Hermès Process & Materials Development Engineer

About Hermès

Hermès is an independent French luxury maison renowned for artisanal leather goods, meticulous craftsmanship and a long-term approach to creativity and quality. As an employer, Hermès balances heritage ateliers with modern R&D capabilities and places emphasis on responsible sourcing, technical excellence and preservation of traditional savoir-faire.

Role & Responsibilities

• Design, plan and execute R&D trials to develop desirable alternative materials that meet the Maison’s aesthetic and quality standards, from laboratory to pilot scale.
• Translate product/Materials briefs into clear material objectives and technical requirements (colour, handle, appearance), and identify chemical and processing solutions to close gaps to market.
• Plan resource needs (budget, personnel, equipment, chemicals), organise the laboratory/pilot environment and ensure timely, cost-effective delivery of experiments.
• Supervise and coordinate technicians and on-site artisans during R&D project launches and pilot runs; mentor the development technician.
• Consolidate and analyse experimental results, align priorities with stakeholders, ensure documentation and capitalisation of learnings.
• Deploy technological building blocks proposed by the scientific R&I team at pilot scale and contribute scientific and material expertise to transformation trials.
• Establish material specifications and prototypes conforming to CDCs, ensure reproducibility of processes and prepare technical transfer dossiers for production units (tanneries).
• Support quality initiatives, define production means with tanning partners, and train production teams during transfer to industrial scale.

Qualifications

• Engineering degree or equivalent university qualification with a specialization in chemistry and materials.
• Minimum five years’ experience in materials R&D, including experience in process development and management of technical teams.
• Proven capability in laboratory-to-pilot scale-up and in transferring processes to production partners (tanneries).
• Fluent written and spoken English.
• Proficiency with collaborative laboratory tools (Electronic Laboratory Notebook, document-sharing platforms) and standard analytical/reporting practices.

Skills

Experience

At least 5 years in R&D for materials, with demonstrated experience in chemical/process development, pilot-scale trials and in supervising technicians or small project teams. Experience interfacing with production partners (tanneries) and delivering technical transfers is required.

Education

Engineering school diploma or equivalent university degree with specialization in chemistry and materials.

Workplace

Culture

Hermès combines deep respect for artisanal craftsmanship with disciplined scientific inquiry within its R&I activities. The workplace values technical rigor, cross‑disciplinary collaboration and long‑term stewardship of skills; the employer publicly commits to ethical practices, diversity and inclusion.

About Cerulean

Cerulean is the definitive career portal for the global luxury industry. We match exceptional professionals with exclusive opportunities at the world's most prestigious brands. From haute couture and fine watchmaking to prestige beauty, hospitality, and boutique retail, Cerulean centralises luxury employment to help you find the career for which you were destined.