Research Development Laboratory Technician

Job Title: Engineering, Design, R&D - Testing Technician

Duration: 8 months

Location: 63 South Ave Burlington, MA 01803

Job Description:

• Client Beverage Product Development Team is looking for a contractor with an engineering or technical background and 0 – 5 years experience to support an exciting new project at our Burlington, MA location.
• This position will be responsible for supporting several technical manufacturing processes in a small-scale fast-paced development production environment.
• Primary responsibilities will include conducting technical experiments and various types of sample testing with care and accuracy, supporting process improvement activities, documenting process specifications and generating standard operating procedures.
• Additionally, the person may be asked to support other activities such as analyzing and reporting production data and troubleshooting process equipment.
• This position partners closely with numerous internal business functions such as, product development, process engineering, continuous improvement, quality, and technical services operations.

What you will do:

• Work directly with R&D Beverage Development Team in activities that may include creating benchtop beverage prototypes and sample testing
• Become proficient in operating lab equipment, including coffee roasting, coffee grinding, coating and drying (e.g. spray, dipping or related lab/pilot-scale tools)
• Perform analytical measurements, including mechanical testing and rheology
• Collect data and support data analysis, using easy to interpret reports
• Provide hands-on technical troubleshooting for processes and equipment within a small-scale manufacturing environment
• Document process changes, create Standard Operating Procedures and generate or amend process specifications
• Support testing and experiments for product and process innovations; working closely with engineers, scientists and technicians communicating status, issues and recommendations for improving experiments and workflows.

Requirements:

• Associate or B.S. degree in an engineering, materials science, food science, chemistry or equivalent technical discipline, 0 - 5 years of experience
• Highly motivated to work in a lab, pilot plant and manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated hands-on comfort with making formulations and running experiments (e.g. mixing solutions, coating, testing physical properties).
• Detail-oriented in execution and data collection
• Knowledge of and interest to learn processes such as coffee roasting, grinding, flavoring, blending, coating and drying processes
• Ability to follow safety, quality and basic food-safety and GMP practices
• Ability to effectively research problems and come back with solutions
• Good written and verbal communication skills with a strong emphasis on collaboration.
• Ability to be self-driven and work independently
• Organizational skills is a must
• Positive attitude
• Willingness to occasionally work outside normal hours if experiments require it
• Experience with coatings, films or tablets in any context (e.g. foods, pharmaceuticals, paints or related) is a plus