What are the responsibilities and job description for the Vacuum Coatings Product Dev Group Laboratory Technician position at Vitro?
Overview
Vitro is the largest glass manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere and the largest glass producer in North America. Vitro’s glass products can be found in some of the most iconic vehicles on the road, in countless buildings and homes around the world, and in billions of glass containers produced every year. With more than 14,000 employees worldwide, we have expanded our global footprint and cemented our leadership role in the industries in which we operate.
Vitro takes active steps to protect the environment and supports several initiatives that promote protection of the environment and reduction of energy consumption in the glass manufacturing process. Our products and technologies reduce energy consumption and emissions in buildings and vehicles, and we minimize the use of natural resources in manufacturing. Together, we have the power to make more than glass. We can make the future a brighter place for years to come.
Research and Development projects target the development and commercialization of glass products and processes that improve the sustainability, energy efficiency, functionality, and aesthetics of glass used in the building and transportation industries. These projects may involve the study of glass composition, glass material properties, glass surfaces, integration of glass into electronic devices, sputtered thin films on glass, window design, and other value-added glass technologies. These projects may also involve the development of novel manufacturing processes for new or existing products. The technician will be capable of working independently or in a team to plan, test, analyze, and document experimental results obtained in Research and Development projects.
Responsibilities
The working environment is an industrial research and development laboratory setting in Cheswick (Pittsburgh metropolitan area), PA, but occasional work in manufacturing facilities (in USA and Mexico) will be required (travel usually occurring over multiple weekdays at a time, but some weekend travel may occasionally be required).
Processing (e.g., cutting, labeling, heating) of coated glass samplesProcessing (e.g., cutting, labeling, heating) of coated glass samples
• Making measurements of various physical properties (e.g. mechanical/scratch resistance properties,temperature measurements using thermocouples, spectral/color properties using spectrophotometers,ellipsometric properties using variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometers, electrical properties such as sheet resistance using four-point resistance probe, carrier density/carrier mobility using Hall Effect probe, work function using Kelvin probe), and other evaluations (e.g. visual quality) of such samples
• Chemical/environmental durability testing of coated glass samples and interpreting results• Entry of data into electronic spreadsheets, plotting/charting of such data, and interpreting results• Documentation of procedures, results, and data in electronic laboratory notebook• Writing test reports• Deposition of thin film coatings using vacuum coating equipment (after training from experienced personnel)• Adjustments, maintenance, and repair of vacuum coating equipment and/or other electrical/mechanical equipment (after training)• Occasionally assisting other personnel with work related to diagnoses of samples returned from customers or manufacturing facilities (including opening wooden crates, boxes, pallets, helping to move/lift/disassemble/cut-down insulated glass window units for examination and testing, assisting with photography of large and small glass samples, etc.)
Training will be provided by experienced technicians and/or other personnel, but the successful candidate will also be expected to take the initiative to learn on their own via hands-on learning, selfstudy, readings, etc., as appropriate. Depending on the individual’s aptitude and drive, there may be opportunities to broaden responsibilities further.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree preferred in a scientific discipline
- 1 years’ laboratory experience in support of R&D equipment and instruments preferred
Adherence to safe work practices and compliance with all environmental, health, safety, and security protocols as verbally specified by Vitro personnel and/or in written procedures.
• Team player: ability to work in a fast-paced, team-based environment with a variety of science and technology professionals (e.g., technicians, engineering specialists, scientists, engineers)• Organized • Good balance between being attentive to details while completing tasks/jobs in a timely fashion.• Self-starter/motivated • Initiative and resourcefulness; solicits advice/expertise/experience of other personnel when necessary.• Ability to work independently without frequent/close supervision, as appropriate.• Ability to multi-task without compromising safety or quality of work.• Good interpersonal and communication skills • Updates supervisor, at appropriate times and frequencies, regarding status of work • Shares ideas (e.g., interpretation of experimental results, suggests next experiment(s) and/or new experimental approaches as appropriate, suggests opportunities to improve work practices, etc.) • Adequate proficiency with Microsoft Windows, MS Excel®, and MS Word® software; ability to accurately organize, enter, and plot data in MS Excel spreadsheets.• Aptitude and willingness to continually learn from other personnel/resources and expand skill set.• Reliability and punctuality • Honesty and ethical behavior • Ability to occasionally lift/move samples or other objects up to about 45 pounds in weight, with assistance from one or more other persons and/or using assistive devices
