Senior Technician - R&D

What You’ll Do

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Serve as key technical contributor to support initiatives within the department
• Support polymer research, formulation development, and new product development
• Perform material characterization and performance testing (e.g., FTIR, DSC, TGA, tensile, impact, rheology)
• Conduct and support polymer formulation studies in accordance with ASTM and ISO standards
• Assist with lab‑scale polymer processing, compounding, and process development to improve quality and reduce cost
• Document experimental data and communicate results to R&D team
• Support continuous improvement, regulatory compliance, and laboratory safety initiatives
• Lead laboratory execution to impact product innovation and manufacturing efficiency

Atkore, a recipient of a Great Place to Work© certification and a Top Workplaces USA award, is currently looking for a Senior R&D Lab Technician to be part of the Atkore Electrical Business Unit. Reporting to the Sr. R&D Engineering Manager, the Senior R&D Lab Technician supports polymer research, formulation development, new product development, material characterization, and product performance evaluation activities with a high degree of technical competency and independence.

This role requires hands‑on laboratory expertise, strong analytical skills, and the ability to execute and document polymer experiments to support new product development, material optimization, and process improvement initiatives. This position performs laboratory testing activities at the newly established Materials Innovation Center (MIC) in Atkore Dallas site.

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in Polymer Science, Materials Science, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related field
• 3–5 years of experience in polymer R&D, materials testing, laboratory development, or related experience (internship or academic lab experience considered for entry‑level candidates)
• Knowledge of polymer characterization and testing methods
• Familiarity with ASTM and ISO testing standards
• Experience with polymer processing equipment a plus
• Strong communication, organization, and documentation skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

• Complete your Atkore immersion program
• Understand how your job and performance will help deliver Atkore’s strategy
• Gain an understanding of your co-workers, facility, and team

• Independently execute projects according to projects timetable and establish daily or weekly schedules to meet project timetable.
• Work on laboratory testing and formulation development activities to support method development, materials characterization, manufacturing process validations, and troubleshooting, and selection of raw materials
• Contribute to the development of requirements and standard methodologies for material and processes to ensure compliance with industry standards and best practices
• Support to establish data‑driven solutions in supplier selection, materials technology and formulation development, cost/benefit analysis, and improving quality of finished good

• Maintain conventional and cutting‑edge materials and process solutions via testing activities to meet the requirements and to ensure cost effective processing, & high‑quality performance
• Organize and maintain electronic and paper copies of information pertaining to the experiments performed including laboratory notebooks, sample databases, research reports, and other documents
• Observe and maintain laboratory safety management system requirements
• Perform chemical and thermal characterization of polymers and additives
• Collect, analyze, and summarize experimental data with accuracy and consistency
• Identify improvement opportunities and communicate results to R&D team
• Contribute to defining annual cost saving targets by providing experimental data to discover cost reduction opportunities

Atkore is a five‑time Great Place to Work© certified company and a three‑time Top Workplaces USA award winner! We’re committed to creating an engaged, aligned workforce…