Gore-Tex is used by many outdoor clothing brands, such as in this Sprayway Scorpion jacket

The company that makes the waterproof membrane in garments used by thousands of outdoor enthusiasts is one of the best companies to work for, according to an American magazine.

WL Gore & Associates, makers of Gore-Tex, feature at number 38 in Fortune’s top 100 companies.

The American magazine surveyed employees in firms in the USA, rating their company for job satisfaction, camaraderie and management credibility.

The rating also relies on pay and benefits, training, diversity, recruitment practices and internal communication.

WL Gore, based in Newark, Delaware, employs more than 9,500 people in 30 different countries and is one of only five firms to feature in the Fortune list each year since it started three years ago.

Gore said its organisation is known for its non-hierarchical, team-based culture and product innovations, including life-saving cardiovascular devices, Gore-Tex fabric, guitar strings and electronic cables used in space missions.

Chief executive Terri Kelly, who joined Gore as an engineer more than 25 years ago, said: “Not only does our company culture contribute to associate satisfaction, it also drives innovation.

“We resist narrowly-defined titles, bureaucracy and formal chains of command. Instead, our culture is built on teamwork and direct communication, creating an environment ideal for creative collaboration.”

Any company that is at least five years old and has more than 1,000 US employees is eligible to apply to be surveyed for inclusion on the Fortune list.

Top of the list is Google.