Description

The Research & Development (R&D) Lab Technician I is responsible for performing various lab tests while maintaining a safe and orderly work environment. Incumbent will also be responsible for providing a wide variety of laboratory support services including activities related to workflow and processes, administration, procurement of raw materials and general testing.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities, as management may deem necessary from time to time:

• Meet laboratory safety, sample labeling requirements, and general housekeeping expectations
• Locate raw materials, prepare samples, and stage materials for R&D testing
• Occasional operation of forklift to procure materials
• Maintain accurate and complete records
• Ensure laboratory supplies are kept up to date
• Complete lab request testing, to include updating the Lab Request Database with up-to-date information regarding lab activities
• Organize project data files, retain boxes, and associated items for quick data/artifact recovery

Qualifications

Personal Qualities

• Self-driven team player
• Ability to communicate well with others
• Capable of completing multiple tasks while meeting deadlines
• Comfortable in a laboratory or production environment
• Ability to manage time and work effectively under pressure while demonstrating attention to detail
• Safety awareness of the surrounding environment
• Detail orientated and highly organized

Required Education, Experience & Training

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• 1 to 3 years’ experience in a manufacturing or lab environment
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Basic knowledge of computer use and Excel & Word software
• Ability to use / learn to use a wide variety of testing equipment and measuring devices

Preferred Skills

• Associate Degree in a Physical Science
• Proficiency with the MS Office suite of programs
• Experience in writing internal technical reports

• Previous polymer industry / manufacturing experience
• Solid math base for dealing with formulations as well as some basic test analysis

Protective Clothing Required

Requires the ability to wear safety glasses, respirator, steel toed shoes, hearing protection, and gloves when working in production areas. Must follow facilities safety policies.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and/or hear, and/or use hands to finger, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, reach above shoulders, and/or smell. Additionally, employee is regularly required to stand, and/or walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 55 pounds and must also regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

Office and laboratory based. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may be loud while working in production areas. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts, in high precarious places, in proximity to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, or in outdoor weather conditions.