R&D Technician

Job description

At Greene, Tweed, you'll find the cutting-edge technology, world-class polymer expertise and endless advancement opportunities you'd expect from a multi-national industry leader. You'll find them all in an environment that embraces diversity in people and opinions, moves decision making to the point of impact, and celebrates your success. If you enjoy continuous learning and are excited about working with and creating technological solutions, explore career opportunities with Greene, Tweed. Job summary : With little to no supervision, interacts directly with personnel across the ATG material platform, the R&D Support teams and Business teams to set up, operate and trouble shoot a variety of standard and complex analytical equipment, and processes to conduct, record and report out on R&D test results. Tech will quantify chemical compositions, crystal structures, morphologies, and physical properties via SEM, EDS, FTIR, XRD, and other surface sensitive techniques. Technician will recommend step change improvements to R&D processes, testing protocol. Technician will also assess current problem areas and will be flexible in changing responsibilities and procedures to complete tasks, contribute towards and achieve ATG goals. Essential Duties/Responsibilities : Carries out experimental program under guidelines established by the Scientist or Engineer. Carries out and coordinates more complex routine tasks requiring more than one person. Audits own and other colleagues' work to ensure completion of routine tasks to accomplish project/program objectives. Prioritizes own work. Applies understanding of the intricacies of the systems and challenges in scaling up processes and identifies potential issues prior to start-up. Applies detailed understanding of tools and techniques associated with the R&D project/program. Anticipates potential R&D problems and contributes ideas to designs. Identifies needed changes in experiments or work projects, considering which procedures to use. Identifies key technical roadblocks based on observation from testing, initiates actions or advises supervision. Utilizes given resources to advance technology and deliver results. Understands and utilizes a diverse set of complex R&D equipment, tools apparatus and, as appropriate, troubleshoots. Also, has a more extensive understanding of materials, substances and production processes to utilize requisite equipment for manufacturing scale-up, time/cost estimates, material preparation, extrusion and injection molding of test material and assist in the design, creation, assembly of custom test rigs. Executes experiments and/or processes, anticipating issues. Coordinates data, sample and information exchange with other labs. With supervisor, plans projects of limited scope and duration. Reports unexpected and erroneous results and works with supervisor to resolve. Makes suggestions for next steps and ways to troubleshoot. Utilizes technical resources to address problems in research and development area. Analyzes results and provides preliminary conclusions. Makes judgement on validity of data. Captures data and creates reports. Documents all test results and observations providing initial summarized reports of test results. Communicates unexpected results to the Scientist and discusses suggested improvements. Maintains clear communications within the team & work group. Takes the initiative to communicate results to supervisor, customers, and others impacted by R&D work and assists them in understanding, interpreting results and high lighting issues and suggesting possible next steps. Organizes and smoothly operates the lab. Orders materials, supplies and components as needed to support development activities. Maintains and calibrates mechanical and thermal lab equipment to ensure accuracy and readiness for use. Participates in lab safety incident investigations; Observes and complies with safe lab practices; Anticipates safety issues, makes recommendations and participates in initiatives to improve Safety, Health Environmental lab practices, procedures Familiar with product stewardship, export control requirements & the need to properly characterize materials and substances; plans own work to ensure compliance with necessary rules and regulations. Conducts product failure analysis testing including visual inspection. Uses SAP, email, request management systems, Sharepoint and other forms communication to facilitate cross-department document workflows for ATG (Compliance, IP, FTO , PO, TSCA etc ). Also uses similar tools to help facilitate specific to ATG shipping ,receiving and updating the current inventory management files. Required Minimum Qualifications: Education: AS in Science or Chemistry preferred; HS degree with 10+ years of equivalent R&D experience required Skills and Experience 7+ years of related experience in research & testing. Must be experienced with basic lab equipment and in utilizing and troubleshooting analytical measuring instruments (calipers, scales, etc;). Ability to follow multi-step procedures. Must be able to observe, measure and enter testing results into electronic reporting system. Working knowledge of polymer compounding/molding equipment and processes. In depth knowledge of mold operation, testing equipment (ie: chemical aging, thermal, etc;); General mechanical aptitude to perform routine cleaning & maintenance and occasional trouble shooting. Position requires a strong mathematical and analytical background. This person must be able to solve simple algebraic equations in order to prepare samples. Demonstrated initiative; a self-starter requiring minimal supervision. Experience in safely handling chemicals. Ability to wear personal protective equipment such as eye, ear protection and foot protection. Perform all work and duties in a safe manner. Proficient in MS Office - Excel Essential Job Functions Physical Requirements: Standing Frequently (46-100%) Sitting Frequently (46-100%) Lifting Up to 25lbs without assistance Carrying Up to 25lbs without assistance Walking Occasionally (16-45%) Hearing Ability to detect noises with or without corrective device(s) Vision Clarity of vision, with or without corrective lenses Mental Requirements: Problem Solving Occasionally (16-45%) Making Decisions Ability to make decisions that have a moderate impact Supervise Rarely (0-15%) Interpret Data Occasionally (16-45%) Organize Occasionally (16-45%) Read/Write Frequently (46-100%) Communication Occasionally (16-45%) Work Environment High Temperatures Occasionally (16-45%) Low Temperatures Rarely (0-15%) Noises Loud (manufacturing environment, movement of large equipment) Fumes Exposure Occasionally (16-45%) Additional Information: Occasional need to work flex shifts as needed for running experiments Required Minimum Qualifications This position requires U.S. Person status as defined by applicable law for authorized access to data controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). A U.S. Person includes U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, lawful permanent residents, and workers granted refugee or asylum status in the United States. Note: This Job Description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by the Supervisor. All requirements are subject to change and updates. We also provide eligible employees with a competitive benefits package that includes health insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401k savings plan, life and disability insurance, tuition assistance and more, to meet the diverse needs of all employees and their family members. Equal Opportunity Employer: Greene, Tweed is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or any other federally protected class. Drug Free Workplace: Greene, Tweed is a Drug Free Workplace. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment drug screening and background investigation subject to federal, state, and local laws. NOTE: Greene, Tweed is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for employment opportunities, unless they have a written agreement for the position they are contacting us about. Regardless of past practice, all resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at GT without a valid written search agreement in place for that position will be deemed the sole property of Greene, Tweed, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Greene, Tweed as a result of the referral or through other means.