R&D Manager- Pattern Maker

R&D Manager- Pattern Maker

Join the Industry Leader in Upholstered Furniture Design

Research and Development Manager- Pattern Maker

Ashley Furniture Industries is looking for a talented and detail-driven R&D Manager- Pattern Maker to support our world-class R&D and Product Development teams. This role contributes directly to the creation of high-quality stationary and motion upholstery products.

What You'll Do

• Develop and maintain accurate digital and manual patterns for various upholstery products.
• Collaborate with R&D, Engineering, Cutting, and Upholstery teams.
• Support prototype builds and adjust patterns based on fit and upholstery feedback.
• Prepare complete pattern packages for production facilities.
• Support SKU onboarding and floor-level production trials.
• Improve material yield through optimized nesting.
• Create technical documentation such as seam allowances and sewing guides.
• Assist with root-cause analysis on upholstery issues.

Core Skills & Competencies

• Upholstered furniture patterning (stationary & motion)
• CAD pattern systems (Gerber, Optitex, Formaris)
• Manual pattern drafting
• Fabric and leather behavior knowledge
• Pattern grading and nesting
• Foam and fill understanding
• Cut-sew-upholstery workflow knowledge
• Troubleshooting upholstery fit
• Strong communication and documentation skills

Preferred Experience

• Experience in cutting, sewing, upholstery, engineering, or QA
• New product development support
• High-volume manufacturing experience

Education

Preferred backgrounds include Industrial Design, Furniture Design, Textile Technology, Patternmaking Certification, or Upholstery/Furniture Manufacturing Training. Equivalent experience is also considered.

Tools & Software Proficiency

• Gerber AccuMark / AccuNest
• Optitex
• Formaris
• AutoCAD or SolidWorks
• Zund / Lectra / Gerber cutting prep
• Microsoft Office and Teams
• Adobe Illustrator

Who We Are

At Ashley, we're more than a business; we're family. As the largest manufacturer of home furnishings in the world, we know what it takes to build incredible furniture and future leaders. We're problem solvers with the grit to persevere during challenging times and innovators who won't coast when times are good. We create solutions, not excuses. And never settle for the status quo. It's the reason we're always searching for better ways to deliver an exceptional customer experience. That's why Ashley Furniture is #1 in our industry.

Ready to grow? You've come to the right place. Ashley Furniture has a "Growth Mindset", and once you join our team, you'll learn from the best in the business.

Apply today and find your home at Ashley!

Benefits We Offer

• Health, Dental, Vision, and Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Vacation, Holidays, and Your Birthday off
• Generous Employee Discount on home furnishings
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Ashley Wellness Centers (location specific) and Medical Tourism
• Telehealth
• 401(k) and Profit Sharing
• Life Insurance

Our Core Values

Honesty & Integrity

• Without hesitation, he uses candor and is direct in communication
• Is tough-minded in working in and meeting the demands of reality
• Always tells the truth and follows through on commitments

Passion, Drive, Discipline

• Enjoys working hard and pursues work with energy, drive, and willpower to finish
• Is disciplined in developing consistency into work processes
• Is focused and relentless in achieving goals

Continuous Improvement/Operational Excellence

• Fights to take costs and waste out of the system
• Seeks to understand "why" something works the way it does, and through study and improvement determines how to better all processes and systems.
• Strives for more in all areas of work by developing measurements, setting goals, and then working on ways to exceed goals through problem-solving methods that look beyond the obvious

Dirty Fingernail

• Does not rely on reports to run the business, but rather goes to the work that is being done and sees if the work is being done right for him/herself.
• Has an insatiable curiosity and takes a "Go and See" approach to understand the current state of the business and the competitive realities
• Takes a hands-on approach to tackle problems and demonstrates critical thinking through use of effective questioningasking the 5 "Whys"

Growth Focused

• Understands the customer's needs and wants, then challenges current ways of doing business that inhibits growth and organizes work to meet those needs
• Is competitive by studying the competition and is aggressive in looking for ways to beat them
• Strives to be the BEST by improving the quality of processes, reducing costs, doing more business, being profitable, and growing the business