Research and Development Technician

Reports to: Director of Research and Development

Position Summary

This position is an integral part of our Engineering team. The Research and Development (R&D) Tech supports the research and development of engineering projects to ensure objectives are met. The R&D Tech performs a variety of duties that require accuracy, creativity and innovation. This role will also participate in areas of material control and flow including testing and inspection.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Assist in design and development projects for new products, product/process changes and improvements including related prototyping, testing and documentation.
• Create and maintain accurate documentation of product assembly instructions, testing procedures, test reports, quality inspection reports, and shop equipment manuals.
• Execute new product qualification testing and write test reports.
• Coordinate with internal personnel to procure material and equipment for testing.
• Contribute to the improvement of existing products and development of new products through brainstorming sessions with the engineering team.
• Interact as needed with the manufacturing, purchasing and quality control departments.
• Complete accurate and timely preventive maintenance of shop equipment and test fixtures.
• Design, build and operate new test fixtures.
• Assist warehouse with truck loading, stock replenishment, toilet assembly, shipping as needed.
• Construct and finish prototype assemblies for evaluation and testing.
• Manage product documentation in the engineering department and in our enterprise resource planning software, execute engineering change orders and update product data.
• Inspect existing products against detailed production drawings and write inspection reports.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
  
  

Education And Experience Requirements

• High School education required.
• 3 years of experience in a manufacturing industry, product development or product testing is preferred.
• A strong desire to work in product development and engineering is necessary.
• Familiar with basic drawing layout, dimensioning, and tolerancing.
• Background knowledge in engineering or plastics manufacturing is preferred.
• Drafting and modeling skills using Creo or Solidworks software is beneficial, but not necessary.
• Some experience with plastic part design is beneficial.
• Demonstrated experience using hand and power tools is necessary.
• Demonstrated high attention to detail is necessary.
• Experience using calipers, tape measure, and weighing scales is necessary.
• Forklift experience is beneficial, but training will be provided.
  
  

Required Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Comfortable navigating computer files, email, ERP software (training will be provided).
• Strong initiative to solve problems and recommend improvements, a self-starter.
• Extremely reliable and high credibility.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ethical conduct.
• Excellent problem solving and organizational skills.
• Strong Interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a team.
• Flexibility to jump between priorities as needed.
  
  

Physical/Mental Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. Position requires a high degree of concentration to manage frequent interruptions while meeting strict deadlines. This position requires the ability to perform duties using both typical office equipment such as computers, cell phones, and printers as well as the ability to communicate and perform tasks in an office and research environment. The ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bend, sit or stand is necessary. The ability to safely operate standard shop tools with minimal supervision is necessary. Lifting parts and materials up to 40 pounds by yourself is necessary. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. This position will be required to operate a forklift.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Safety Sensitive Position

This position is classified as a safety sensitive position and, as such, is subject to random drug screenings per the Policy Substance Abuse and Drug Free Workplace.