Corrosion Laboratory Technician

Overview

Corrosion Laboratory Technician (ARL EFTSS ):

Bowhead seeks a Corrosion Laboratory Technician to support laboratory operations, materials testing, coatings development, equipment maintenance, and data management in an industrial research and development environment. The Technician will initially work under close supervision and progressively take on greater independence as technical skills and experience develop. The successful candidate will be hands‑on, detail‑oriented, safety-conscious, and willing to learn new laboratory techniques, instruments, and procedures.

This position provides an opportunity to develop practical experience in coatings, materials characterization, laboratory testing, and aerospace and military‑related applications while working alongside experienced technical personnel.

Essential functions will include:

• Follow all laboratory safety, security, and environmental training, procedures, and guidelines.
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of applicable safety standards associated with an industrial laboratory environment and consistently adhere to those standards.
• Promptly communicate safety concerns, equipment issues, or other laboratory problems to senior personnel.
• Develop basic laboratory skills and learn new techniques, tools, instruments, and procedures.
• Work independently on standard laboratory tasks after appropriate training while seeking guidance when needed.
• Support senior personnel in the planning and execution of laboratory projects.
• Perform simple and routine testing of materials, coatings, and surfaces in accordance with established procedures.
• Operate, adjust, and maintain standard laboratory test equipment and accurately record test results.
• Review acquired test data for accuracy and identify errors, inconsistencies, or unusual results.
• Archive test data using appropriate metadata, file formats, and documentation practices in accordance with established procedures.
• Compile, organize, graph, analyze, and review laboratory data.
• Communicate findings to team members in a clear, concise, and technically appropriate manner.
• Support the preparation of technical reports, presentations, and other project documentation.
• Maintain an organized, professional, and customer‑oriented approach when supporting internal and external customers.
• Support interactions with vendors, end users, and other government agencies as required.
• Provide technical support to coworkers within the Branch and assist with activities outside the immediate laboratory group.
• Develop sufficient knowledge of assigned tasks and activities to provide technical insight and support to other team members.
• Support laboratory management and maintain required laboratory documentation and records.
• Monitor laboratory inventory and assist with ordering, receiving, storing, and handling materials.
• Support the acquisition and management of laboratory equipment.
• Maintain equipment schedules and perform standard tasks associated with equipment installation, calibration, preventive maintenance, repair, and troubleshooting.
• Coordinate equipment servicing and repairs with vendors as directed.

Task‑Specific Responsibilities

The Technician will progressively develop knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• Coatings formulation, properties, and function.
• Federal environmental and safety requirements applicable to the aerospace, military, and coatings industries.
• Mixing paint and coating formulations under the guidance of senior technical personnel.
• Applying paint and coating formulations to test surfaces in support of laboratory programs.
• Operating and understanding laboratory instruments used to measure coating properties such as color, gloss, and thickness.
• Performing standard testing of mechanical and…