R&D Lab Technician

About the role

Fenix Group was formed by uniting several smaller brands founded by small‑business owners who shared a love for their industry, a passion for their products, and a commitment to loyal customers. Their success was built on reliable quality, friendly service, and dedicated technical support. Under the unified Fenix Group, the company is pursuing a results‑driven, goal‑oriented culture grounded in the core values of reliable, can‑do, curious, team player, and achievement. The R&D Department acts as a strategic partner driving technical excellence, aligning the organization around “make it right the first time” and a consultative selling process. This R&D Lab Technician role supports the formulation and development of new paint products, working closely with chemists and the VP of R&D to ensure performance, quality, and regulatory compliance while offering a path for career growth within the department.

Responsibilities

• Assist With Chemistry Projects – partner with three chemists to develop and optimize paint formulations; conduct experiments and tests to evaluate viscosity, adhesion, durability, and color stability; analyze and interpret documented experimental data to make informed recommendations for formulation adjustments or improvements.
• Support Operations Activities – collaborate with purchasing to source and evaluate raw materials, additives, and pigments to reduce material count or cost; support scale‑up activities for transferring formulations to manufacturing, including following batches through production and resolving issues; cross‑train in Quality Control as needed and own the process of closing all batch tickets after shipment to identify formulation improvement opportunities.
• Complaint Resolution – serve as the primary point of contact for customer complaints related to formulation or product performance; investigate complaints to ensure sufficient information is available and provide root‑cause analysis.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, or a related field.
• 0‑2 years of experience in paint formulation or a related R&D role within the coatings industry (previous internship experience is a plus).

Skills

• Familiarity with ISO and regulatory requirements and standards applicable to paints and coatings (e.g., VOC regulations, REACH) preferred.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills to clearly explain data or problems to chemists, customer service representatives, or manufacturing floor employees.
• Ability to follow directions consistently, be observant during testing, and produce detailed, thorough reports with timely follow‑up.
• Strong problem‑solving ability to work through challenges and recommend solutions.
• Curiosity to learn, grow, and develop in order to take on additional responsibilities.