Senior Staff Technician - Polymer - melt processing Job

The position of  Senior Staff Technician in Arkema’s High Performance Polymers Division reports directly to the R&D Engineering Operations Manager.  The position will provide direct support to HPP R&D and indirectly provide technical support to business and manufacturing units responsible for Kynar® PVDF resins, Rilsan® PA resins and Kepstan® PEKK resins.  This position has no direct reports.  The Senior Staff Technician provides high quality technical service to our customers and supports key development projects, in conjunction with a Senior Research staff member.  Activities and deliverables focus on core industrial markets for Arkema High Performance Polymers (HPP), such as wire & cable and water filtration. The position plans and conducts laboratory studies (polymer formulation, processing, testing), completes data analysis, and drafts technical reports to support the business and research objectives. Multiple technical service efforts and development programs must be managed concurrently.  Good teamwork and communications skills are essential to success. This position supports the continued growth of our HPP business unit by participating in application development and new product development projects that meet the needs of our customers. The work required for this position will be performed primarily in the HPP Melt Processing and associated labs.  Tasks will be assigned directly by R&D engineers and managers with tasks coordinated and prioritized collectively by R&D Management.   The work performed to support operational objectives will be assigned by the R&D Engineering Operations Manager.  The position is also responsible to fully embrace and support the safety culture of Arkema both internally and externally.  The position has physical demands that include lifting items up to 50 lbs., use of hand/power tools, ascending/descending ladders, and putting in many steps daily.  Position also requires office work to prepare data and reports.  Travel is not anticipated in this position.  

KEY ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• 40% Melt Processing and Industrial Support:  Work in our HPP Melt Processing Lab to support melt processing activities including but not limited to twinscrew compounding, Brabender compounding, extrusion (wire, tube, pipe, cable, film, busbar), injection molding, compression molding, and rotomolding.  For each melt processing activity, the position requires the ability to set-up and safely operate melt processing and auxiliary equipment and will also require problem solving skills relative to melt process trouble shooting.  The position will require learning how to melt process polymers and compounded products including PVDF, PA and PEKK.  Fabrication skills including the ability to safely use a drill press, band saw, table saw, sanders considered a plus.  The position also requires the ability to train new people on the use of all the technologies mentioned.

• 40% Physical Test Lab Support:  Work in HPP Physical Testing Lab to support polymer testing activities including but not limited to Tensile Testing, Flexural Testing, Impact Testing, Rheological Testing, Hardness Testing.  The ability to set up and perform chemical exposure studies is also a requirement for this position.  The position will eventually require development of skills necessary to train others in performance of these tests.

• 10% Operations: The position requires taking ownership of an industrial area including all equipment located in the area.  The responsibility of area ownership involves making sure all equipment is working properly and managed.  Ownership will involve maintaining area appearance by ensuring people using the area clean up when done, return tools and follow all 5S principles and guidelines.  Ownership will also involve maintaining documentation and providing support to others as needed while working in the HPP Melt Processing Lab.  Finally, ownership involves taking steps to improve operations and finding ways to perform our work more safely and more efficiently.  

• 10% General Arkema Support: The position will support other Arkema programs and will require proactive actions meant to improve our operations, environment, and safety.   

REQUIREMENTS:

•    5 to 10 years minimum of hands-on melt processing experience in an industrial or R&D setting.  Greater than 10 years considered a plus.  Having both industrial and R&D melt processing experience considered a plus.
•    2 to 5 years of hands-on experience with polymer characterization and testing.   Ability to analyze and report data considered a plus.  
•    Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 applications (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
•    Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively.
•    Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing.
•    Excellent organizational skills
•    Strong interpersonal skills