Sample & Prototype Technician

Full Time Lakewood, OH, US

Title

Department

Business Development - Sample Lab

Reports to

Location

FLSA / Status

[Non-exempt, full-time]

Neo Graf Solutions is a world leader in graphite materials science, manufacturing carbon and graphite products in Lakewood, Ohio for nearly 140 years. Our high-performance materials serve demanding applications across thermal management for electronics, fluid sealing, alternative energy and fuel cells, transportation, and flame-retardant additives for polymers and construction.

The Sample & Prototype Technician owns the physical fulfillment of customer sample and prototype orders end-to-end - from managing and pulling the standard products held in inventory to building custom, made-to-spec prototypes. Prototype work is performed using sample lab equipment and, as needed, production equipment. The role removes low-volume, high-touch sample work from the production floor and the Business Development queue and gives the business a single accountable owner for sample turnaround, quality, and responsiveness.

This role requires high attention to detail and the ability to navigate and coordinate work across multiple departments. The technician personally performs the sample and trial work and coordinates it across Application Engineering, Operations, Quality, R&D, and other departments as needed. The technician reports to the Sr. Director of Business Development and takes day-to-day technical direction from an Application Engineer, keeping sample priorities aligned with the commercial pipeline while the work stays technically guided.

The technician is the operational hub through which every sample request flows and is accountable for meeting turnaround commitments (SLAs) by sample class.

Beyond fulfillment, the technician coordinates custom prototype trials and owns their execution and data capture - scheduling and coordinating trial time with Operations, supporting trials on behalf of the Application Engineers, and recording and helping analyze the resulting data alongside the Application Engineer. The technician also supports internal R&D development efforts - preparing samples, running trials and experiments, and capturing data for the R&D team - with customer sample responsiveness remaining the primary priority.

When a prototype wins the business, the technician carries those trial learnings into the production handoff with Operations and the Product Manager. Analysis and coordination responsibilities are expected to grow as the role matures.

• Fulfill sample requests for standard products held in inventory, pulling the correct grade, lot, and quantity.
• Manage the inventory of standard products kept for sampling — monitor stock levels, replenish, and ensure availability for fast fulfillment.
• Prepare and package samples to meet order and customer requirements.
• Deliver completed samples to the shipping department.

• Build custom and prototype samples to customer specification using sample lab equipment, following established methods and safety procedures.
• Work with Operations and HSE to be trained on and operate equipment as needed to produce samples and support trials.
• Coordinate custom prototype trials — aligning the Application Engineer's requirements, equipment and production time, and the trial schedule.
• Schedule and coordinate trial time with Operations; run and escort trials through the process for key customer programs.
• Support trial activities for new customer development and new or custom product configurations.
• Prepare samples and run trials and experiments in support of internal R&D projects.
• Coordinate R&D trial and equipment time with Operations alongside customer sampling work.
• Collec…