Discovery R&D Technician

Solstice Advanced Materials•Buffalo, NY

1d•$41•Onsite

About The Position

Provides technical support and service in the Discovery R&D group under the supervision of chemists and engineers. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on R&D projects that contribute to one of the following R&D focus areas of the Discovery group: Synthesis of novel chemicals for a variety of applications (refrigeration, blowing agents, solvents, thermal management fluids), Experimental measurements of key thermophysical, and electrical properties, relevant to the target application, for a variety of novel or known chemicals, and Performance testing of novel or known chemicals at the application level for different focus areas (novel compositions for refrigeration, blowing agents, solvents, thermal management solutions, and others). Work includes setting up and maintaining chemical synthesis equipment, electronic systems, thermal systems, chemical loops, and a variety of instrumental analysis equipment. Operating currently validated experiments and supporting lab experiments by making scientific observations, maintaining experimental records, performing calculations, data analysis, and accurately reporting data. The successful applicant will be expected to demonstrate an established track record of safely conducting a variety of experimental tasks independently under the direction of scientists. The applicant must be able to perform troubleshooting on various lab equipment and instrumentation.

Requirements

Relevant experience in chemical R&D laboratory settings.
Keen eye for making and recording critical experimental observations in an R&D laboratory environment.
Established track record of maintaining laboratory notebook with thorough reporting of experimental data and observations.
Ability to understand and identify chemical and physical changes throughout the course of experiments.
Ability to constructively contribute to design of experiment (DOE) plans based on previous experiments.
Design and assemble custom lab/electronic apparatus, prototypes, and chemical process loops.
Strong mechanical aptitude to understand and troubleshoot the various equipment utilized in various processes, purification, and testing equipment and experiments.
Experience with Autoclave reactions under elevated pressure, and/or elevated temperature.
Experience installing, handling, and operating data center-related equipment.
Basic knowledge of heat transfer and thermodynamics.
Experience with semi-continuous and batch reactions in glass or heated-tube reaction schemes.
Experience with pressure/vacuum distillations in glass or metal columns.
Experience with sample preparation and manipulation in vacuum rack/manifold apparatus (Schlenk-line techniques).
Demonstrate competency running analytical lab instrumentation such as GC, GC-MS, FT-IR, and NMR.
Properly and safely operating laboratory instrumentation tools and equipment, including computer-aided measurement and processing, for monitoring physical properties (such as temperature, pressure, and fluid flow).
Safe handling and operation of refrigerants and relevant equipment and systems operating with relevant fluids.
Safely handling highly hazardous materials including liquefied gases and cryogenic materials.
Ability to work within a glovebox for extended periods of time.
Ability to measure and calculate physical properties of pure materials and mixtures such as concentration, density, molecular weight, vapor pressure, solubility, pH, etc.
Understand and work with chemical and physical notations such as chemical structures and formulas, balanced chemical reactions, work in SI and IP units, concentration and purity units, thermophysical properties of materials, etc.
Ability to understand and work with electrical circuits and data acquisition.
Ability to work independently and be able to understand abstract concepts.
Read and accurately interpret chemical Safety Data Sheets (SDS) to identify hazards, handling requirements, and necessary safety precautions.
Strong communication skills in a team environment where hard project deadlines are often encountered.
Ability to work safely with minimum supervision.
Familiarity with electrical instrumentation, measurement, and analysis, including data acquisition systems, pressure, temperature, and flow sensors.
Familiarity with Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook), some data acquisition programs, CAD/CAE 3D modeling software, various instrumental control software suites, and instrumentation programming software.
Demonstrated safe handling of various corrosive, highly hazardous, as well as non-hazardous chemicals.
Ability to wear safety shoes, chemical goggles, safety glasses with side shields, lab coat, and occasionally elevated PPE such as respiratory PPE, acid suit, or rubber lab aprons with gauntlet gloves.

Responsibilities

Support novel technology discovery and research by performing experimental work.
Setting up and maintaining chemical synthesis equipment, electronic systems, thermal systems, chemical loops, and a variety of instrumental analysis equipment.
Operating currently validated experiments and supporting lab experiments by making scientific observations, maintaining experimental records, performing calculations, data analysis, and accurately reporting data.
Performing troubleshooting on various lab equipment and instrumentation.
Actively participate in the group's safety program.