R&d Lab Technician

Job Title: R&D Lab Technician Job Description
Join our team as an R&D Lab Technician, where you will be an integral part of our laboratory testing and product development efforts. You will work on developing and testing adhesive, sealant, film, and encapsulant materials for solar applications. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to both small-scale and larger-scale laminate and solar panel assemblies, while also ensuring the quality and effectiveness of our materials through various testing and analysis methods.
Responsibilities
- Prepare and test adhesive, sealant, film, and encapsulant materials used in solar applications.
- Produce small-scale laminate samples using glass, films, adhesives, and sealants for product development and validation.
- Support the progression from small laboratory samples toward larger-scale laminate and solar panel test assemblies.
- Operate pilot-scale extrusion and lamination equipment used to manufacture and evaluate materials.
- Perform analytical, optical, electrical, and physical testing on materials and finished samples.
- Conduct repetitive sample testing while maintaining consistent accuracy, documentation, and attention to detail.
- Monitor test results for trends, abnormalities, or unexpected behavior and proactively escalate observations to the development team.
- Support accelerated weathering and environmental testing to understand long-term material and performance characteristics.
- Assist with testing material substitutions when raw materials used overseas are not readily available or suitable for U.S. manufacturing.
- Learn the operation of specialized laboratory, extrusion, and lamination equipment.
- Troubleshoot equipment issues before escalating to maintenance, electrical, plumbing, or vendor support.
- Assist with bringing recently relocated equipment into full working condition.
- Develop a strong understanding of equipment operation, process parameters, and common failure points.
- Participate in recurring technical discussions with Mandarin-speaking partners.
- Review technical documentation, procedures, and testing methods written in Mandarin Chinese.
- Help interpret the technical meaning and intent of procedures rather than simply providing word-for-word translation.
- Communicate technical questions and information between U.S. and Chinese teams.
- Maintain an organized, safe, and efficient laboratory environment.
- Manage potentially large numbers of samples awaiting preparation, testing, or analysis.
- Accurately label, track, record, and report experimental samples and test results.
Essential Skills
- Professional proficiency in Mandarin Chinese and English, including the ability to understand and discuss technical information.
- Prior hands-on laboratory, manufacturing, materials testing, engineering technician, or similar technical experience.
- Strong mechanical aptitude and comfort working directly with laboratory and processing equipment.
- Ability to safely use basic hand tools and perform hands-on troubleshooting.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to recognize abnormal or out-of-trend test results.
- Ability to work independently with general direction from a technical lead.
- Strong organizational and documentation skills.
- Ability to perform repetitive testing while maintaining consistent quality and attention to detail.
- Demonstrated willingness to learn unfamiliar laboratory techniques, equipment, and processes.
- Comfortable working in a development environment where equipment and processes may still require troubleshooting and refinement.
- Ability to work safely with glass, heated equipment, chemicals, solvents, adhesives, and laboratory equipment according to established safety procedures.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Associate's or bachelor's degree in chemistry, materials science, chemical technology, engineering technology, polymers, or a related technical discipline.
- Previous experience as a laboratory technician, R&D technician, materials technician, engineering technician, or chemical technician.
- Experience working with adhesives or sealants, polymer films, solar or photovoltaic materials, laminates, and extrusion processes.
- Experience supporting technology transfer, process development, pilot-scale manufacturing, or manufacturing scale-up.
- Experience creating or updating SOPs and technical documentation.
- Familiarity with ISO-regulated laboratory practices or routine equipment calibration.
Work Environment
This position will work primarily in a specialized solar materials laboratory. The laboratory includes extrusion equipment, laminators, accelerated weathering equipment, analytical instrumentation, and equipment used for photovoltaic testing. The work involves hands-on sample preparation, glass cutting, lamination using heated equipment, solvent-based testing, and movement of samples between laboratory areas. As part of a small laboratory team, the successful candidate must be comfortable working independently while maintaining strong safety practices and communicating when assistance is required.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Maple Grove, MN.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $28.00 - $40.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Maple Grove, MN.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 24, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Maple Grove,MN. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,
please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law
shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.