Materials Lab Technician

About the Role

Support metallography operations, mechanical testing, environmental testing, and laboratory operations in a fast-paced materials lab environment.

Responsibilities

• Perform metallography operations including sectioning, mounting, polishing, and etching of specimens per ASTM standards.
• Work safely under the fume hood and handle/dispose of hazardous waste substances including acids and flammable liquids.
• Maintain inventory of polishing fluids, etching reagents, and laboratory consumables.
• Conduct mechanical testing such as tensile, compression, hardness, shear, torque, and bend testing per ASTM standards.
• Prepare test specimens, including documenting, measuring, machining, maintaining traceability, fixturing, and instrumenting.
• Safely operate box and tube furnaces for thermal testing up to 1000°C.
• Assemble pneumatic systems to support inert gas environmental testing.
• Support material qualification campaigns including corrosion, thermal degradation, and tribology characterization.
• Assist with liquid nitrogen transfers to test equipment.
• Support engineers with equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, complex test setups, and documentation tasks.
• Serve as calibration custodian for all metrology and test equipment.
• Maintain documentation of testing activities including data logging, event logging, and equipment issues.
• Contribute to improvements in workflow, work instructions, test procedures, and equipment documentation.
• Maintain laboratory organization, inventory of consumables, and test specimens.
• Comply with Radiant's health and safety policies and apply 5S activities.

Skills & Qualifications

• Willingness to work on unique and complex projects.
• Ability to navigate multiple tasks with sudden changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Detail-oriented with strong observational skills.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to source proper equipment.
• Experience operating machining equipment such as lathes, mills, bandsaws, and drills.
• Experience with electronic test equipment, sensors, and measurement instrumentation.
• Familiarity with microscopes or Keyence inspection equipment.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Good organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to read drawings, schematics, and P&IDs.
• Familiarity with material properties.
• Forklift experience is a plus.