Research and Development (R&D) Technician
Veneer Technologies Inc•Newport, NC
•Onsite
About The Position
Veneer Technologies is seeking a hands-on Research & Development Technician to develop, test, and improve equipment and manufacturing processes. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys troubleshooting, fabrication, building and modifying machinery, and turning ideas into practical solutions that improve production performance and reliability.
Requirements
- Strong mechanical aptitude with experience troubleshooting, building, modifying, and improving industrial machinery.
- Knowledge of hydraulic and pneumatic systems, bearings, power transmission, actuators, and motion-control components.
- Hands-on fabrication skills, including welding, cutting, drilling, grinding, and use of shop equipment.
- Experience installing, aligning, and troubleshooting industrial equipment.
- Ability to read mechanical drawings, hydraulic/pneumatic schematics, and basic electrical diagrams.
- Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and ability to work independently.
- Technical degree, certification, or equivalent hands-on experience in mechanical, industrial, or related fields.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills.
Nice To Haves
- CAD and/or manual machining experience is a plus.
- Experience with wood products, veneer, or similar manufacturing is a plus.
- Familiarity with PLCs, VFDs, sensors, and fluid power systems is a plus.
Responsibilities
- Evaluate existing production machinery and identify opportunities to improve reliability, accuracy, throughput, and ease of maintenance.
- Develop, build, test, and modify equipment, components, and prototypes for new and existing production processes.
- Design, build, and install hydraulic and pneumatic systems for new equipment, retrofits, and machine improvements.
- Select and install bearings, power transmission components, actuators, and positioning hardware based on application requirements.
- Fabricate brackets, guards, mounts, frames, and custom components using welding, cutting, drilling, and basic machining.
- Install and test new equipment and machine modifications on the production floor.
- Troubleshoot, adjust, and refine equipment during testing and startup to achieve the desired performance.
- Lead or assist with machine rebuilds and refits, including teardown, inspection, repair, modification, reassembly, and commissioning.
- Work with vendors and suppliers to identify and source components, compare options, and balance cost, lead time, and performance.
- Create and maintain sketches, drawings, parts lists, and hydraulic and pneumatic diagrams for equipment and modifications.
- Document testing, modifications, results, and recommendations for future improvements.
- Work closely with maintenance, electrical, and production teams to test and refine new ideas and equipment.
- Support continuous improvement and research projects as assigned.
- Other duties as assigned
Benefits
- Full-time, consistent schedule
- Paid Christmas week off after 6 months of employment
- 401(k) with company match
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
- Short- and long-term disability coverage
- Six paid holidays + 80 hours of paid time off annually
- Tuition Reimbursement up to 5k a year
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
Associate degree
