Lab Technician - Plastics Additives R&D

Milliken and Company • Spartanburg, SC

9d

About The Position

We are hiring a Lab Technician to execute analytical testing, support polymer processing trials, manage sample workflows, and coordinate across R&D, analytical labs, Technical Service & Development, regulatory, shipping, and commercial teams—a high-visibility role where your data directly informs product-release decisions, customer readiness, and commercialization timelines.

Requirements

• B.S. in Chemistry, Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline
• 2+ years of hands-on laboratory experience in a polymer, plastics, or chemical environment
• Proficiency in multiple polymer characterization or analytical chemistry techniques
• Working knowledge of sample preparation, handling, and storage for polymer and chemical-additive materials
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams) and a LIMS or lab notebook
• Strong organizational, communication, and multi-tasking skills

Nice To Haves

• M.S. in a related field; 3+ years in plastics additives or polyolefin environments
• Hands-on experience with polymer processing equipment, including twin-screw extruders, injection molding machines, single-screw extruders, or dry-blending/compounding equipment
• Experience with advanced characterization techniques (Crystex, TREF/TGIC, GPC, SAOS, SEM)
• Familiarity with method development/validation, DOE, JMP or Minitab, SAP, and international shipping documentation
• Analytical Rigor: Produce data people can bet decisions on—accurately and independently
• Problem Solving: Investigate anomalies and propose next steps, not just report results
• Processing Aptitude: Understand how materials behave during extrusion, molding, and compounding—and how processing affects performance
• Ownership: Track work from request to completion; nothing falls through the cracks
• Cross-Functional Fluency: Speak the language of the lab, the plant, the customer, and the shipping dock

Responsibilities

• Execute analytical testing across polymer characterization and additive-analysis methods, including FTIR, GC, active oxygen, moisture, MFR, DSC, Crystex, SAOS/rheology, gel content, impact, and flexural testing.
• Support polymer processing trials, including twin-screw extrusion compounding, injection molding, and blending operations—from material staging and parameter setup through sample collection, evaluation, and troubleshooting.
• Manage sample workflows end-to-end—preparation, labeling, safe handling and storage of additives including peroxides and oxidizers, inventory tracking, QC release, and domestic/international shipment with SDS and regulatory documentation.
• Coordinate across functions as the operational link between R&D scientists, analytical specialists, TS&D engineers, sales, regulatory, shipping, tolling facilities, and customer technical contacts.
• Maintain data integrity across shared project datasets, master data files, QC spreadsheets, laboratory records, and Technical Service Requests (TSRs).
• Support method development, validation, and transfer, including documentation, calibration standards, and troubleshooting analytical variability.
• Communicate proactively—provide updates, flag risks, close loops, and keep stakeholders informed across concurrent projects.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level