Industrial R&D Technician/CAD Designer, Pipe & Fittings (Leola, PA)

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples' lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate. Westlake Pipe & Fittings, a Westlake division (NYSE:WLK), is one of the largest polyvinyl chloride pipe and fittings manufacturer in North America. With 23 manufacturing and distribution locations, the company supplies gasketed, solvent weld and restrained joint pipes and a wide range of fittings for a diverse list of markets including municipal water and sewer, plumbing, water well, pool and spa, and agricultural and turf irrigation. Westlake Pipe & Fittings is an industry leader in product development with Certa-Lok® spline-lock technology and product systems that are focused on building A Better Foundation. To learn more, visit the website at WestlakePipe.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook. SUMMARY The R&D Technician provides hands-on laboratory and engineering support to advance product development, testing, and plant initiatives. This role combines technical lab execution with administrative and project coordination responsibilities, ensuring efficient lab operations and accurate tracking of engineering activities. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES R&D / Laboratory Support (Approx. 75%) Serve as the primary day-to-day lab technician supporting Engineering activities Weigh, blend, and prepare materials for development trials and testing Assemble and test pipe samples in support of R&D, product certification, and plant initiatives Perform hands-on technical work including machining, welding, and precision measurements (training provided as needed) Maintain lab organization, equipment readiness, and material inventory/flow Support prototype development and act as a technical resource for machine shop activities Administrative & Project Support (Approx. 25%) Process SAP transactions including requisitions, purchase orders, coding, and invoice tracking Monitor and track Engineering project spend and related invoices Provide limited project coordination support, including scheduling and follow-up (approx. 1 day/week) Maintain essential administrative processes required to support site operations EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS Associate degree (2-year) in a technical field (e.g., engineering technology, manufacturing, industrial technology) preferred Hands-on experience through technical programs, labs, internships, or prior roles Demonstrated mechanical and technical aptitude (e.g., machining, welding, measurement tools, lab testing) Exposure to lab operations, material handling, or shop environments preferred Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems preferred, or ability to quickly learn Strong organization skills with the ability to manage both technical and administrative tasks General computer skills, experience with Microsoft Office (e.g., Excel, Outlook, Word) required This is a fully onsite role. Must be able to commute daily to our Leola, PA office (80% of the time) and our Wayne, PA office (20% of the time) Must be currently residing in or near Leola, PA Must be able to work Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm PHYSICAL DEMANDS While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. WORK ENVIRONMENT This position has a transitioning work environment. Office/computer, manufacturing plant. The noise level in the plant environment is usually high, as normal for a manufacturing plant. Some of the work in the operating units may require usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, steel toe shoes, fall protection, hard hats, etc. Westlake is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any characteristics protected by applicable legislation. If you are an active Westlake employee (or an employee of any Westlake affiliates), please do not apply here. You will apply via the Jobs Hub application in Workday. Westlake is a global manufacturer and supplier of materials and innovative products that enhance life every day. Headquartered in Houston, with operations in Asia, Europe and North America, we provide the building blocks for vital solutions — from housing and construction, to packaging and healthcare, to automotive and consumer. For more information, visit the company's web site at www.westlake.com. Westlake (NYSE: WLK) is a global diversified industrial company that manufactures and supplies essential products that enhance the daily lives of people around the globe. Our products, now under a One Westlake brand, supply the necessary building blocks for everyday products across housing and infrastructure, packaging and healthcare, and automotive and consumer goods. Consumers gain the benefits of materials Westlake produces in products such as food packaging, medical devices, soaps and detergents, car interiors, fashion, toys, shoes, furniture, electronics, siding, stone veneer, windows, outdoor living, roofing, and pipe & fittings. Westlake is proud to contribute to driving a sustainable future through the creation of essential products that are Enhancing Your Life Every Day®. To view other career opportunities at Westlake and our family of companies, visit https://westlaketalent.com