Bestop is hiring a Softgoods Engineer to lead convertible tops and softgoods accessories engineering at our Sterling Heights, Michigan facility. This is a hands-on engineering role for someone who knows convertible tops, knows automotive textiles, and construction methods.
About Bestop
At Bestop, we design and manufacture premium soft tops, accessories, and security solutions across our Bestop, Softopper, and Tuffy Security Products brands. We're a close-knit team with decades of engineering depth, and we're building what comes next.
About the Role
This is a hands-on individual contributor seat at our Sterling Heights, MI facility. The Softgoods Engineer leads convertible top and accessory product development from concept through production, owns bills of materials in NetSuite, manages day-to-day engineering support to our Toluca, Mexico manufacturing partner, and maintains key relationships with our fabric and component suppliers. Expect to wear multiple hats (quality, frame-side, cross-brand) as the business needs them.
Compensation & Hiring Range
The hiring range for this position is:
$85,000 – $105,000 per year
Final pay is determined based on relevant experience, skills, and internal equity.
Recruitment Timeline
Application priority deadline: Friday, July 24, 2026
Application close: Monday, August 3, 2026
First-round interviews (Teams): Week of August 10, 2026
Onsite interviews (Sterling Heights): Week of August 24, 2026
Target start date: Monday, September 21, 2026
What You'll Do
- Lead convertible top and accessory product development from concept through production launch across our Bestop, Softopper, and Tuffy brands.
- Own bill-of-material development and management in NetSuite, working cross-functionally with sales, purchasing, design, and operations.
- Develop and refine textile patterns using Gerber AccuMark software, including patterns for unique folding mechanisms and complex assemblies.
- Provide daily engineering support to our Toluca, Mexico manufacturing facility: pattern releases, engineering changes, and production troubleshooting.
- Manage relationships with key fabric and component suppliers on technical specifications, fabric development programs, and quality.
- Support quality investigations, cross-functional collaboration, and IATF 16949 compliance as the engineering point of contact for soft trim products.
What You'll Need (Must Have)
- Direct convertible top experience: designing, engineering, or manufacturing convertible tops or closely related soft-trim products.
- Patterning design software experience (patterning software such as AccuMark and/or Optitex).
- 5–10 years of experience in textile, soft trim, or related automotive interior engineering. Strong working knowledge of fabric types and behavior.
- Demonstrated project management capability: running programs from concept to production and working across functions to land them.
- Comfort with business and ERP systems such as NetSuite, Excel, or equivalent. Tech-savvy and able to navigate complex systems and documentation.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills, both internal and external suppliers.
- Currently located in the Detroit metro area, or planning to relocate to the Sterling Heights, MI area at your own expense prior to the start date. (No relocation assistance.)
- Authorized to work in the United States now and in the future without employer sponsorship (no visa sponsorship is available for this role).
Bonus Points (Nice to Have)
- Background at a major convertible top, automotive interior, or seating manufacturer (Car Top Systems, Webasto, Lear, Magna, Faurecia, or similar).
- Industrial sewing manufacturing experience, or hands-on ability to drape, stretch, fit, and sew large fabric assemblies.
- Adjacent industry textile experience (marine, boating, RV, outdoor industry) with transferable patterning and fabric construction skills.
Work Environment
- Onsite role at our Sterling Heights, MI facility.
- Hybrid office, engineering shop, and manufacturing floor environment, with meaningful time at the bench and on the floor in addition to desk work.
- Periodic domestic and international travel to suppliers, customers, and other Bestop facilities as required, including visits to our Toluca, Mexico manufacturing partner. A valid U.S. passport (or willingness to obtain one) is required.
- Physical requirements include extended periods of standing, bending, lifting up to 50 lbs, and manipulating large fabric assemblies.
How to Apply
Apply directly through Indeed by submitting your resume. A cover letter is welcome but not required.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Bestop is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, height, weight, marital status, familial status, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, including those protected under the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and the Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act.
Notice to Recruiters & Staffing Agencies
We are managing this recruitment directly and do not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate submissions from staffing agencies or third-party recruiters. Any unsolicited contact will be disregarded.
Pay: $85,000.00 - $105,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have hands-on experience with AccuMark, Aptitech, Gerber, or other pattern design software? Which?
- Do you have direct experience designing, engineering, or manufacturing convertible tops or related soft-trim products? Please briefly describe.
- Are you authorized to work in the United States, now and in the future, without employer sponsorship?
Experience:
- textile, soft trim , or automotive interior engineering: 5 years (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Sterling Heights, MI 48311 (Required)
Work Location: In person
