Lab Technician

Description

Position Overview: The Laboratory Technician works primarily under the general direction of the Laboratory Supervisor but may also interact with Product Engineers, Engineering Management and / or other functional areas as required. The primary duties of this role are to provide support to the new product development group in the areas of product testing, validation and troubleshooting. Therefore, a robust technical knowledge of electromechanical devices is required. The Laboratory Technician primarily works in a controlled environment lab space but some duties may be conducted in manufacturing cells.

Essential Job Functions:

• Ability to understand engineering and manufacturing documentation including BOM’s, prints, schematics and routings. Familiarity with basic pneumatic and hydraulic plumbing as well as basic AC and DC circuits.
• Design, create and document test setups graphically and pictorially involving hydraulic, pneumatic and electrical controls. Ability to use power supplies, relays, valves, test meters, pressure gauges, oscilloscopes and other test equipment. Knowledge of electrical circuits and fluidic systems plumbing. Awareness of safety procedures for working with high pressure gases and liquids.
• Operate environmental test equipment that simulate customer and agency conditions  to determine measurements such as minimum operating voltage, current, flow, pull-in-time, drop-out-time, operating pressure, burst pressure, cycle life, etc.  
• Evaluate, collect and record electrical and mechanical data in a coherent format utilizing PC’s and logbooks. Communicate basic observations regarding data and / or experimental results to all levels of the organization as required.
• Possess an intermediate level of proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel to create and maintain laboratory test documentation including graphs, tables, flowcharts and statistical studies.
• Perform mechanical and electrical assembly to build test samples, mockups, prototypes and agency (UL / CSA/ ETL / ATEX) samples. 
• Perform testing and troubleshooting of customer returns and occasional production parts to drive to root cause. Assist      production supervisors in diagnosing internal failures by dissecting and analyzing subject units for proper assembly to the BOM’s and drawings. Partner with Engineering to update BOM’s and drawings as required. Inform Operations of continuous improvement opportunities to prevent reoccurrence.

Additional Job Functions:

• Demonstrated ability to interact and collaborate professionally and efficiently with all levels of the organization. Capacity to work independently and on teams to complete tasks in a timely manner.
• Conduct all work in a safe manner including the use of laboratory and production equipment. Uses appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required and adheres to all PeterPaul HSE practices including waste disposal.  Reinforces other cursory laboratory users including Engineers and Assembly technicians on the proper cleaning, maintenance and organization of the laboratory environment.
• Desire to participate in Kaizen events including Problem Solving, DOE’s, 6S, etc.
• Comfortable in a fast paced environment with constantly changing priorities.

Requirements

Essential Skills & Experience: 

· Minimum High School Education or GED. 

· Preferred Associates Degree in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering Technology or the pursuit of said degree.

· In lieu of an Associate’s Degree, two years of progressively responsible experience in a manufacturing environment producing high volume, high mix electromechanical products.

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. 

· Employee is required to lift up to 50 lbs infrequently.

· Use hands to change tools, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. 

· Employee is required to stand or walk frequently. 

· Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.