textile engineer must be rigorous and organized. They must be able to plan the various stages of production and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge Textile engineering: during their studies, textile engineers acquire a wealth of knowledge about materials and textile production techniques, enabling them to select the best materials and propose efficient, productivity-enhancing solutions. 
• Pedagogy The engineer has to demonstrate managerial skills and the ability to explain his or her work internally. He leads each project, coordinates his teams and writes reports.

Proposal force In order to come up with new design ideas, the expert has to keep abreast of every innovation in his field of application. Curiosity is one of his greatest qualities. It enables him to spot tomorrow's trends.

Once they have graduated from a school or specialized training program, textile engineers can put their skills to work for their company. Here are the skills required for this job: 

• Very good knowledge of manufacturing processes. 
• Excellent command of English. Textile engineers frequently travel abroad. Especially since the textile industry is very important in English-speaking countries, and international teams can be found in major groups. 
• Very good command of IT tools (CAD computer-aided design).

To become a textile engineer, you need to have an engineering degree, a Master's degree (BAC +5) from one of the 4 schools specializing in textile engineering in France, or join a school specializing in a particular field. 

• Itech School (Textile and Chemical Institute) in Lyon.
• Ensait (École nationale supérieure des arts et industries textiles), Roubaix.
• Ensisa (École nationale supérieure d'ingénieurs Sud Alsace).
• HEI (École des hautes études d'ingénieur).

As this sector is particularly competitive, graduates are often required to have at least 2 years' experience as an engineer specializing in components or textile materials. Given the globalization of the textile industry, it is also possible to embark on a career abroad. Today, one sector in particular brings together a wide variety of professionsincluding textile engineering. This is the fashion and luxury. The textile and clothing industry is constantly on the lookout for ready-to-wear professionals in manufacturing or production. If you're passionate about fashion and luxury and want to work in a creative environment, ISAL Paris is the place for you. 

This private higher education establishment offers courses from BAC to BAC +5 level, and delivers certified level 6 and 7 qualifications, as well as a state diploma. Students can join the "Bachelor of Fashion Creation and Design"This is a 3-year program. It trains apprentices for careers in product, fashion and luxury design. Thanks to this curriculum, they strengthen their skills in styling, textiles and pattern-making, and acquire a solid culture of the sector, enabling them to move up to the next level in a top-level company. After graduating from this program, students can continue their studies at ISAL Paris and join the Marketing and Strategy Master's program. In 1st year, students learn about digital marketing and business law. They learn to design a digital strategy and a collection plan, and to analyze fashion and luxury trends. In 2nd year, they manage projects, take part in conferences and reinforce their English language skills.

At the start of their career, textile engineers are paid an average of €2500 gross per month. After several years' experience, a senior engineer can earn an average salary of €3,400 net per month.