Coating Lab Engineer

Rochester Institute of Technology

2d•$0 - $999,999•Onsite

About The Position

RIT is seeking a Coating Lab Engineer to help expand an effort at RIT to design, create, and test long and wide sheets of two-dimensional polymer (2DP) films. Such films are created by depositing a thin layer of polymer reactants on long and wide flexible substrates via precision roll-to-roll coating—and subsequently drying them to create solidified polymer sheets. Research is undertaken to simultaneously optimize the chemical formulation, the polymerization process, the coating and drying processes, and the subsequent chemical treatments required to prototype novel polymer films for specific applications. Research over the past 6 years has taken place in a well-equipped laboratory, and roll-to-roll coatings have been made on a roll-to-roll coating machine in the Battery Development Center (BDC) at RIT. The pace of research has been limited by accessibility of the BDC coater, although applications of the new materials in a variety of fields have been demonstrated, and likelihood of commercialization is strong. Through a multi-million-dollar investment in government funding, RIT is now constructing a dedicated 2DP facility that will house a new roll-to-roll coating machine and an expanded lab to design, develop, and improve formulations to create 2DP prototypes that demonstrate feasibility for scale up to manufacturing. The lab will contain a roll-to-roll coating suite with in-line diagnostics in a low-humidity environment; raw materials and ancillary equipment to prepare 2DP solutions, and a characterization suite to quantify material performance for relevant applications. Although initially funded from government sponsors, we expect that the 2DP facility will grow to be a national center where 2DP materials may be developed and prototyped for commercialization to follow. The Coating Lab Engineer will work on a team consisting of multiple researchers and technicians and will perform benchtop laboratory experiments to support funded projects involving 2DP materials to enable ultimate roll-to-roll coatings. Additionally, the Coating lab Engineer will play an integral role in the commissioning and start-up of the new coating facility, learning the mechanics of the coating machine to assure its smooth operation alongside coating technicians. The Coating Lab Engineer will also interface with research sponsors as needed to prepare periodic updates on research progress. As the new center evolves, opportunities to advance and specialize in various aspects of 2DP material development, its characterization, and engineering will be available. As such, the successful candidate must have entrepreneurial spirit as the research effort and new facility are growing, and the candidate must be flexible to take on new challenges and responsibilities that accompany this growth. Finally, as part of our effort, we do employ chemical engineering co-op students for three-to-six-month stints and have independent study students working with us in our lab during the school year. We are thus seeking an individual who has the ability and interest to train and work alongside students. All faculty and staff in the chemical engineering program at RIT are expected to contribute to our culture of student-centeredness, professional development and scholarship, integrity and ethics; respect, diversity and pluralism; innovation and flexibility; and teamwork and collaboration. Select to view links to RIT’s core values, honor code, and diversity commitment.

Requirements

Knowledge of engineering principles, system design, and applied technologies across relevant domains
Knowledge of safety standards, compliance requirements, and quality assurance protocols in technical environments
Skill in applying analytical methods to evaluate system performance and solve engineering problems
Skill in documenting technical specifications, project updates, and operational procedures
Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams to develop and implement technical solutions
Ability to support planning, execution, and continuous improvement of engineering projects and processes
BS in Chemical Engineering
A minimum of 3 years' experience: Equivalent combination of experience and education may be considered
Strong written and oral communication skills
Strong commitment to lab safety.
Commitment to student-centeredness—Candidate must support the importance of students as the primary constituency of the university.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a chemical lab or chemical industrial setting
Experience in pilot and/or production-scale roll-to-roll coating processes
Experience using chemical characterization equipment, such as XRD, SEM, FTIR, etc, and interpreting results.
Experience running rheometers and interpreting results.

Responsibilities

Consults or leads engineering projects, programs, or services
Assists in problem definition, planning, design, development, consultation, and analysis
Documents research results.
Drafts and writes reports to sponsors, technical articles, white papers, publications, and presentations
Drafts, writes, and advises on grants and project proposals to generate funding
Supports senior researchers/engineers in execution of their projects
Promotes research activities
Other duties as assigned
Perform benchtop laboratory experiments to support funded projects involving 2DP materials to enable ultimate roll-to-roll coatings.
Play an integral role in the commissioning and start-up of the new coating facility, learning the mechanics of the coating machine to assure its smooth operation alongside coating technicians.
Interface with research sponsors as needed to prepare periodic updates on research progress.
Train and work alongside students.