PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANUFACTURING TECHNICIAN

Job Summary:

The Product Development Manufacturing Technician is responsible for preparing and operating pilot-plant equipment and providing hands-on manufacturing support for product development, product improvement, raw material qualification, process validation, and cost-reduction trials. Working under the direction of the Pilot Plant Supervisor and in coordination with Product Development Engineers and Associates, the Technician stages and accounts for materials, prepares equipment, executes pilot and production trial activities, monitors operating conditions, collects samples, records process parameters and material usage, and supports equipment cleanup and trial closeout. The Technician is expected to identify equipment or process issues, communicate observations in real time, maintain accurate and traceable records, and perform work in accordance with approved trial plans, safety requirements, quality systems, and established operating procedures.

Key Responsibilities:

- Operate pilot-plant manufacturing equipment to execute product development, product improvement, raw material qualification, process validation, and cost-reduction trials in accordance with approved trial plans and operating procedures.

- Prepare, set up, adjust, and clean pilot-plant equipment before, during, and after trials; perform routine equipment care to maintain safe and trial-ready equipment, and promptly contact Maintenance when an identified issue requires their support.

- Monitor pilot equipment operation and process conditions during trials; identify abnormal equipment or process conditions, troubleshoot within established procedures, and promptly communicate issues requiring additional technical or maintenance support.

- Support production-scale trials by staging and accounting for raw materials, assisting with equipment and line preparation, collecting samples, performing process checks, recording material usage and process parameters, and submitting required samples for testing.

- Maintain accurate pilot-plant, inventory, OPC, MSO, experimental-material, and trial records with emphasis on data integrity, accuracy, and traceability.

- Ensure pilot manufacturing activities, protocols, equipment operation, and documentation comply with applicable quality systems and internal requirements, including ISO 9001, IATF 16949, and ISO 13485 as applicable.

- Maintain pilot-plant and R&D raw-material and finished-product storage areas in 5S condition, including proper identification, organization, storage, and disposition of trial materials.

- Support manufacturing and Product Development with cost-improvement, process-improvement, and troubleshooting activities by providing hands-on equipment and trial support.

- Ensure safe handling, storage, and disposal of chemicals in accordance with SDS, OSHA, environmental, and company requirements; actively promote a safe work environment.

- Support the R&D testing laboratory with sample preparation and routine testing when pilot-plant and trial-support workload permits.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

- High School Diploma or GED required; Associate degree or technical certification in manufacturing, industrial technology, maintenance, process technology, or a related technical discipline preferred.

- 2+ years of manufacturing experience required; 5+ years preferred, ideally in coating, converting, calendaring, extrusion, mixing, web handling, or similar continuous manufacturing operations.

- Demonstrated mechanical aptitude and hands-on experience operating, setting up, adjusting, and troubleshooting manufacturing or pilot-scale equipment.

- Ability to perform routine equipment care, identify equipment conditions requiring maintenance or technical support, and promptly communicate those issues to Maintenance.

- Working knowledge of manufacturing processes from raw-material preparation through finished-product handling preferred.

- Ability to follow trial plans, operating procedures, work instructions, specifications, and safety requirements and accurately document process conditions and observations.

- Ability to monitor operating parameters, recognize abnormal equipment or process conditions, and communicate issues in real time.

- Basic mathematical and computer skills, including Microsoft Excel and Word, with the ability to maintain accurate material, inventory, and trial records.

- Experience working within ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 13485, or similar quality-management systems preferred.

- Demonstrated commitment to safe chemical handling and manufacturing practices, including compliance with SDS, OSHA, environmental, and company requirements.

- Ability to manage multiple priorities, respond with urgency, and adapt to changing pilot and production trial schedules.

- Ability to work effectively with Product Development Engineers, Associates, manufacturing operators, Quality, Maintenance, and other cross-functional personnel.

- Ability to work independently within established procedures while recognizing when equipment, process, safety, or quality issues require escalation.

- Flexibility to work varying hours as required to support pilot and production trials.

- Forklift certification or ability to obtain company-required forklift certification.