R&D Laboratory Technician

SCHLUTER SYSTEMS L.P.•Fort Worth, TX

172d•Onsite

About The Position

The Research & Development Laboratory Technician will support Research & Development Engineers in setting materials formulation and maintenance. They will collaborate with the Engineers to develop and execute test plans that explore the effects of raw materials variability/substitutions in existing products, evaluate prototypes of new formulations, and other topics. They will also collaborate with Quality Control to support the evaluation of production materials that fall outside of performance specifications.

Requirements

Must thrive in a collaborative environment, capable of working in teams to achieve common goals
Must be able to approach challenges independently, while still asking for guidance or help as required
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written; must be able to communicate technical topics and educate non-technical colleagues in a supportive manner
Strong organizational skills, with the ability to plan and execute a variety of tasks and deliver quality results in a timely fashion
Travel to Schluter Systems North America Headquarters in Plattsburgh, NY for extended training period (up to 4 months)
B.S. Chemistry or Materials Science and Engineering
1-2+ years of experience in laboratory setting
Laboratory equipment, testing, data collection and analysis
Technical communication (reports and presentations)
Computer skills: Excel and/or other data analysis software, Microsoft Office

Responsibilities

Investigating the effects of raw materials variability on production materials performance
Evaluating production materials that do not meet performance specifications
Characterizing trends in production materials performance
Developing test plans according to experiments from R&D Engineers
Executing test plans; perform tests in accordance with applicable SOPs and standards, collect and analyze data, document results in reports and presentations, communicate results and offer feedback for next steps
Research test methods to support products, systems, and applications development.
Conduct physical property testing on a wide variety of products, components and assemblies in accordance with industry standards or as required by in-house test procedures.
Evaluate and interpret laboratory data and write or review summary reports. Collaborate with other departments and laboratories to collect, evaluate and analyze data.
Perform all tasks in accordance with Schluter Systems Technical Laboratory standards and practices and maintain frequent communication with lab personnel to ensure alignment.
Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), test methods and associated documents based on established industry standards or current Schluter laboratory practices. Participate in the creation and/or revision of these documents as necessary.
Maintain and calibrate laboratory equipment as required.
Adhere to laboratory rules, procedures and safety requirements.
Learn and understand industry standards and specifications (ANSI, ASTM, ISO, etc.) as they relate to Schluter products and installation methods.
Learn the proper use and application of Schluter products. This may require travel to Schluter Systems Innovation Workshops.
Collaborate with international colleagues as part of the Schluter Systems International Technical Network as needed.
Maintain strict organization of Schluter Systems files per internal document control standards and policies.