Lab Technician

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

1. Compounding and mixing rubber compounds using laboratory internal mixer or mill.
2. Physical and chemical testing of raw rubber compounds and cured rubber specimens.
3. Writing and maintaining records regarding experiments or projects.
4. Maintaining laboratory supplies.
5. Supports QC materials testing.
6. Contributing to problem-solving meetings
7. Distributing SDS documents to appropriate departments.
8. Operation of various lab equipment.
9. Utilizes the company computer system and PC software to maintain and generate effective reporting systems that relate to the job function.  Using these systems, prepare routine and non-routine reports, including gathering and summarizing data. Proficiency in Word and Excel required.
10. Promote safety by:
    1. Actively assesses activities on a constant basis to ensure no unsafe actions or results will occur.
    2. Ensuring the housekeeping in the immediate and surrounding work area is maintained or improved to the highest level possible.
    3. Wearing personal protective equipment when required.
    4. Following safety protocols when dealing with solvents and propellants, making sure all solvent use is under the hood.
11. Ensures Quality products and processes are maintained by:
    1. Understanding and supporting both quality policies and the Quality System.
    2. Performing work at a level that ensures quality of this position’s work meets or exceeds internal specifications.
    3. Identifying and correcting, if possible, any identified quality issues in the department.
    4. Participating in system or quality-based training provided by the company or recommended by the company.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. * 

 EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Associate or Batchelor degree in science or the field related to rubber science preferred; or one-year related experience and /or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.  

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write testing reports and correspondence.  Ability to speak effectively.

 MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, percent and volume. 

 REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to analyze a situation to identify the root cause of a problem, brainstorm creative solutions, and make informed decisions based on available information. Adapt strategies when needed, effectively communicate with others to gather insights, collaborate with a team to find solutions, actively listen to fully understand the problem. Ability to understand the projects and their backgrounds and the reasoning behind the trials. Utilize the information from books and the internet to gain knowledge involving the raw materials and their function in the formulas to fully comprehend the scope of the experiments. The ability to interpret a variety of instructions provided in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CRITICAL THINKING:

Ability to analyze, interpret, evaluate available facts, evidence, observations and arguments to make sound conclusion or educated choices.

 PHYSICAL 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 frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk or hear; use hands to finger, handle or feel.  The employee regularly is required to reach with hands and arms.  The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee must regularly lift 10-25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

 WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to toxic or hazardous chemicals; moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles.  Occasionally, the employee is exposed to extreme heat.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate – however, working in the plant, the noise level is usually loud.