Research + Development Associate

Pratt + Larson•Portland, OR

About The Position

Pratt + Larson is on a mission to enrich the lives of our team, our partners, and our customers. We are a team of dreamers, creators, and magicians. We pour our heart and soul into our work, and it shows. We’re always looking for passionate, imaginative people to collaborate with on the next awe-inspiring design – and we’ve built our company around the growth and engagement of people like you. If that stokes your fire, we’d love to hear from you. To learn more about our company and what we do here, check out our website at www.prattandlarson.com Take a look at the job below and if you think this job is a good match for you, please send us your resume. We look forward to hearing from you! It all boils down to one question: Do you have Tile Dreams? This job is full-time, daytime shift hours; Monday – Friday. The R+D Associate plays a key role in advancing our ceramic tile production by developing and refining glaze and clay formulas, improving firing and material handling practices, and supporting equipment and process innovations. This position works across all departments to experiment, problem solve, and implement improvements that enhance quality, efficiency, and overall studio operations.

Requirements

Minimum of four years in a ceramics production environment or equivalent background.
Strong understanding of low fire and midrange ceramic processes; solid familiarity with UMF and the chemistry of clay and glaze materials. Skilled use of glaze calculation tools such as Insight-Live, Glazy, or HyperGlaze.
Familiarity with Lean manufacturing philosophy and Six Sigma.
Ability to work independently as a self-starter while also collaborating effectively and taking direction in a fast-paced production environment.
Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to confidently present information to groups of people.
Exceptional ability to track, prioritize, and follow through on multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously, with the ability to balance attention to detail and big picture thinking.
High computer literacy with proven proficiency in office software (Outlook, Excel, Word, etc.) and ERP systems such as Acumatica.
Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion at all times.
Commitment to lifelong learning, continual improvement, and cultivating curiosity.

Responsibilities

Glaze Development: Formulate new glaze recipes and refine existing ones to improve performance and consistency. Troubleshoot glaze issues and work with glaze makers and sprayers on day-to-day rheology, color, and ingredient sourcing.
Clay + Slip Management: Adjust and develop clay and slip recipes to work with our forming techniques such as extruding and slip casting. Troubleshoot issues as they arise with color and handling, working with outside consultants as needed.
Kiln Firing: Examine, assess, and improve firing cycles, temperatures and kiln loading practices for all kilns. Work with outside contractors to maintain and optimize the gas kilns as needed.
Efficiency Improvements: Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, reduce waste, and introduce new tools, technologies, or training that enhance overall efficiency. Integrate Lean practices by partnering with teams to uncover inefficiencies, reduce waste, and implement process improvements grounded in continuous improvement methodology.
New Product Support: Assist in developing, testing, and troubleshooting new product ideas and in refining existing products for better performance.
Support other departments when needed, actively participate in team and companywide meetings, and help maintain a clean, safe, and organized working environment.
Cataloging & Archiving: Maintain the glaze library and build an accessible database of tests, results, color swatches, and experimental work. Detailed note taking and weekly reports, database creation and implementation, and presentations on findings to teams and leadership.
Testing & Standards: Conduct in-house testing and collaborate with external labs to uphold and advance quality standards. Provide accurate test information to the Marketing team as needed.
Industry Research: Stay informed on new materials, technologies, trends, and innovations in ceramics to keep the company at the forefront of the field.
Must embrace and reflect Pratt + Larson’s mission and core values of Enrichment, Cultivating Culture, Tile Dreams, Leading the Way and Taking Ownership