Entry-Level Testing Technician

About the role

Entry-Level Testing Technician – Weather & Durability Testing at Akron Rubber Development Laboratory (ARDL), 75 Robinson Ave., Barberton, OH 44203. On-site, full-time. No polymer science experience required; this is a fully supported, train-from-the-ground-up role for someone who listens, learns, asks questions, and eventually takes ownership of simple, repeatable testing processes.

Instead of waiting years to see what nature does, ARDL artificially ages rubber, plastics, coatings, and finished products using controlled sunlight, heat, humidity, rain, and salt so customers can learn how products may perform after months or years in the real world.

Responsibilities

• Set up and run established weathering, aging, corrosion, and durability tests after training.
• Load specimens, monitor equipment and exposure conditions, and keep tests running as intended.
• Record observations and results carefully so customers can trust the data.
• Work with a changing mix of products and projects — some routine, some unusual — and learn more equipment as you grow.

What "artificial aging" means here

• Xenon arc & carbon arc — Put sunlight and weathering into fast-forward using intense light, heat, moisture, and controlled exposure cycles.
• Weatherometer testing — Create repeatable combinations of artificial sunshine, rain, humidity, and temperature — weather with a control panel.
• Salt spray — Build an intentionally miserable coastal environment inside a cabinet to study corrosion resistance.
• Heat & environmental aging — Expose materials to elevated temperatures or other controlled conditions to see how their properties change.

Why it matters: sunlight can crack rubber, heat can harden it, water can weaken it, and salt can corrode what it is attached to. Customers want to discover those changes before years pass in service.

Training and growth

You will work alongside experienced technicians until you are comfortable running the process independently. The goal is not just to push buttons — it is to become the person ARDL trusts with the process.

WATCH IT → DO IT TOGETHER → DO IT YOURSELF → OWN IT

Manufacturing, automotive, maintenance, warehouse, quality, trades, or machine-operation experience can help, but the right work history and attitude matter more than a technical résumé.

Who we're looking for

• Reliable, positive, and ready to learn. Listens carefully before jumping in.
• Asks questions and follows procedures.
• Pays attention to details and speaks up when something looks wrong.
• Enjoys some routine without needing every day to look exactly the same.

Requirements

• High school education.
• 0+ years of experience (entry level).
• No degree required.

Materials and techniques

• Materials: rubber, plastics, coatings.
• Techniques: xenon arc testing, carbon arc testing, weatherometer testing, salt spray testing, heat aging.

About ARDL

Akron Rubber Development Laboratory (ARDL) is an independent, internationally recognized laboratory specializing in testing, development, and problem-solving for rubber, plastics, and other polymer materials. For more than 60 years, ARDL has helped companies across a wide range of industries turn material challenges into reliable solutions.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) plan.
• Paid vacation and time off.
• Quarterly employee events and team activities that support a positive workplace culture and employee engagement.

Schedule

Full-time, on-site at the Barberton, OH laboratory.